Making the Voyageur World: Travelers and Traders in the North American Fur Trade (France Overseas: Studies in Empire and Decolonization)

French Canadian workers who paddled canoes, transported goods, and staffed the interior posts of the northern North American fur trade became popularly known as voyageurs. Scholars and public historians alike have cast them in the romantic role of rugged and merry heroes who paved the way for European civilization in the wild Northwest. Carolyn Podruchny looks beyond the stereotypes and reveals the contours of voyageurs’ lives, world views, and values.Making the Voyageur World shows that the voyageurs created distinct identities shaped by their French-Canadian peasant roots, the Aboriginal peoples they met in the Northwest, and the nature of their employment as indentured servants in diverse environments. Voyageurs’ identities were also shaped by their constant travels and by their own masculine ideals that emphasized strength, endurance, and daring. Although voyageurs left few conventional traces of their own voices in the documentary record, an astonishing amount of information can be found in descriptions of them by their masters, explorers, and other travelers. By examining their lives in conjunction with the metaphor of the voyage, Podruchny not only reveals the everyday lives of her subjects—what they ate, their cosmology and rituals of celebration, their families, and, above all, their work—but also underscores their impact on the social and cultural landscape of North America. (20071011) French Canadian Workers Who Paddled Canoes, Transported Goods, And Staffed The Interior Posts Of The Northern North American Fur Trade Became Popularly Known As Voyageurs. Scholars And Public Historians Alike Have Cast Them In The Romantic Role Of Rugged And Merry Heroes Who Paved The Way For European Civilization In The Wild Northwest. Carolyn Podruchny Looks Beyond The Stereotypes And Reveals The Contours Of Voyageurs' Lives, World Views, And Values. Making The Voyageur World Shows That The Voyageurs Created Distinct Identities Shaped By Their French-canadian Peasant Roots, The Aboriginal Peoples They Met In The Northwest, And The Nature Of Their Employment As Indentured Servants In Diverse Environments. Voyageurs' Identities Were Also Shaped By Their Constant Travels And By Their Own Masculine Ideals That Emphasized Strength, Endurance, And Daring. Although Voyageurs Left Few Conventional Traces Of Their Won Voices In The Documentary Record, An Astonishing Amount Of Information Can Be Found In Descriptions Of Them By Their Masters, Explores, And Other Travelers. By Examining Their Lives In Conjunction With The Metaphor Of The Voyage, Podruchny Not Only Reveals The Everyday Lives Of Her Subjects - What They Ate, Their Cosmology And Rituals Of Celebration, Their Families, And, Above All, Their Work - But Also Underscores Their Impact On The Social And Cultural Landscape Of North America.--jacket. List Of Illustrations -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Note On Sources -- Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction : Sons Of The Farm, The Trade, And The Wilderness -- 2. Leaving Home : Family And Livelihood In French Canada And Beyond -- 3. Rites Of Passage And Ritual Moments : Voyageur Cosmology -- 4. It Is The Paddle That Brings Us : Voyageurs Working In Canoes -- 5. The Theater Of Hegemony : Masters, Clerks, And Servants -- 6. Rendezvous : Parties, Tricks, And Friendships -- 7. En Dérouine : Life At Interior Fur Trade Posts -- 8. Tender Ties, Fluid Monogamy, And Trading Sex : Voyageurs And Aboriginal Women -- 9. Disengagement : Going Home And Going Free -- 10. Conclusion : Carrying The World -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. Carolyn Podruchny. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [371]-397) And Index. Contents......Page 6 Illustrations, Maps, and Tables......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 16 Note on Sources......Page 20 Abbreviations......Page 22 1. Introduction......Page 28 2. Leaving Home......Page 45 3. Rites of Passage and Ritual Moments......Page 79 4. It Is the Paddle That Brings Us......Page 113 5. The Theater of Hegemony......Page 161 6. Rendezvous......Page 192 7. En Dérouine......Page 228 8. Tender Ties, Fluid Monogamy, and Trading Sex......Page 274 9. Disengagement......Page 314 10. Conclusion......Page 329 Notes......Page 336 Bibliography......Page 398 Index......Page 426 By examining their lives in conjunction with the metaphor of the voyage, Podruchny reveals not only the everyday lives of her subjects but underscores their resonance in history as well as in the Metis communities they helped found.