Fur Trade Era

Like many areas of British Columbia, the Stikine was first "discovered" by early fur trading ships. Although Captain George Vancouver mapped many schoals and channels of the Stikine estuary, he did not realize there was a larger river. It appears that, by viewing ship journals, it was first Captain Cleveland in the sloop "Dragon" and Captain Rowan in the sloop "Eliza" that visited the Stikine delta in 1799. The same year the Russian American Company was created. This company was granted a monopoly on the fur trade on the Pacific Coast north of 55 degrees latitude which lasted until 1839.

Because the Tlingit became renowned as middlemen with the Russian fur traders trade relations between the Tlingit and the Tahltan increased. In turn, the Tahltan then acted as middlemen by exchanging goods from the Tlingit to the interior groups such as the Kaska.

In 1821 The Northwest Company and the Hudson's Bay Company joined and expanded their operations. It was in 1824 that the explorations of Samuel Black in the northern interior showed the fur companies the trading patterns between the interior and coastal native tribes.

It was John McLeod that would set out from Fort Halkett on the Liard River in 1834 and discover Dease Lake. McLeod's intentions were to reach the Stikine fur trade from the interior. After finding Dease Lake McLeod followed aboriginal trails across to the Stikine River. However, at this time McLeod proved unsuccessful at establishing relations with the natives of the area.

Instead it would be Robert Campbell in 1838 that would become the first white man to make contact with the Tahltan tribe. In the winter of 1838-39 Campbell stayed at Dease Lake. The Tahltan people assisted Campbell somewhat, but were not entirely friendly since he represented a disruption of their trading patterns. They felt that if Campbell would not trade as the Russians had, then he should leave the area. Due to an inability to survive through the winter without proper provisions, Campbell and his group retreated to Fort Halkett before spring.

This was a period of fierce competition between the Russian American Company and the Hudson's Bay Company. Each was trying to gain control of the fur trade in the area. In 1839 an agreement was reached, though, which allowed the Hudson's Bay Company to lease the coastal territories for 2,000 land otter skins annually, and a condition of supplying Russian colonies with provisions.

The fort on Wrangell Island that was built in 1840 was then renamed by the British to Fort Stikine. As well, the British built another near the mouth of the Taku River. Because the Tlingit felt that the Hudson's Bay Company was moving in on it's operations, there was hostile relations between them. Finally, after several attacks, the British had to stop their interior operations, and focused on the coast.

It was this period of intense trade relations between the Tlingit and the Tahltan that caused increased intermarriage between the two groups. As well, Tlingit became the primary language of trade, and the Tahltan adopted aspects of Tlingit culture such as the display of wealth and status. Another change was created by the introduction of metals. Metal tools were more efficient and replaced the traditional use of obsidian (a dark, volcanic glass), bone and antler for tools used in cutting and chopping. Other than this, the Tahltan traditional activities did not seem to change much during this period.

There were other severe impacts on the Tahltan people due to the fur trade, though. Tlingit traders, who had been infected by fur traders, introduced smallpox to the Tahltans. The first epidemic came between 1832 and 1838. This one occurred during the late summer when people were still at fishing villages. It was this concentration of people that made this epidemic most devastating. Over half the population died either from smallpox or starvation that came the next winter.

The second epidemic came between 1847 and 1849. Although Tahltan estimates place their original population in the area of 1000 to 1500 people, the second epidemic reduced this number to no more than 300 - 325. Due to a lack of people to maintain the fishing villages several of them were no longer used. Another cultural loss in this period was the death of many respected clan leaders and oral historians.

Continue to the Gold Rush Period