A potential buyer takes a look at a few skins at the NSTA Fur Table in Prince Albert. (File Photo/Ian Gustafson/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Fur market future

Trappers happy to see Northwest Company reverse fur buying stance

Dec 17, 2019 | 6:04 PM

Northern trappers are responding to the decision by The Northwest Company to again accept fur pelts.

The announcement was made in a media release on the company’s website last week. It reverses a decision made less than a week before.

Alex Yeo, president of Canadian Retail for The Northwest Company said they were able to resume taking pelts after reaching an agreement to act as an agent for the Fur Harvest Auction (FHA).

“Recent changes to the fur industry resulted in a brief suspension of our fur buying, however this new arrangement will enable us to resume funding in the communities where we operate,” he said.

The company’s return to the market is being welcomed as good news by North Saskatchewan Trappers Association (NSTA) acting President Jarret Nelson.

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“It is good news because as you see, in the far north where we have the remote communities and some of them are semi-remote, well who owns the business in every one of those communities, it’s the Northern Stores,” he said.

While Nelson said it is good the company will once again be taking furs, but was cautious in his optimism as the NSTA has not received much information in terms of details on what trappers will be paid for pelts.

He added this year has been a challenging one due to North American Fur Auctions seeking creditor protection. Nelson said some trappers in the north were seeing their cheques from the company bounce, which forced them to change their plans.

“They couldn’t make it out trapping this year, they had to revert to commercial fishing to provide for their families,” he said.

Nelson explained the NSTA is not just waiting for buyers to emerge on their own. Besides working to set up events like the Prince Albert fur table, the organization is seeking more people interested in partnering with trappers.

Overall Nelson said he is optimistic about the industry’s prospects long term, but he did advise trappers to be mindful going forward.

“Trap with caution, if the markets aren’t great maybe its time to just give your trap lines a break,” he said.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn