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2023 Events
Fall Gathering 2023 registration is now closed!
November 2-5, 2023 at Camp Lakamaga in Marine on St Croix, MN
2024 NAVC Fall Gathering – Advance Notice Announcement![]()
The Fall Gathering will occur between Thursday, October 31 through to Sunday, November 3! The location this year is Fort William Historical Park, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada – just 45 miles north of GrandPortage.![]()
Your Fall Gathering registration includes lodging and meals from the evening of Thursday, October 31 through to the morning of Sunday, November 3. Presentation and workshop offerings will be held on Friday, November 1and Saturday, November 2, with the detailed schedule to be released in September.![]()
Registration will officially open on August 15 - please visit our website or watch our Facebook page for the announcements when registration is open!![]()
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Click here to learn more about the Fall Gathering.
2024 NAVC Fall Gathering at Fort William HIstorical Park
mailchi.mp
The Fall Gathering will occur between Thursday, October 31 through to Sunday, November 3! The location this year is Fort William Historical Park, in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada – just 45 miles nort...
Members should find the summer issue of the newsletter in their email inbox: ![]()
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Dear NAVC Members,![]()
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We are thrilled to announce the release of the Summer 2024 issue of the NAVC Voyageur Journal! This edition is packed with insightful articles, historical explorations, and captivating stories that celebrate our rich voyageur heritage.![]()
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Inside this issue, you’ll find:![]()
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The Beaver Club by Paul Ellenbecker![]()
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A deep dive into the history and traditions of this elite social club founded in 1785 by the wintering partners of the North West Company.![]()
Scottish Culture in the North West by Jeremy Kingsbury![]()
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An exploration of the profound influence of Scottish culture on the fur trade and life in the North West.![]()
The Tale of the Flying Canoe by Berit Allison![]()
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Discover the legendary story of "La Chasse-Galerie," a thrilling tale involving voyageurs, the Devil, and an enchanted canoe.![]()
Pemmican’s Multi-Cultural Impact on the Fur Trade by Sandy Gimpl![]()
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Learn about the crucial role of pemmican in the fur trade and its significance across different cultures.![]()
Past Fall Gathering Video Presentations![]()
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A summary of video presentations from previous fall gatherings, showcasing memorable moments and key insights.![]()
Book Recommendation by Janet La France![]()
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Get a glimpse of our featured book, carefully selected to enrich your understanding of voyageur history and culture.![]()
Cover Photo, by Berit Allison![]()
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We hope you enjoy this edition of the Voyageur Journal and find it both informative and engaging. Your feedback and contributions are always welcome.![]()
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Happy reading!![]()
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Warm regards,![]()
Kiri Butter - The Voyageur Journal Editor![]()
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A companion episode of the Voyageur Express Podcast also went live today to accompany a couple of the articles.![]()
Listen wherever you get your podcasts or here:![]()
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Popular Culture of the Fur Trade (Ossian Poems) Voyageur Express 4
voyageurexpress.fireside.fm
This episode is a reading from Donald Macpherson's collection of poetry he attributed to Ossian. You can read the original here: Fingal an ancient Epic Poem in Six Books: Together with several other P...
Fort William Historical Park - Parc historique du Fort William 2024 Great Rendezvous will be taking place July 12-14, 2024. Throughout the event there will also be scheduled workshops, talks and activities for participants. Check-in begins July 11 at 8:30 a.m., with check-out by 4 p.m. July 15.![]()
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Thank you to everyone who has already registered! If you still need to register, there is still time. The deadline to register is this Friday, June 28. Registration is free and includes your period campsite on the historic site. If you would prefer a modern campsite, we offer both serviced and non-serviced sites at our campground, located approximately 1 kilometre from the historic site. Please visit our website to book a modern campsite.![]()
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Here are a few event highlights:![]()
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Contests![]()
There will be daily contests open only to re-enactors. Capacity is limited; sign-up for these contests will be day-of at the 10 a.m. re-enactor meeting.![]()
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Friday, July 12: RendezFoods![]()
Saturday, July 13: Fire Lighting![]()
Sunday, July 14: Cooking Tripod Assembly![]()
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Workshops![]()
We are excited to announce our first workshop open only to re-enactors. “How to Modify and Adjust Your Pattern” with Claire Sparling will be held Friday, July 12 at 10:30 a.m. Re-enactors are expected to bring their own projects for the workshop. Capacity is limited; sign-up will be during check-in at the Visitor Centre. Remember to bring your pattern!![]()
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More activities, special guests, and workshops will be announced closer to the event.![]()
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Please contact Cory Josephson at cory.josephson@ontario.ca or 807-473-2344 if you have any questions.![]()
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We’re thrilled to have you with us for the Great Rendezvous 2024. See you in July!
Last Saturday, Stella Real~Werner passed away, and our extended reenactment family is mourning the loss of such a beloved member. Stella was a force of nature. Her smile could light a room, her laugh was infectious, and her hugs were legendary. Stella was not shy, or afraid to voice her opinions, and there are few of us who didn’t at some point seek her counsel. Stella was a natural leader, who led by example, and she was always the first to volunteer when help was needed. As a long time board member of the North American Voyageur Council, she helped us develop policies and programming and was one of the first to bring a woman’s perspective to our board. During our Fall Gatherings, if anyone was looking for her, they were directed to the kitchen. It was there, alongside her friends, Mary and Kiri, that Stella spent most of each Gathering, making food that nourished both our bodies and our souls. ![]()
She was a treasured wife, mom, grandma, and friend, and her passing has left us all with a great sadness upon us.![]()
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Stella Teresa Real-Werner Obituary 2024 - Olson & Swanson Chapels Funeral & Cremation Service
www.funeralandcremationservice.com
View Stella Teresa Real-Werner's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
Today in honor of Pride Month, we are highlighting our first Native queer icon. Today we will be discussing Ozaawindib, also known as Yellow Head. They were born in roughly the mid-to-late 1700’s. Ozaawindib's father was Wiishkobak, a chief of the Leech Lake Pillagers. We wish we could include a picture of Ozaawindib, but unfortunately there are no extant photographs or paintings of this individual. ![]()
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Ozaawindib seems to have identified as what we now would call Two-Spirit; they were assigned male at birth, but as they grew they began to identify themselves more with feminine attributes and ways of being. In Ojibwe culture, Ozaawindib was known as aayaakwe, someone who identifies with female characteristics. They were known to have several husbands, in each of these relationships apparently taking on a feminine role. ![]()
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In 1832 while traveling along the Brule River, Ozaawindib came across Henry Schoolcraft as he was on his expedition to try and find the headwaters of the Mississippi. They were hired by Schoolcraft as a guide and helped him find Omashkoozo-Zaaga’igan (Elk Lake), also known as Lake Itasca, which is the lake where the Mississippi River begins its journey to the Gulf of Mexico. ![]()
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Due to the fact that gender identity is a complex thing, both then and now, and due to the fact that Ozaawindib lived over 200 years ago and we do not have any of their own words to describe their own feelings towards their gender, it would be inappropriate to assign them the label of “transgender” (which is why we’ve chosen to use they/them pronouns here). However, it is clear that at the very least, this person did not conform to the traditional expectations of their gender assigned at birth, and that they preferred a feminine role in society. Thus, they can be considered a Native queer icon due to their gender nonconformity and also due to their important role within Minnesota history. Ozaawindib lives on today in place names such as Lake Plantagenet (Ozaawindibe-zaaga'igan) and Schoolcraft River (Ozaawindibe-ziibi) in the Ojibwe language, and as Yellow Head Point of Lake Itasca in English.
