NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Voyageurs

The coureurs des bois (runners of the woods) or voyageurs (travellers) is the name given to the men who engaged in the The fur trade was a huge part in the early economic development of North America. European traders and trappers explored the continent where they established relationships with local Native American communities in order to obtain the best pelts. Beaver was especially prized. For the majority of the fur trade era... fur trade directly with the Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. This term comprises a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of them still... Amerindians in World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the... North America from the time of New France (French: la Nouvelle-France) describes the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Saint Lawrence River by Jacques Cartier in 1534 to the cession of New France to the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1763. At its peak in... New France up through the Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. In the sense of the Common Era... 19th century, when much of the continent was still mostly covered by the wilderness.

Actor in historical costume of a voyageur at the North West Company Post State Historic Site near Pine City, Minnesota (taken Oct. 1, 2004) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. Click on date to download the...

Contemporary actor costumed as a voyageur at a historic site in State nickname: North Star State Other U.S. States Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Governor Tim Pawlenty Official languages None Area 225,365 km² (12th) - Land 206,375 km² - Water 18,990 km² (8.4%) Population (2000) - Population 4,919,479 (21st) - Density... Minnesota

The voyageurs typically spoke French (français, langue française) is one of the most important Romance languages, outnumbered in speakers only by Spanish and Portuguese. In 1999 French was the 11th most spoken language in the world being spoken by about 77 million people (called Francophones) as a mother tongue, and... French, and were French Canadian from This article describes the Canadian province. For other usages, see Quebec (disambiguation). Motto: Je me souviens (I remember) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Lieutenant Governor Lise Thibault Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Area 1,542,056 km² (2nd) - Land 1,183,128 km² ... Quebec or Métis. They were often employees of French, French Canadian, or later British trading operations who travelled by Canoe at El Nido, Philippines A canoe is a relatively small human-powered boat. It is propelled by one or more paddlers, the number depending on the size of canoe. The paddles are almost always single-bladed. The paddlers face in the direction of travel, either seated on supports or... canoe deep into uncharted North America to trade fur with the First Nations is the current title used by Canada to describe the various societies of the indigenous peoples, called Native Americans in the U.S. They have also been known as Indians, Native Canadians, Aboriginal Americans, Amer-Indians, or Aboriginals, and are officially called Indians in the Indian Act, which... First Nations/ Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. This term comprises a large number of distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of them... Native American peoples. The voyageurs typically interacted with the native peoples more closely than the settlers who were to follow in their footsteps. Many served as interpreters and guides for the French or the English.

During the struggle for supremacy in the fur trade in the late Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. In the sense of the Common Era... 19th century, the upstart The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in the city of Montreal in British North America. Although there are historical references to a North West Company as early as 1776, the first recorded involvement was a 16-share organization formed in 1779 that for the next four... North West Company challenged the more-established The Hudsons Bay Company building in Montreal The Hudsons Bay Company (HBC) is the oldest corporation in Canada and is one of the oldest in the world still in existence. From its longtime headquarters at York Factory on Hudson Bay it controlled the fur trade throughout much of... Hudson's Bay Company by employing a network of voyageurs. Unlike the Hudson' Bay traders, who traditionally stayed inside coastal posts and required natives to come to them, the voyageurs roamed along the river valleys as far as present-day State nickname: Beaver State Other U.S. States Capital Salem Largest city Portland Governor Ted Kulongoski Official languages None Area 255,026 km² (9th) - Land 248,849 km² - Water 6,177 km² (2.4%) Population (2000) - Population 3,421,399 (28th) - Density 13.76... Oregon, doing business directly with the natives. The success of the voyagers prompted a change in strategy by the Hudson's Bay Company, which began sending out its own expeditions into the continental interior. Eventually the Hudson's Bay Company caught and surpassed the North West Company in this technique.

Some coureurs des bois became famous, like Étienne Brulé, Louis Joliet, also known Louis Jolliet (September 21, 1645 - May 1700), was a Canadian explorer born in Quebec who is important for his discoveries in North America. Jolliet, along with Jacques Marquette were the first white men to map the Mississippi River. (See French colonization of the Americas). He was... Louis Joliet, Médard des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson (c. 1636-1710) was a French-born explorer and fur trader. He came to New France as a teenager and was captured in an Iroquois raid, but was adopted by his captors and became accustomed to their way of life. After two years living with the Iroquois... Pierre-Esprit Radisson (who both betrayed France), Jean Nicolet (born 1598 - died November 1, 1642) was a French voyageur noted for exploring the Northwest Territory. Jean Nicolet statue Jean Nicolet (Nicollet) de Belleborne was born near Cherbourg, France. In 1618 he came to Quebec as a clerk and to train as an interpreter for the Compagnie des... Jean Nicolet, Guillaume Couture, and La Vérendrye. The coureur des bois is a legendary character in the culture of This article describes the Canadian province. For other usages, see Quebec (disambiguation). Motto: Je me souviens (I remember) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Quebec City Largest city Montreal Lieutenant Governor Lise Thibault Premier Jean Charest (PLQ) Area 1,542,056 km² (2nd) - Land 1,183,128 km² ... Quebec and continues to be a subject of inspiration today.

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