Trading at organized trading posts took quite some time to become popular in the Inuit culture. There may be several reasons for this, primarily, European trading groups had a little initial interest in trading with the Inuit people due to the harsh Arctic conditions. From the Inuit perspective, there was also little incentive to establish trading relationships until such time as European trade items could become steadily available. It would have been counterproductive to interrupt the inter-Inuit trading meetings, which required travel over long distances, for a trading opportunity that was less predictable. In addition, there was also the threat in the Kivalliq and Kitikmeot regions of hostilities from Indian groups who were concerned that
…show more content…
In addition, Inuit groups themselves were already established as intermediary groups who managed trade between Inuit groups. For example, a south Kivalliq trading group was known to exist in the Nunalaaq area. These families traded with the Indians and directly with traders at Churchill and then transported goods to the larger established trading meetings at places like Akliniq. However, there are some historic examples of attempts at trading with Inuit that characterize some of the problems that arose when Europeans tried to make contact with Inuit in the early days of …show more content…
For example, the oral history still contains stories of how Martin Frobisher and his men killed Inuit and abducted others. Inuit in the Baffin area were afraid of Qallanaaq ships for many generations. Continue on to explore this story. Martin Frobisher sailed for the Arctic in 1576 with three ships: Ayde, Gabriel and Michael and 150 men. His mission was to find the Northwest Passage and establish trade in the rich Indies. The trader/explorers arrived at Resolution Island and saw the entrance to Frobisher Bay in the west. They were convinced that this was the passage, however, about 250 km further into the bay they encountered lots of small islands and difficult tidal conditions. They turned their focus to their second task which was to establish trade. They met some Inuit hunters and cautiously began trading for sealskin parkas and polar bear skins. They took one Inuk on as a pilot to guide them through the islands. In order to do this, he was sent with 5 of Frobisher’s men to get his qajaq from his camp. The men never returned back. Frobisher spent days firing a cannon and blowing trumpets, but with no
In addition, Inuit groups themselves were already established as intermediary groups who managed trade between Inuit groups. For example, a south Kivalliq trading group was known to exist in the Nunalaaq area. These families traded with the Indians and directly with traders at Churchill and then transported goods to the larger established trading meetings at places like Akliniq. However, there are some historic examples of attempts at trading with Inuit that characterize some of the problems that arose when Europeans tried to make contact with Inuit in the early days of …show more content…
For example, the oral history still contains stories of how Martin Frobisher and his men killed Inuit and abducted others. Inuit in the Baffin area were afraid of Qallanaaq ships for many generations. Continue on to explore this story. Martin Frobisher sailed for the Arctic in 1576 with three ships: Ayde, Gabriel and Michael and 150 men. His mission was to find the Northwest Passage and establish trade in the rich Indies. The trader/explorers arrived at Resolution Island and saw the entrance to Frobisher Bay in the west. They were convinced that this was the passage, however, about 250 km further into the bay they encountered lots of small islands and difficult tidal conditions. They turned their focus to their second task which was to establish trade. They met some Inuit hunters and cautiously began trading for sealskin parkas and polar bear skins. They took one Inuk on as a pilot to guide them through the islands. In order to do this, he was sent with 5 of Frobisher’s men to get his qajaq from his camp. The men never returned back. Frobisher spent days firing a cannon and blowing trumpets, but with no