How did the exchange of animal furs, cloths and other items between Europeans and Native Nations shape the history of the Great Lakes region?
From the 1600s to the 1800s, the exchange of animal furs and skins was a major part of how Europeans and Native peoples interacted in North America. Europeans traded cloth, glass beads, metal goods and other items for the furs of beaver and other animals. Eventually, this global trade would change the course of history for Europe and North America.
Let's take a look
Questions to consider

Who participated in the fur trade and why? How did the North American fur trade change global trade and relationships?

Why were furs valuable to Native peoples and European traders? What were furs used to make?

Why do people reenact historical events and life in past time periods? What are some ways you can learn about what life was like in the past?
Meet the historians
Get to know the historians. Each historian in this episode has a card with information about that historian.
There are 3 cards to read.

Taylor L. Bailey
History Professor
I get to look at things and moments in history and teach others about them!

Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Public Historian
I find and share stories from the past that have shaped our present, and love showing people how cool history is!

Paul Rogovich
Historian and Re-enactor
I learn about the past through studying and re-enacting it!
Quote from a historian

“It became an exchange also of the culture.”
Paul Rogovich
Episode credits
Producer
David Boffa
Hosts
Taylor L. Bailey
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Special Guest
Paul and Dale Rogovich
Research and Writing
Taylor L. Bailey
David Boffa
Kacie Lucchini Butcher
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ian Glodich
Ryan Hendricks
Kate Melberg
Dale Rogovich
Paul Rogovich
Videography
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Tori Charnetzki
Kylie Compe
Ryan Hendricks
Editing
Ian Glodich
David Boffa
Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Translation Services
Rev
Educator Support Materials
David Boffa
Mia Forslund
Jen Kobylecky
Web Design
Charles Barrows
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Web Development
John Vieth
Graphic and Motion Design
Danielle Riseley
Charles Barrows
Ian Glodich
Additional Production Support
Kerman Eckes
Executive Producer
Ryan Hendricks
Director of Education
Megan Monday
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Project Partners
Rebecca M. Blank Center for Campus History
UW–Madison Libraries
Wisconsin Historical Society
Special Thanks
City of Madison Parks Division
Funding provided by
Timothy William Trout Education Fund
a gift of Monroe and Sandra Trout
Eleanor and Thomas Wildrick Family
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin