They were “Caesars of the Wilderness” — where you lived in complete freedom — with no one to tell you what to do. (From the writings of Pierre Radisson.)
In 1663, both Pierre Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers teamed up to explore new trading territories always looking to head further north than where they had been — where the furs were plentiful and of better quality. For this exploration trip they had hired two Huron — expert guides and hunters to help them. Once they had most of their plans made for this trip, the two fur traders dropped in to talk it over with the Governor of the Québec settlement, Marquis d’Argenson. This man had mistreated these two adventurers very badly before and now he demanded that they take along two government officials on this proposed northern voyage. Radisson and Groseilliers — expert wilderness voyageurs were totally insulted to be told to take along two “green horns” who would only be a burden. It should have been obvious to the Governor that the two explorers were going deeper into the wilderness where you did not bring the inexperienced. The Governor also wanted half of the profits. Both voyageurs left the Governor’s office without an agreement. There were no other officials around to go discuss this plan with and to be treated justly. So, in the deep of a night, they left the settlement and headed south to New England, and for a few years kept busy with fur trading, exploring, hiring out on ships and eventually went to England to talk over a trading plan with the King. While the two traders wanted to be loyal to France and the colony of Canada, the fact that the King of England, Charles II was interested in financing their plan could not be passed up and the Hudson’s Bay Company was founded in 1670. This decision would make a remarkable change in the history of our country. —More next week on the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
