Beaver Fever: The History of The Hudson's Bay Company - Part II - Beavertails

The Hungry Historian

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“Canada emerged as a political entity with boundaries largely determined by the fur trade. … The present Dominion emerged not in spite of geography but because of it.” — Harold Innis

From the fur-clad frontiers of Rupert’s Land to the corridors of British colonial power, the Hudson’s Bay Company stood as one of the most influential and controversial forces in North American history. In this episode, join The Hungry Historian as he paddles into the heart of Canada’s colonial past, where commerce and conquest went hand in hand, and explore the Company’s transformation from a remote trading enterprise into a sprawling commercial empire.

Between 1750 and 1870, the HBC faced fierce competition from the North West Company, expanded deep into the continent’s interior, and forged alliances and rivalries with Indigenous nations. Follow along as The Hungry Historian traces the dramatic events that led to the merger of 1821, the Company’s growing role in politics and settlement, and its eventual sale of vast territories to the new Dominion of Canada.

This is a story of profit and power, survival and sovereignty—played out against the backdrop of the wilderness, and written in beaver pelts, treaties, and the tides of empire.

Cheers!

Featured Recipe

Beaver Tails

Ingredients:

• ¾ Cup whole milk warm
• 2 ¼ Teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons canola oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter melted
• 1 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 ¼ Cups all-purpose flour
• 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 Cups granulated sugar
• Canola or vegetable oil as needed, for deep frying

**Featured Recipe directions and Chef Tips are available within the episode or on the official Instagram of The Hungry Historian (@hungry_historian) or The Hungry Historian YouTube channel**