by Nikki Rajala | Nov 6, 2025 | Voyageur
A few years ago at a presentation, someone asked me: Why were French-Canadian voyageurs’ paddles red? We considered a few possibilities: Was it to show them how deep they should paddle? Not really — within a few hours of paddling, even newbie voyageurs would...
by Nikki Rajala | Aug 15, 2025 | Voyageur
Could a voyageur climb the fur trade ladder and get a powerful job? Non, c’est impossible. A glass ceiling existed. There were strong class and caste restrictions in place, and it was impossible to transcend them. Reading, writing and mathematics skills were...
by Nikki Rajala | Jul 13, 2025 | Voyageur
“A Canadian, if born to be a labourer, deems himself to be very unfortunate if he … shall reach five feet ten or eleven, it forever excludes him from the privilege of becoming voyageur. There is no room for the legs of such people in these canoes, But if he shall stop...
by Nikki Rajala | Jun 15, 2025 | Voyageur
In honor of National Canoe Day — June 26 in Canada — I created this emoji: ͼ!¡¡¡¡¡¡¡!ͻ Canoes were built in a variety of sizes, depending on need. Indigenous people used canoes for traveling, ricing, … and large canoes for war and trading. When the fur trade...
by Nikki Rajala | May 12, 2025 | Featured
French-Canadian voyageurs had one signature piece of clothing — their colorful wide woven sash. Voyageurs exuded joy and verve. But, working on the lowest rung of workers in the fur trade hierarchy, they had few resources to express that lively style. Their shirts and...
