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 | 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...
by Nikki Rajala | May 19, 2018 | Featured
It’s in my blood—I’m descended from voyageurs. Mom found listings of a dozen engagés, or canoemen, through genealogy research into her French-Canadian roots. My grandfather, a younger son of a younger son of a voyageur, told of his connection: His great...
