Before the actual fur trading begins

Before the actual fur trading begins

As it’s coming on wintry weather, did you ever wonder — What were the voyageurs doing 200 years ago in this season? But of course you did. By October they’d returned to their posts with loads of new goods from the rendezvous, ready to start trading. What...
The night sky from an Ojibwe perspective

The night sky from an Ojibwe perspective

Are you drawn to the night sky? I’ve read that stars and humans contain most of the elements, that we’ve received those elements through supernovas, so we are truly “star people.” Star Bill and Star Nikki enjoyed this summer’s spectacular NEOWISE...
Why did so many voyageurs come from Sorel?

Why did so many voyageurs come from Sorel?

If you have voyageurs in your French-Canadian ancestry, some of your forebears may be from Sorel. The hamlet provided many engages for the fur trade, actually. Why? Did some towns send more of their sons than others? And what attracted the men to doing such hard labor...
Vomits & Purges: Medicine in the voyageur era

Vomits & Purges: Medicine in the voyageur era

Has your concern during the pandemic COVID-19 made you curious about what medical remedies voyageurs used? It piqued my interest. Here’s what I found about their “physick.” “3 purges & 3 vomits” for whatever ails you By age 17, George Nelson was...

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