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History of the Robe Trade
In the 1860s, prospectors from Montana territory began moving across the border into now what is now Southern Alberta, seeking gold and silver. Many supplemented their prospecting by trading liquor for hides and buffalo robes. Soon reports came back to Fort Benton, Montana of the profits available in British America. Before long, forts were built to capitalize on the buffalo robe trade in Blackfoot territory. The first of these, Fort Hamilton, later christened Fort Whoop-Up, was the largest and most notorious
An American law passed in 1832, made it illegal to sell liquor to Indians, but was seldom enforced in Montana territory. With the establishment of a territorial government, the law began to be enforced, constraining traders operating in the US. In the fall of 1869, John J. Healy and his partner, Alfred B. Hamilton obtained a permit from American authorities to cross the Blackfeet Reservation.This permit had the effect of opening trade in British North America. Continue to Part II |
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