Many of the whalers who came to the arctic brought trade goods to exchange for furs and labour. As whaling declined early in the 19th century trading increased in importance.
Many free traders traveled north to obtain furs and brought modern goods and basic food to trade. The Hudson Bay company gradually replaced the independent traders and established trading posts throughout the Arctic. A post was established near Iqaluit in 1914. The location of the post moved several times over the next few years.
The fur trade did much to alter the lifestyle of the Inuit. The large winter sealing camps were abandoned in favour of trapping for fox. Most Inuit located their camps within travelling distance of a trading post, often not the best location for subsistence hunting.Guns replaced the bow and arrow and spear and southern foods became increasingly important.When trapping was poor Inuit the Inuit were often left with few resources for survival.
