The “Voyageurs” (travelers) transported precious fur cargo on their canoes across the vast and then-unexplored Canada. These hardy men were involved in early European fur trading with the indigenous populations, which developed along the coasts of North America alongside the beaver fur trade. Initially known as “Coureur des bois,” a term often overlapping with “voyageurs,” the former were independent traders dealing in all kinds of goods, while the latter were licensed by New France and often employed. Coureurs des bois operated more independently and often engaged in the fur trade illegally during its early stages, while voyageurs held licenses and worked for fur trading companies. Over time, the role of the coureurs des bois diminished as the trade became more regulated.

As trade routes expanded, the transportation of furs became a larger part of the fur trading business. Authorities began issuing licenses (congés). Those travelers associated with the canoe transportation segment of this authorized effort became known as “voyageurs,” centered in Montreal. French influence expanded westward, northward, and southward. Forts and trading posts were built with the help of explorers and traders, and the fur trade became very profitable and organized. The system became complex, and the “voyageurs,” many of whom were independent traders, gradually became employees. From the 1680s to 1870, these men were living legends to the inhabitants, and at their peak (1810), they numbered up to 3,000 daring “voyageurs.”

Three characteristics shaped and forged these men. First, the very tough nature of the profession. Hardships, brawls, gambling, drinking, and, of course, adventurism were common traits of a body of men with exceptionally masculine characteristics. Secondly, their distinct French-Canadian heritage, which elevated them from farmers to prominent “voyageurs.” And finally, influence came from indigenous communities. The “voyageurs” learned from indigenous populations how to survive in the areas they traveled and adopted many traditional methods and tricks. At the same time, they brought their own Western materials and techniques, which were appreciated by the communities they encountered, creating a remarkable “blending.”

With wake-up calls at 2 or 3 AM, they paddled for 14 hours, until 8 PM, at a rate of 55 strokes per minute with short breaks every hour. Many drowned in rapid waters or storms while crossing lakes. And, of course, the dangers were not only from water. Outdoor life with wild tribes, bandits, swarms of black flies and mosquitoes, sinusitis, hernias, frequent injuries, and exhaustion often raised mortality rates. They had little food with them, which they limited to two meals a day, usually consisting of Indian pemmican¹, dried peas or beans, rubaboo², or salted pork.

Sources also mention that there was a hierarchy within the groups of voyageurs. Convoys often included a mix of experienced and less experienced individuals, including guides who had spent several winters in remote locations and hired men from various backgrounds, some of whom lacked experience. The members’ roles within the canoe reflected their level of experience. The men positioned at the “front” and the “helm” were usually the oldest and led the canoe convoys, while those in the “middle” were the least experienced.

Music was part of daily life for the “voyageur.” They sang songs while rowing and working, as well as during other activities and celebrations. Many who traveled with the “voyageurs” recorded their impressions, noting that singing was an important part of their routine. To this day, schoolchildren learn the few surviving songs as part of French-Canadian culture. One of these, is the fictional story of “La Chasse-galerie,” also known as “The Enchanted Canoe” or “The Flying Canoe”. It’s a popular French-Canadian story about voyageurs making a deal with the devil to visit their loved ones during the night, who were hundreds of miles away.

In the eyes of all the settlers, they were famous heroes, and the truth is that without the “Voyageurs” and the “Coureurs des Bois” before them, there would have been no fur trade and the colonies in much of North America would have taken a different direction, as it was this particular trade that allowed the development of a diversified Canadian society.

Sources:

K. Gross, “The Voyageurs, Images of Canada’s Archetypal Frontiersmen”, publ. Cross/Cultures, Vol. 20, 1996.

L. Dechêne, “Habitants and Merchants in Seventeenth-Century Montreal”, Montreal, 1992.

C. Podruchny, “Making the Voyageur World: Travelers and Traders in the North American Fur Trade“, publ. University of Nebraska Press, 2006.

Footnotes:

1. It was more commonly associated with the later fur trade period and the westward expansion, particularly with the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company.Pemmican has traditionally been made using whatever meat was available at the time: large game meat such as bison, deer, elk, or moose, but also fish such as salmon. ↩︎
2. A traditionally made food of peas and/or corn, with grease (bear or pork) and a thickening agent (bread or flour) that makes up the base of the stew. ↩︎