by Nikki Rajala | Aug 20, 2021 | Voyageur
Have you ever done something automatically, not realizing it had amazing significance? Whenever my family headed from Bigfork to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, we took Minnesota Highway 38. Up through my early teens, I could recite all the lakes — in order — on that winding...
by Nikki Rajala | Mar 12, 2020 | Voyageur
Do you love maps as much as I do? When Bill drives, I’ve got a paper map on my lap. Sure GPS gives helpful info, turn by turn, but it doesn’t give me the whole picture. Old maps in particular fascinate me. Besides studying them, I’ve saved a few — like...
by Nikki Rajala | Feb 7, 2020 | Voyageur
I get confused as to the timeline of events in New France–when were the first explorers out there, the major wars, the big fur companies. (Maybe I was sick that day in school. Maybe you were too?) So I decided I needed a short “cheat sheet” to refer...
by Nikki Rajala | Jun 28, 2019 | Featured
After five weeks traveling in 1793, John Macdonell and two others arrive at Michilimackinac, where they spend a companionable day or so. Then they hustle on to the rendezvous where important company decisions are being made. His journal continues, the fifth part in...
by Nikki Rajala | Jul 3, 2018 | Voyageur
What was it like at a rendezvous? Could we still see what happened? Would it be safe for kids? (Taya and Brinn, age 13) In the 1800s, voyageurs celebrated for most of July at the rendezvous. After six weeks (or more) of paddling full-tilt from either Lachine with...
