Voyageurs of the Fur Trade

The fur trade powered the economy of the Great Lakes for nearly two centuries, and voyageurs were the engine that drove the fur trade. Paddling canoes and boats across the Great Lakes watershed, voyageurs connected indigenous and European communities, facilitating an exchange of goods but also of ideas and cultures. Thanks to their challenging work conditions, as well as their links to the Anishnaabek and other indigenous groups, voyageurs created their own unique subculture as well, complete with modes of dress, food, and social elements. This presentation will discuss and demonstrate the unique jobs and culture of the voyageurs.    

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Craig Wilson is the chief curator for Mackinac State Historic Parks, where he supervises museum operations. He previously served as curator of history and museum historian.