2017 /2018 Trappers Assistance Applications for this trapping season are now available at the main reception or online at www.moosecree.com. Apply by Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Stan Loone, Harvesters Support Program Coordinator, at 705-658-4619 ext. 315 or hspc@moosecree.com Posted October 26, 2017
Section 1. Applicant Information (*Must be completed or will consider invalid) *Name: *Address: *Mailing : *Home Phone: Email: Last Name First Name Middle Initials Alias (optional) # - Street Town/City Province Postal Code PO Box Town/City Province Postal Code Ex. (xxx)xxx-xxxx Ex. email@hotmail.com (optional) Work Phone: *Birth Date: *Band #: Day Month Year Section 2: Trapping Information (*Must be completed or will consider invalid) Trappers License#: Trap-Line #: 2017/2018 Trappers Support Program Application Ex. (xxx)xxx-xxxx Ext.xxx (optional) 10 Digits *Location: *Distance: *Transportation: Please Specify Means of Transportation Departure Date : Return Date : To be accompanied by: Applicant Signature Date Signed Deadline to submit application is Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. Applications received after this date will not be considered. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Purchase Order Requisitions are made only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For any questions, please contact Stan Loone at Moose Cree First Nation, Meegwetch. hspc@moosecree.com 705-658-4619 ext. 315
NAN FUR HARVESTERS Licensing, Fur Depot, and Fur Auction House Information December 2016
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Fur Harvesters Promoting humane harvesting; protecting treaty and Aboriginal rights; and preserving culture and traditional ways In 2016-17 trapping season, NAN will be launching a new plastic card fur harvesters licenses. The new license card will replace the paper-copy licenses. The new cards will look like this: The new card will brand NAN colours and logo, and will include the Treaty No. 9 harvesting clause located at the back of the card. With the new card also comes a new license application forms. New forms will be distributed to the trappers. The forms will feature physical description of trappers, and will have an option to apply for a multi-year license. The multi-year option will be accompanied by a new fee schedule. For more information about the new plastic card license, please contact Joe Wheesk, Licensing Coordinator at (807) 623-8228 or toll-free at 1-800-465-9952.
NISHNAWBE ASKI NATION Fur Harvesters Licence / Application for Renewal Trapping Season 2016-2017 Mail or fax completed form to: PLEASE PRINT Trapper s Number Name of Applicant Mailing Address Telephone Band Membership Date of Birth Nishnawbe Aski Nation 710 Victoria Avenue East Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5P7 Tel: (807) 623-8228 Fax: (807) 623-7730 Last Name First Name Initial P.O. Box/R.R.#/General Delivery City/Town Province Postal Code Home Telephone First Nation Year/Month/Date TRAPPER STATUS: (Check one only) Work Telephone Band Number Age No change in trapper s # from last year New trapper Elder Trapper has different # from last year TRAPPER PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: (To be completed) Eye colour Hair colour Height Weight Note: Renewal of your Licence is based upon the receipt of your Seasonal End Fur Harvest Report LAND CLASSIFICATION: Site Region Site District FEE: 1-year ($10.00) 3-years ($25.00) Payment made by: Money Order Cheque NOTE: A fee of $10.00/or $25.00 per licence/line is required for those trappers between the ages of 12 and 64 years. No fee is required for those 65 years and over. Please make payment to Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Licence will be issued once payment is received. Trapper s Licence Fee $ Total Payment Enclosed $ I certify that the information provided in this application is true. Signature of Applicant Date of Application
The 2016-17 NAN Fur Depot Information October 2016 The Fur depot is an agent/collector to both auction houses (North American Fur Auction (NAFA) and Fur Harvesters Auction Inc (FHA)) and is authorized to issue advances to trappers who take part in the program. The NAN fur depot is open to all trappers and we encourage everyone to try it out. There are a few things to consider before bringing or shipping your fur to the NAN Fur Depot, and they are: Ensure that your license is up-to-date. This will ensure that all the information contained is accurate and ready to be shipped to the auction houses. Remember, without updated information this will delay the processing of your fur. If you haven t renewed your license for the 2013-14 season and want to sell your fur, we ask that you complete the attached application form, or contact the NAN office. Proper shipping techniques. When shipping fur, please do not ship them in plastic bags or wrapped in plastic. Shipping fur in plastic will damage the quality of your fur and will likely decrease the value. Also NEVER roll or fold beaver pelts. It is important to keep them flat, and pile them leather-to-leather, fur-to-fur. Have your fur shipped completely dry. It is important that all fur products are completely dry. Scrape all grease and dry thoroughly. Once you package your fur bag(s), do not store it in moist/wet area. Store them in dry area until it is ready for shipping. Fur side out. When preparing marten (sable) or fox please remember to leave the front legs inside and easily tucked in. This will reduce damage that may come from the drumming process. Fur bags should be well marked and identified. It is important to have your tags clearly marked and readable. Include your name, address, phone number, and your account number (if applicable). The quantity of your fur pelts should be clearly marked on the tags, and make sure that your pelts are accurately counted. For first time shippers, please clearly mark your tag as NEW under the account number box. Once your fur pelts are received, the auction house will create an account for you. Shipping fur. Fur can be shipped (via Wasaya Airways) to the NAN office in Thunder Bay. When shipping fur with Wasaya Airways, please ship them collect. Furs can also be dropped off at the NAN office. Our address is: Nishanwbe Aski Nation 710 Victoria Avenue East, 3 rd floor Thunder Bay, ON (807) 623-8228 For more information about the NAN Fur Depot program, please contact Joe Wheesk at (807) 623-8228 or toll-free at 1-800-465-9952. Safe Trapping!
