Editing James Bay (section)

==History==
Human presence along the shores of the bay began after the retreat of the glaciers at the end of the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]], around 8,150 years ago. A variety of indigenous cultures have lived in this area. At the time of contact with Europeans, the indigenous peoples along both shores of the bay were ethnically [[Cree]] peoples.

[[Henry Hudson]] is believed to have been the first European to enter the bay, when he explored it in 1610 as part of his exploration of the larger bay that was named for him. This southerly bay was named in honour of [[Thomas James (sea captain)|Thomas James]], a [[Wales|Welsh]] [[Captain (nautical)|captain]] who explored the area more thoroughly in 1630 and 1631.

James Bay is important in the [[history of Canada]] as one of the most hospitable parts of the Hudson Bay region, although it has had a low human population. It was an area of importance to the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] and [[History of Canada (1763–1867)|British expansion into Canada]]. The fur-trapping duo of explorers [[Pierre-Esprit Radisson]] and [[Médard des Groseilliers]] convinced the English Crown, primarily [[Prince Rupert of the Rhine]], a favoured nephew of [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] and cousin to [[Charles II of England|Charles II]], that a colonial enterprise in [[Northern Canada|the north]] would yield wealth in minerals and fur. Des Groseilliers accompanied Captain Zachariah Gillam on the [[ketch]] ''[[Nonsuch (1650 ship)|Nonsuch]]'' and they jointly founded Charles Fort, the first European fur-trading post on James Bay.

Their success was such that the company was chartered by Charles II on their return, although they did not bring any minerals. This charter granted a complete trading monopoly to the company of the whole [[List of Hudson Bay rivers|Hudson Bay basin]] (including James Bay). At the same time, the first English colony on what is now mainland Canada, [[Rupert's Land]], was formed, with the first "capital" designated at Charles Fort. The first colonial governor, Charles Baley (various spellings exist, including but not limited to "Bailey"), was a [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]], and this is believed to have been a factor in his respectful relations with the company's trading partners, the [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]].

Significant fur trapping has continued in the region. In general, the east coast or East Main of James Bay was too easily accessed by French and independent traders from the south. The Hudson's Bay Company emphasised from an early period trading relations with tribes in interior trapping grounds, reached from the west coasts of James and Hudson bays. East Main was, nevertheless, the gateway to British settlements in what would become [[Manitoba]] ([[Winnipeg]], for example) and as far west as the [[Rocky Mountains]].