History of the Voyageurs
The early voyageurs were adventurers who journeyed by canoe to trade with Indians for their abundance of furs. The most commonly traded fur was that of the beaver. Today, the term 'voyageur', relates to anyone travelling for adventure and experience. In our region much of that travel continues to have strong links to the network of lakes. Early aboriginal hunters, local residents and visiting tourists are involved with the landscape and the voyage. These early travelers were the backbone of our economy.
The Northwest Company was composed of French, Scots and Americans. They set up their official headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. The route from Kaminstiquia (later Fort William) to the inland at Grand Portage then went north and west through a series of lakes and rivers marked by well over 50 portages.
The canoe was the vehicle used for communication and trading. The furs were transported to Montreal where they then were traded by the Europeans for their goods. The canoes would then depart from above Lachine Rapids in Montreal and paddle up the St. Lawrence River and connect to the Ottawa River, up the Ottawa River to the Mattawa River, through Lake Nippissing, down the French River to Lake Huron, around Lake Huron to Sault St. Marie and half way around Lake Superior to Fort William. It was here that these heavier loads were then broke down into smaller Voyageur canoes for their trips out to Western Canada.
The main travel route from Lake Winnipeg to Montreal was the 'Voyageur Waterway' in the 18th and 19th centuries. This significant historical route made it possible for European explorers to travel to Western Canada for the purpose of trading goods. The most reliable heavy freight route between the prairies and Lake Superior was the Boundary Waters segment of the waterway, until the demise of the fur trade in the late 1820's.
The Boundary Waters have maintained their unique character since the turn of the century despite being heavily used by recreationists. With the combined attractions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest-Minnesota and Quetico Provincial Park-Ontario have earned the waterway it's undeniable reputation as North America's premiere wilderness canoe area. The Canadian side of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area was nominated by the Government of Ontario as a 'Canadian Heritage Rivers System' in June of 1986. The fur trade route of the Boundary Waters alternated between the Kaminstiqua River (1670-1821) and the Pigeon River (1731-1804). For over 100 years these routes served as the transportation corridor to the west. With the formal desgination of US/Canada borders, the northwest company abandoned the border route and hsifted to the early french route of Fort William to Kaminstiqua.
From the St. Lawrence and the St. John in the east, to the Fraser and the Thompson in the west, from the Mackenzie in the north to the Niagara in the south, the rivers of Canada tell the story of Canada.In 1812 David Thompson made his way to Montreal with his wife Charlotte and their five children. Great Britain is at war with the young republic to the south of Canada, a war that further complicates the fur trade’s already complex balance of power and intricate relationships. While at Fort William, the North West Company post on Lake Superior, Thompson hears of the British capture of the American fort at Mackinac.
It was a victory for Britain and her Native allies. The traditional fur trade route that Thompson was canoeing—the French River (Quetico Provincial Park) to Lake Nipissing and the Ottawa River to Montreal—is the route that Radisson and des Groseilliers travelled in 1660. The two French traders played a vital role in expanding the fur trade in North America. It is also the same route that Aboriginal peoples travelled for hundreds of generations. In their canoes, they are all following humans’ natural desire to explore the region.
Paul Kane was a travelling artist, trapper, surveyor and explorer. He was also one of the first 'tourists' to travel from the Great Lake to the Pacific Ocean. One of Paul Kane's most famous paintings is titled 'French River Rapids', which quite recently was discovered to be a representation of our very own French River in Quetico Provincial Park.
For more information on history please visit our links page!
The Northwest Company was composed of French, Scots and Americans. They set up their official headquarters in Montreal, Quebec. The route from Kaminstiquia (later Fort William) to the inland at Grand Portage then went north and west through a series of lakes and rivers marked by well over 50 portages.
The canoe was the vehicle used for communication and trading. The furs were transported to Montreal where they then were traded by the Europeans for their goods. The canoes would then depart from above Lachine Rapids in Montreal and paddle up the St. Lawrence River and connect to the Ottawa River, up the Ottawa River to the Mattawa River, through Lake Nippissing, down the French River to Lake Huron, around Lake Huron to Sault St. Marie and half way around Lake Superior to Fort William. It was here that these heavier loads were then broke down into smaller Voyageur canoes for their trips out to Western Canada.
The main travel route from Lake Winnipeg to Montreal was the 'Voyageur Waterway' in the 18th and 19th centuries. This significant historical route made it possible for European explorers to travel to Western Canada for the purpose of trading goods. The most reliable heavy freight route between the prairies and Lake Superior was the Boundary Waters segment of the waterway, until the demise of the fur trade in the late 1820's.
The Boundary Waters have maintained their unique character since the turn of the century despite being heavily used by recreationists. With the combined attractions of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Superior National Forest-Minnesota and Quetico Provincial Park-Ontario have earned the waterway it's undeniable reputation as North America's premiere wilderness canoe area. The Canadian side of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area was nominated by the Government of Ontario as a 'Canadian Heritage Rivers System' in June of 1986. The fur trade route of the Boundary Waters alternated between the Kaminstiqua River (1670-1821) and the Pigeon River (1731-1804). For over 100 years these routes served as the transportation corridor to the west. With the formal desgination of US/Canada borders, the northwest company abandoned the border route and hsifted to the early french route of Fort William to Kaminstiqua.
From the St. Lawrence and the St. John in the east, to the Fraser and the Thompson in the west, from the Mackenzie in the north to the Niagara in the south, the rivers of Canada tell the story of Canada.In 1812 David Thompson made his way to Montreal with his wife Charlotte and their five children. Great Britain is at war with the young republic to the south of Canada, a war that further complicates the fur trade’s already complex balance of power and intricate relationships. While at Fort William, the North West Company post on Lake Superior, Thompson hears of the British capture of the American fort at Mackinac.
It was a victory for Britain and her Native allies. The traditional fur trade route that Thompson was canoeing—the French River (Quetico Provincial Park) to Lake Nipissing and the Ottawa River to Montreal—is the route that Radisson and des Groseilliers travelled in 1660. The two French traders played a vital role in expanding the fur trade in North America. It is also the same route that Aboriginal peoples travelled for hundreds of generations. In their canoes, they are all following humans’ natural desire to explore the region.
Paul Kane was a travelling artist, trapper, surveyor and explorer. He was also one of the first 'tourists' to travel from the Great Lake to the Pacific Ocean. One of Paul Kane's most famous paintings is titled 'French River Rapids', which quite recently was discovered to be a representation of our very own French River in Quetico Provincial Park.
For more information on history please visit our links page!