Voyageurs
As Voyageurs people (almost exclusively French descent or Métis ) were originally designated, the transport tasks took over the fur trade in North America. This term later expanded to all the men involved in the fur trade from, so shut the dealer ( bourgeois ), their employees ( commis ) and tied employees, often bonded laborers ( Engages ), with a.
Voyageurs emerged as the great fur-trading companies such as the Hudson 's Bay Company or North West Company with branches deeply pursued into the continent and on a large scale transports were needed on the rivers. They were recruited mainly from the French-born underclass. In some cases, previously independent, as " coureurs des bois " ( Rangers ) designated, set dealer, which is why the Voyageurs are regarded as successors of the coureurs. Their work consisted of a high physical load around 14 hours of daily working hours and paddle or act of the great port, heavily laden Canadians, as well as the risk when riding rapids or the Great Lakes in any weather. Many Voyageurs ruined their health and had a significantly lower average life expectancy.
Thanks to the strong and often frequented trade routes of the voyageurs, the French sphere of influence in North America from Montreal could greatly spread along the routes created forts and trading posts. The Voyageurs were folk heroes and were discussed in many songs and poems.
In the decade before 1821 worked more than 3,000 Voyageurs. For 1738 380 contracts were detected, which is about one third to one fifth of the total number corresponded to that worked, because these contracts were concluded for three or five years. It's as uncertain as the numerical acquisition to date, so you can still identify as lower limits 500 Voyageurs for 1784, 1120 for 1801, 2000 for the year 1816. 1790 George Heriot reported that 350 paddlers, 18 officers and 9 employees were engaged in transportation between Grand Portage and Montreal every year. 1801 reported Alexander Mackenzie, the North West Company occupy 50 employees, 71 interpreters, 1120 canoe men and 35 leaders.
They came almost exclusively from Montréal and Trois- Rivières. Most of them worked for several years, but returned afterwards. Normally, only one family member worked as a Voyageur, so they rarely brought relatives. Since they were also extremely mobile, their friendships based on their work and the resulting contacts. They said almost all French, this was her best single idiom, but many are likely to more or less rudimentary knowledge gained in the Indian languages of their areas of activity.
The recruitment was carried out by agents in Montreal, but also at venues such as Grand Portage, Fort William or Fort Michilimackinac. It took place in late autumn, often in winter, rare in summer. The contracts were sent in the spring to Montreal. The assembled groups often came from a church. Thus came the men of John McDonell, the Joseph Faignant 1793 recruited, all of his community Berthier, Quebec City. Faignant at least since 1781 worked for the NWC and had risen within the company for recruiters.
The recruiters that should recruit a certain number of men compete with the fluctuating grain prices were. The higher they were, the more worth a rural life. In addition to that mild winters traveling on the frozen ground not more difficult.
Of Indians and occasionally by the Inuit Voyageurs took over techniques with which one could survive in the often harsh environment. This included clothing, means of transportation such as dog sledding or snow shoes, but also edible plants or the construction of shelters. Their lifestyle was for men who came from a feudal society with its numerous constraints, from a strong stimulus. Some did not return back into European society.
Since most of them could not write, they left almost no record. The only exception is John Mongle, a voyageur from Maskinongé, his wife 1830 wrote a letter or probably caused to be written. Sixteen counter Letters to Voyageurs are obtained. A single biography is preserved. There are also reports of court proceedings. The vast majority of the tradition comes from the higher employees of the fur companies or traveler who encountered them.
These reports should be used with great reservation because they were often depicting the wild, harsh living conditions, the nature of the ethnic groups, and often the presentation of one's own person. So could occur only in the Montreal Beaver Club, who at least had a winter west of Lake Superior stopped. A positive portrayal of their difficult work, their loyalty and efficiency therefore always cast a good light on the leaders. Sometimes they are described as ordinary men who followed their hunger, their vanity and their desires, and you must lead, such as children. You only talked about horses, dogs, canoes and women and strong men as Daniel Harmon said.
Even Alexander Ross described it as " sons of the wilderness ." Be talkative and independent. He tells of the elders of Voyageur group, he worked for 42 years, including 24 years as Canoe man. He rowed every day 50 songs long, which he was proud that he had even stopped in the wildest waters never rowing or his singing. He had twelve women - all dressed magnificently of them - had fifty horses and six racing dogs. 500 pounds had passed through his hands, and he had spent everything for his pleasure. Although he had no money, there was no happier, freer, more varied and independent life, like that of a Voyageurs.
Like all men societies they cultivated masculinity, which was reflected mainly in the form of boxing matches, canoe races, drinking, gambling and risk-taking. Dance and music offered a different kind of community, which in turn combined French and Indian traditions. Even the almost theatrical performance of resistance to the impositions of the leaders of the trading companies and the haggling over contracts and prices was one of them. So you won in the group view and "masculine capital ". To more, or to be Indian than the Indians, also served the acquisition of prestige, as well as the contempt for the bourgeois lifestyle. For more information, in what way group solidarity was generated, the analysis of the rituals, such as the departure or on arrival at the trading post.
Their religious worldview was shaped by their Catholic homeland, country - magical ideas and religions of the natives.
The first scientific study on the Voyageurs applies the work of Grace Lee Nute of 1931. Otherwise is the yield of the research in stark contrast to the reputation and the high degree of romanticizing this group, many of Canada represents and at a variety of occasions as a trademark or advertising be used. Except about their origin, their number and their economic benefits that could be found in the work contracts, little was known. 2004 Heather Devine analyzed the importance of the Voyageurs for the ethnogenesis and the family history. Its history as a working obligor examined Carolyn Podruchny in 2006.
Located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Minnesota, near the Canadian border at one of the traditional fur trade routes Voyageurs National Park has been named in memory of the Voyageurs.