Fur Auction News & Information Wildfur Forecast and Auction Schedules
Wild Fur Market Forecast 2016-2017 Wild Fur Market Forecast Many Trappers that have been in this game enough years have seen the fur market peak and then fall off. What makes this situation different from the last market drop is that fur is in fashion more than ever. Our two main markets remain Russia and mainland China and both these countries have political and economical issues they are working on resolving. Once resolved, prices will take off. The question is when will we see the market head upwards. We have seen very fast recoveries before and in the case of China it can happen very quickly. China has the 2nd largest economy in the world, second only to the United States of America. China has a populous of an estimated 1.4 billion, with a growing middle class that has been enjoying buying luxury goods the past decade. China needs a good start to winter and it is not unrealistic to expect some wealth to flow down to fur coat purchases and other fur products. Russia's problems are different and have a political component that involves the EU/ USA not to mention their currency the Ruble has very little buying power outside their country. As oil prices strengthen so will the Ruble. This being said the hunger for fashionable fur coats in Russia remains. These shops need to have inventory hanging on racks and fur needs to be bought this coming season to replenish sales. The Russian market will come back stronger than ever most believe once the political playing field is cleaned up. Fashionable clothing is always a top priority to the women of Russia and this will not change. We have been hearing reports that business is picking up in Russia We are confident that the 2015-2016 season was the bottom of the market and price levels will now begin to head in a Northern direction. The 2 European auctions September rounds saw ranch mink increase 10% to 15% which is an indication of a better year ahead. More importantly there will be a reduction in the world's mink crop this year. 1st time in over a decade. We currently have very little inventory left over from last season. Historically this has proven to bring about positive results going into a new selling season. We continue to have interest in beaver of all sizes and grade, plus castor prices are very strong. We also see improvements on muskrats taking place with our opening auctions. Sables continue to be a sought after luxury article as well as western cats and female fisher. Heavy coyotes are going to be in demand as a trim item once again, but a cold winter will help in North America Wild fur is our bread and butter, our pickup schedules and sale dates reflect that we are staying the course and have cut back very little as it pertains to customer service. Our March auction is once again in Finland and we have a great deal of buyers committed and confirmed already with orders for our wild goods. Russians with orders will fill them at this time as we will only be 30 minutes away. No one can predict when the industry will take off again but we all know it will in time as we have seen this cycle many times. However we trappers are blessed as we enjoy what we do and we do it in the best of surroundings. Not many other professionals get to work and spend their days in the wilderness breathing clean crisp air. Keep the faith and thanks for your loyalty to this great industry and this fur auction facility. Respectfully
Mark Downey Chief Executive Officer Fur Harvesters Auction Inc 2017 Auction Schedule Last Receiving Dates Sunday December 18, 2016 Sunday January 15, 2017 Sunday April 16, 2017 Sale Dates *January 16, 2017 **March 5-15, 2017 *May 17-18, 2017 **Sale will be held in Finland in conjuction with Saga Furs & American Legend. *Sales will be held in North Bay, Canada. Selected goods. For more information, please contact: FUR HARVESTERS AUCTION Inc. 1867 Bond Street North Bay, ON P1B 8K6 (705) 495 4688
Wild Fur Update Trend of Cautious Optimism Continues November 22, 2016 Winter has arrived in Northeast China. Temperatures for the last 10 days have been favourable to the retailers. Most are reporting increased sales over the same period last year. The NAFA team of Rob Cahill, Lumin Yao and Diane Benedetti, who has just directed a large fashion show in Harbin, are all more positive about this upcoming season as compared to a month ago. More important is a bigger differentiation in the price between a standard mink garment of regular quality and a high end garment of better quality. The difference between them today is most likely the highest we have seen in the last 10 years. This is important to our wild fur because it tells us that the consumer is looking for and willing to pay for new and better styled garments. This will help our sable/marten, fisher and lynx cat as more and more retailers are looking to have more diversity in their collections. If this continues, it will be a very positive, important breakthrough for wild fur. In North America and Europe, the retail of coyote-trimmed down jackets is just starting. The weather is finally turning colder and we are getting closer to the Christmas holidays. Leading manufacturers in this important segment are more optimistic than they were a year ago and are praying for the weather to cooperate. Increased wholesale and retail activity in Russia over the last 3 to 4 weeks has resulted in a much more optimistic outlook for the Russian retailer. Garments are inexpensive and this has resulted in increased retail activity. For the manufacturers and retailers, just selling at lower margins and creating turnover is very important. Russia is doing a lot more business compared to a year ago and for us as producers, regardless of the price of the garment, the most important thing is they are selling and cleaning up existing inventories. A commercial, ranch raised mink jacket sells for $500 U.S., making it very difficult for the raccoon jacket to compete, but once inventories are cleaned out and people have to re-purchase at the new prices, it should create new opportunities. Overall, compared to what we wrote to you on October 21 st, where we said the market was showing cautious optimism, we are happy to report that this trend is continuing. We are very proud that together with the Wild Fur Shippers Council we are able to continue to infuse large amounts of capital into wild fur promotion. The best way to secure the future of wild fur is through hard work, workshops and promotions. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. We are fully committed to wild fur, not just for today, but for many years to come. Only with your support is this possible. Herman Jansen Managing Director
Auction Schedule 2017 Auctions February 9 to 14, 2017 (on show February 4) May 8 to 15, 2017 (on show May 3) July 6 to 10, 2017 (on show July 1) For more information, please contact: NORTH AMERICAN FUR AUCTIONS 65 Skyway Avenue REXDALE, ON P9W 6C7 (416) 675-9320