Peter spends a few minutes discussing his winter survival adventure - the failure of his snares to get rabbits, the need for procuring firewood on the first day setting up his primitive winter shelter, the importance of wool as the material of choice for the pioneers, his plan to make moccasins in a future video. He, then touches on the history of the Hudson Bay Company, including its relationship with indigenous peoples and with its major rival, the Northwest Company. He discusses the massive geographic area of Rupert's land and the how the fur trade changed North America forever. Then, while his sourdough bread is baking in his Dutch oven, he talks about the crafts that occupied the pioneers on the frontier on long winter evenings. These include quilting, knitting, porcupine quill work, brain tanning hides, bead work, scrimshaw, the use of horn as a common material for making vessels such as powder horns, salt containers etc. They were true artisans and skilled tradesmen. Everything they needed was made by themselves on their homesteads or by their neighbours in nearby communities. Their skills included blacksmithing and tin smithing. They were farriers and seamstresses. The list is endless. Unfortunately, as he talked, his sourdough bread burnt to a crisp and he had to start over.

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Featuring - Peter Kelly
Cinematography - Catherine Wolfe
Producer & Editor - Shane Kelly

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MUSIC
The amazing music in this episode is graciously provided by our friends - Richard Fortier and Al MacDonald

#bushcraft #18thcenturypioneerlife #HBC #selfreliance #northamericanhistory #dutchoven #firebacks #pioneerlife #castiron #sourdoghbread