by Nikki Rajala | Dec 14, 2019 | Voyageur
Wondering what books to offer your youngsters to read over the cold winter? Here are a batch I’ve appreciated for their thorough information and enjoyed for their story.Just in time for someone’s Christmas stocking. In alpha order by book title — so...
by Nikki Rajala | Oct 27, 2019 | Voyageur
What totally inspires wanna-be voyageurs like me? The impressive lakes of the north woods, of course. Bill and I were fortunate to be on those amazing waters that were part of the voyageurs’ highway. We were invited to spend a September weekend on Bear Island of Crane...
by Nikki Rajala | Sep 14, 2019 | Voyageur
Over the years I’ve really disliked Toussaint Charbonneau, the husband of Sacagawea who happened to be a French-Canadian fur trader. (Which has become very interesting to me!) My negative beliefs about Charbonneau came from Elliot Coues, who thoroughly vilified him...
by Nikki Rajala | May 5, 2019 | Voyageur
When I needed info on pensions for infirm canoemen, where could I find it? Luckily, a book by Carolyn Podruchny had just enough online to answer my question — and more. Her “Making the Voyageur World: Travelers and Traders in the North American Fur Trade” had much to...
by Nikki Rajala | Apr 7, 2019 | Voyageur
Were girls ever voyageurs? Did girls go on the fur brigades? Amazingly, yes. If you figure in all the Native American women, there are countless thousands whose assistance was invaluable. If you’re talking European immigrants or Caucasians, a bare handful. To...
by Nikki Rajala | Mar 3, 2019 | Voyageur
Roadkill can become a beautiful, valued pelt. Yes, it can. And here’s how one incident played out: After hitting a small beaver on the road with his car, my dad had it tanned as a “made beaver.” FYI: From the mid-1600s for a couple hundred years, a “made beaver”...
