HBC in BC History

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The Indigenous perspective on the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) in British Columbia is deeply rooted in the history of colonialism, displacement, and economic exploitation. While some Indigenous nations engaged in trade with HBC and adapted to new materials and technologies, the long-term impact of the company's presence was largely destructive to Indigenous ways of life, sovereignty, and well-being.

HBC and the Fur Trade: Economic Exploitation

From the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, HBC trading posts in BC—such as Fort Langley (1827), Fort Victoria (1843), and Fort Kamloops (1812)—became central to the fur trade economy. Indigenous communities, including the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Interior Nations, initially engaged in trade as an extension of their own economies, exchanging furs for metal tools, guns, blankets, and other goods.

However, HBC's monopoly over trade resulted in economic dependency. Traditional Indigenous economies, which had been based on subsistence and sustainable trade networks, were disrupted. Overhunting led to the depletion of beaver and other fur-bearing animals, and by the mid-19th century, Indigenous trappers were forced into wage labor or reliance on HBC stores for survival.

Disease, Smallpox, and Population Collapse

The introduction of European diseases, especially smallpox, had a catastrophic impact on Indigenous nations. The most devastating outbreak in BC occurred in 1862, wiping out an estimated 60–90% of some Indigenous populations. Oral histories and some historical records suggest that HBC traders and settlers were complicit in knowingly spreading disease. While direct evidence of HBC distributing infected blankets is debated, the company benefited from Indigenous depopulation, as it facilitated colonial expansion and land acquisition for British settlers.

Land Theft and Dispossession

HBC was instrumental in facilitating the British Crown's claim over Indigenous lands in BC. The company held immense power, acting not just as a business but as a governing force. When the British government established the Colony of British Columbia in 1858, HBC’s trading posts became colonial administrative centers, reinforcing European land claims. The creation of reserves and the denial of Indigenous land rights can be traced, in part, to the economic and political structures HBC helped establish.

For example, Fort Victoria, originally an HBC outpost, became the center of British colonial rule on Vancouver Island. The Douglas Treaties (1850–1854) were signed with some Indigenous groups under coercive and misleading terms, securing land for settler development while promising hunting and fishing rights that were later ignored.

HBC Blankets: A Symbol of Trade and Trauma

HBC’s multi-stripe wool blanket is an iconic product, but its legacy is deeply tied to Indigenous suffering. While many Indigenous nations traded for these blankets, and they became part of cultural and ceremonial practices, they are also associated with smallpox and colonial trade exploitation. Today, some Indigenous artists and activists reclaim HBC blankets as a form of resistance, incorporating them into art that critiques colonial history.

Modern Indigenous Perspectives and Resistance

Today, many Indigenous scholars and activists view HBC as a symbol of colonial oppression. The sale of the downtown Vancouver HBC store to an Indigenous-led development group was seen as a moment of reclamation, highlighting the resilience of Indigenous governance. However, there is still deep frustration over how HBC and other colonial institutions have profited from Indigenous lands and labor while offering little in return.