by Nikki Rajala | Apr 28, 2024 | Voyageur
Q: How DO you pronounce Michilimackinac? A: Here’s the short answer [so you won’t embarrass yourself in front of people who know]: (MISH-ə-lə-MACK-ə-naw) The area known to the Odawa Indians as Michilimackinac means “Big Turtle.” For...
by Nikki Rajala | Mar 29, 2024 | Voyageur
Q: Where do you get accurate information? (Or do you just make this up?) Q: How do you know it’s true? I’m always on the lookout for new info. During the pandemic, I attended Zoom seminars, like on how voyageur sashes were made (George Washington wore one...
by Nikki Rajala | Mar 3, 2024 | Featured
Readers have asked for maps of Andre’s travels. To make it easier to locate him, I included a map in Book 3. And because I love maps and perused them extensively while writing “Uncharted Waters,” I’m sharing my favorite sections of those maps, with...
by Nikki Rajala | Feb 3, 2024 | Voyageur
In Book 3, “Uncharted Waters” (IN THE PUBLISHING PHASE!!), André’s mission is to ferry a young boy to his father, not lugging trade goods. Unfortunately, he’s late and doesn’t get first pick of the voyageurs for his crew. Each one introduces himself,...
by Nikki Rajala | Jan 29, 2023 | Voyageur
Meet “Postmaster Gregoire” who worked at Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary, Alberta. The person inside that authentic outfit is fur trade historian, public speaker, interpreter and re-enactor Greg Ingram. He spent his summers and falls interpreting at the...
