The North West Company (“NWC”) was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It attempted to challenge the Hudson’s Bay Company (“HBC”) that functioned as the de facto government in parts of North America, including the area of our Farm and Gardens for almost 200 years. After their purchase of Fort Astoria (because of the War of 1812) they “governed” our area until their takeover by the Hudson’s Bay Company
as tensions between the companies increased to the point where armed skirmishes broke out and the two companies and they were forced to merge by the British Government. The combination of HBC and NWC trading posts in 1821 meant adopting HBC’s practices and many French Canadians disappeared from HBC employ to remain with their offspring in the New Land. When HBC prevailed and the NWC failed, the French Canadians and Metis remained to settle the land (as HNBC Scots and Orkney were contract laborers, temporary, and anxious to get back home with a nest egg). In 1846 Britain’s indifference made it willing to give up the entire Pacific Northwest … so long as it saved face. Except for French Canadians’ numbers, it is highly unlikely the Canadian province of British Columbia would have come into being – Canada would have no Pacific Ocean ports or shoreline, all thanks to the French, Metis, and their Church that, if you’ve seen Dark Winds, based on People of Darkness, has left a positive mark in Colville, Yakima, Marysville (Tulalip), and Vancouver. And magnified by the Sisters of Providence’s contributions and other well-meaning ministers, educators, doctors and teachers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9tis
https://www.nps.gov/articles/languagesatfova.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_West_Company
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisters_of_Providence_(Montreal) http://www.plc215.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/French-Canadians.pdf
If it were not for the North West Company, there most likely would not have been the Province of:
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
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