Why didn't the Hudson's Bay Company want any "black robes" to come?​

History · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020

Answered on

The Hudson's Bay Company, a fur trading company operating in North America, was hesitant about the arrival of "black robes," a term used to refer to Catholic missionaries or priests, for several reasons:

  1. Competition and Influence: The Hudson's Bay Company was primarily focused on fur trading and establishing trade relations with Indigenous peoples in the region. They were concerned that the presence of missionaries could disrupt their trade relationships or influence the Indigenous communities in ways that might not align with the company's commercial interests.
  2. Cultural and Religious Differences: The company might have been apprehensive about potential conflicts arising from the introduction of a different religious and cultural belief system among the Indigenous groups they were trading with. They might have perceived this as a disruption to the established customs and traditions that they relied on for trade.
  3. Political Considerations: At times, colonial powers and trading companies had complex relationships with religious institutions due to differing political interests. The Hudson's Bay Company might have had reservations about the political implications or control that the arrival of missionaries could bring over the territories they operated in.

Overall, the Hudson's Bay Company's reluctance towards the presence of "black robes" likely stemmed from concerns about maintaining their commercial interests, avoiding potential conflicts or disruptions to trade relations, and managing the cultural dynamics within the territories where they operated.