James Bird
Encyclopedia
James Bird (c.
1798 – 11 December 1892 ) was a fur trader, hunter, interpreter, and guide in both western Canada and the United States. He was probably born at one of the first editions of Fort Carlton
which came to be known as Carlton House. His father, James Curtis Bird
, was a Hudson's Bay Company
Factor there for a time.
James began an apprenticeship with HBC, first at York Factory and later at Edmonton House completing it in 1815. He spent a short time as a captive of the North West Company while serving at Fort Qu’Appelle
in 1816. By 1821 he left the company and became a free trader in the west on both sides of the border. He worked for both the HBC trader Peter Skene Ogden
and the American Fur Company
over the next 10 years, providing a link between the Indians and these companies. He was married into the Peigan tribe at the time.
James or Jimmy Jock as he became known, continued to guide, interpret, and work for a variety of sources during the next years. In 1856, he took up residence at the Red River Settlement where many of his relatives lived and worked from there until about 1870. By 1877, he was working on treaty negotiations for the Canadian government for Treaty 7
. He spent his last years, first on the Peigan Indian Reserve (Alta)
and by 1890 living on the Blackfeet Reservation, Montana.
Bird's family at Red River included Curtis James Bird
, his youngest brother, who became notable in the medical profession in Manitoba.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1798 – 11 December 1892 ) was a fur trader, hunter, interpreter, and guide in both western Canada and the United States. He was probably born at one of the first editions of Fort Carlton
Fort Carlton
Fort Carlton was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post from 1810 until 1885. It was rebuilt by the Saskatchewan government as a provincial historic park and can be visited today...
which came to be known as Carlton House. His father, James Curtis Bird
James Curtis Bird
James Bird was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trader. He was born in England and came to Canada in 1788.Bird made steady progress within the company serving his apprenticeship in York Factory and then moving on to more westerly posts which he first visited with the HBC inland master, William Tomison...
, was a Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
Factor there for a time.
James began an apprenticeship with HBC, first at York Factory and later at Edmonton House completing it in 1815. He spent a short time as a captive of the North West Company while serving at Fort Qu’Appelle
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
These figures do not include the substantial population living along the shores of the Fishing Lakes.-Origins:The current site is the third Fort Qu'Appelle. The first was a North West Company trading post , also in the valley but near what is now the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border...
in 1816. By 1821 he left the company and became a free trader in the west on both sides of the border. He worked for both the HBC trader Peter Skene Ogden
Peter Skene Ogden
Peter Skene Ogden , was a fur trader and a Canadian explorer of what is now British Columbia and the American West...
and the American Fur Company
American Fur Company
The American Fur Company was founded by John Jacob Astor in 1808. The company grew to monopolize the fur trade in the United States by 1830, and became one of the largest businesses in the country. The company was one the first great trusts in American business...
over the next 10 years, providing a link between the Indians and these companies. He was married into the Peigan tribe at the time.
James or Jimmy Jock as he became known, continued to guide, interpret, and work for a variety of sources during the next years. In 1856, he took up residence at the Red River Settlement where many of his relatives lived and worked from there until about 1870. By 1877, he was working on treaty negotiations for the Canadian government for Treaty 7
Treaty 7
Treaty 7 was an agreement between Queen Victoria and several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes in what is today the southern portion of Alberta. It was concluded on September 22, 1877. The agreement was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, at the present-day Siksika Nation...
. He spent his last years, first on the Peigan Indian Reserve (Alta)
Northern Peigan
The Northern Peigans or Aapátohsipikáni are a First Nation, part of the Niitsítapi . Known as Piikáni, "Pekuni" or Aapátohsipikáni , they are very closely related to the other members of the Blackfoot Confederacy: Aamsskáápipikani , Káínaa or...
and by 1890 living on the Blackfeet Reservation, Montana.
Bird's family at Red River included Curtis James Bird
Curtis James Bird
Curtis James Bird was a Canadian doctor, politician, and Speaker of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly from 1873 to 1874....
, his youngest brother, who became notable in the medical profession in Manitoba.