History paddles into Rainy River

Ken Johnston
Editor

About half way through their 13 day journey, the modern day voyageurs stopped in Rainy River last Thursday evening to spend a night and then entertain and educate townspeople the next morning.
The fourteen voyageurs included two professors and twelve members of the Outdoor Recreation program at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. The course started in February of this year and part of it was planning of this trip, its route, supplies and an interpretative presentation that they had to do along the way. Professor Tom Potter said that the students also have to work on conflict resolution and risk management issues.
They began their journey the previous weekend... just below the Crilly Dam. Each night they sleep under the 800 lb. canoe they travel in. Rainy River was about the halfway point on their trip which will see them end up in Sioux Narrows this week.
On average they travel about 40 km per day. Their best day to date was 47 km. The total trip is about 450 km.
Potter said that they did one night paddle and found the stars to be absolutely gorgeous.
The biggest challenge they found was the lower water levels this year. They found themselves on the lookout for rocks that could damage the boat.
Every day a different member of the voyageurs takes a turn being the leader, steering the boat and facilitating group discussions. Potter said they are marked on their ability to lead, the journals they keep and their interpretative demonstrations.
Sean Root of the Yukon and a voyageur on the trip impressed Rainy Riverites with his ability to make fire using flint and steel. Other voyageurs demonstrated how the voyageurs entertained themselves on their journeys a couple of hundred years ago and others lead everyone in song.
Two young Rainy River girls, Lindsey and Jessie Bourre were recruited to be voyageurs as the group said that they lost one of their crew at a portage some days before. Both girls donned life jackets and went for a paddle around the river. They learned to salute the crowd on shore. They were also told that the voyageurs do about 45-50 strokes per minute, “If you can’t keep up we will toss you overboard,” said one of the voyageurs jokingly.
Another pair of voyageurs did a presentation on the importance of the fur trade and especially the beaver and its anatomy. A beaver pelt was passed around as was a beaver skull with its teeth intact.
One voyageur noted that mercury was used to get rid of the course hair in a beaver pelt before making it into a hat. The fumes from the mercury are toxic and hence the hatters often became “a bit loopy.” That is where the phrase “Mad as a hatter” comes from.
Potter said that the Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism program is a unique one and said that the students gain valuable experience in class and on the trip. Experience he says can lead them to a variety of careers. “Some will start their own businesses, some will work in the park’s system, perhaps as interpreters,” said Potter. He finds that the students are very highly motivated individuals.
Professor Rod Swatton said that the experience was an incredible one noting that they had seen many eagles along the way and found the hospitality in Rainy River to be incredible.
Jeff Fraser of Rainy River delivered homemade sticky buns on the eve of their arrival. Tom and Penny Shumaker delivered muffins the next day and they were treated to breakfast by the Chamber of Commerce at the Roadside.
At lunch on Friday fresh corn on the cob and garden potatoes were delivered.
“We just can’t believe the hospitality here,” said Potter.
After lunch they departed west with plans to stop at Oak Grove Camp and visit the original site of the Hudson’s Bay Hungry Hall and Indian burial mound there. From there it was onto the big lake and hopefully to Sioux Narrows by today, Sept. 3rd.