Gift-giving greased the wheels in the fur trade

Gift-giving greased the wheels in the fur trade

With snow flurries teasing us, and Christmas carols playing, and wreaths and decorations everywhere, I wonder about the voyageurs during this season. Mostly, they celebrated New Year’s with a dram or two, occasionally with a rival post (as I wrote about in a...
‘Indian’ is not the best word?

‘Indian’ is not the best word?

Have you been stymied in trying to figure out correct terminology to refer to our Native American brothers and sisters? In trying to be more respectful, we may not know which words to use. Among those in common usage are: first American, Native American, American...
Winter games for voyageurs

Winter games for voyageurs

Did voyageurs ever have fun? What did they during the winter? (Erin, 11, Taylor, 9) Usually winterers were busy with their Native American customers, because hunters visited fur posts during the autumn to start trading. But then came winter, when it was harder to...
Were girls ever voyageurs?

Were girls ever voyageurs?

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...
Can people still see voyageurs? Where would you go?

Can people still see voyageurs? Where would you go?

Can people, like, see voyageurs still? Where would you go to learn how to do the work they did, like canoeing, or outdoor skills? Quinn, 11   Yup, there are lots of ways to see and learn how to be a voyageur. It depends on what you want to do, where you live and...

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