Alcohol Past & Present

Originally Hudson Bay Company did not use alcohol as a trading item but the NorthWest Company was okay with trading alcohol.  I believe the Hudsons Bay Company did not trade alcohol because they did not want a bad name for themselves.  They could get a bad name because they would be viewed as the company that introduced alcohol to a group not accustomed to alcohol. 

On page 99 it tells us that the competition between Northwest and Hudsons Bay Company intensified and both companies went to alcohol for profits.  This proves that the companies are both trying to make money and don’t care about the people.  The Hudsons Bay Company took advantage of First Nations groups by using alcohol to “smooth trade negotiations.  This is another example of how Hudsons Bay Company put profits ahead of people’s well-being.  This was also a business tactic to make more money than the NorthWest Company.

Alcohol as a trade item for First Nations people had a negative effect which was addicting.  Trading for alcohol became more important as people wanted the drink.  First Nations should have been trading for pots, pans, ammunition to aid in their survival.   I believe this would create problems for families such as  stress, lack of food and lack of supplies.  As a community the First Nation people would start to fall apart and no one would get along.