Evolution Of The Region's Fur Trade

The earliest known Europeans to trade in this region were the French in the 1600s. The French were defeated by the British at Quebec in 1760. This shift in power allowed the British to take over the fur trade in this region. The British dominated the regional fur trade until after the War of 1812. After the defeat of the British, American law prohibited foreign citizens from conducting fur trade commerce on American soil. In effect, this closed the region to interests such as the North West Company. John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company moved into the region by the early 1820s and became the dominant trade company until the early 1840s.

The fur trade was based on a system of barter which in many ways, mutually benefited both the Native Americans and European traders alike. Hunters provided pelts in trade for material goods they could not manufacture themselves. Native Americans had well established trade systems that were used to exchange necessities between tribal regions. The European's adapted to this cultural system of trade and sought the riches to be made on furs.

The Europeans offered goods that could not be easily made by the Native Americans themselves, or unknown technologies. The Native Americans, on the other hand, were superior in their knowledge of the land and survival skills. They provided the valued furs and supplied food to the traders. The European fur trade was basically at the pleasure of the Native Americans who dominated trade system in the region long before European contact. Without the cooperation and acceptance of their Native American hosts, the involvement by Europeans in the fur trade would not have existed.

The Heart of Minnesota's Fur Trade Country

The community of Aitkin has its own fur trade heritage. William Aitkin operated a post here in about 1840-41. The town of Aitkin, and the county are named for him. Aitkin was chief factor of the vast Fond du Lac region of the American Fur Company between 1830-1838. He was a partner of John Jacob Astor and managed the company's interests in the region that covered much of what is now northern Minnesota.

The American Fur Company's headquarters under Aitkin were located at nearby Sandy lake. This location afforded him a 'front porch' view of the one of the few practical routes back out to Lake Superior--the Savanna Portage. The location was advantageous because this was the commonly used access to the Mississippi watershed from the shores of Lake Superior. This meant Native American hunters wishing to trade pelts and opposition traders coming down the Mississippi all had to go right past his front door on their way to Lake Superior.

Prior to the presence of the American Fur Company, the North West Company had a post at nearby Cedar lake in the late 1700s. The site is just four miles west of present-day Aitkin. This post was the site where the expedition of discovery led by Lieutenant Zebulon Pike first encountered British trade operations in January of 1806. Pike bivouacked at this post, met with tribal leaders and was the guest of Mr. Grant, the post factor. Pike noted details of his visit to (Lower Red) Cedar lake in his journal and made notes as to the design and construction of the post.