The Voyageurs

This short film tells the tale of the men who drove big freighter canoes into the wilderness in the days when the fur trade was Canada's biggest business. The film recreates scenes of the early 19th century with a soundtrack by an all-male chorus.

Directed by Bernard Gosselin - 1964

[jadeddragon]

Proud to be a direct descendant of the great voyageurs !

[jasonhenn]

Fabulous, way better than fiction. 58 years a Canadian, they don't make em like they used to.

[ryangrimm]

I've done the trip, the length of Superior with others in trade canoes...21 days to Thunder Bay. Got to the Fort in time for Dominion Day, and consorted with the local ladies for three days.
Down to the American fort (what a joke) for the Fourth.
Then up the Grande Portage, one trip was enough.
Then up to the Height Of Land....and later, home.
June/July, 1979.

[CanoeToNewOrleans]

I showed this video to my Grade 4 social studies class today. (We're learning about the fur trade.) They enjoyed the songs and they liked the part where the voyageurs go through the rapids. Great video.

[tumbleweed]

I love this short film these men were hard core I could not fathom paddling for 15 hours a day. I love canoeing and try to spend 5 hours during the weekend on the water and I am tired by the end of my outing. I love the work of the Mason family Bill, Becky, and Paul and their dear wife and Mom.

[iamconfused]

I remember seeing this in fifth grade around 2 years ago. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it weren't for the panful hours of work I had to do, this was online school so I did the work with my mother and she made me squeeze every bit of information out of the video. but I am grateful that she did cuz I got a MIGHTY fine grade on the assignment.

[mudfishnick]

It's been almost 8 years since I first saw this documentary, and the song at the beginning is still deeply ingrained in my memory

[glenfenderman]

Some the toughest kind of real men there ever was, and they had no doubt of their manhood!

[fuzzyboi]

Please don’t delete these videos. I need the nostalgia.

[leoscheibelhut]

Very good presentation! The things our forefathers did to make a living!

[jordyndavis]

I'm sad to say that this beautiful film, these amazing men, you can't find many now days. cahoots to u guys who still go and play and travel like these

[laurachisick]

This is so amazing how you recreated the voyageurs in history to the present!

[nevrock]

My brother and I loved this film when we watched it each year in Ely, MN. Classic!

[jimf]

They hardly even touched on the hardships these guys lived through. Tough guys to be sure.
I love these old NFB videos. We used to get the old super 8 projector out and watch them in school.

[carolhutchinson]

I always show this to my Canadian history class. I wish there were subtitles, though.

[geoffwilson]

I used to watch this from time to time. Now I just listen to it every week. This should have 100 million views not 100 thousand. I wish I was a voyageur!

[joyswenson]

My boys and I are reading “The Broken Blade” by William Durbin, which followers a 13 yr old boy as a voyageur, and the challenges of that life. This video is great for giving that story more life. Thank you! ❤

[StormLaker]

I chuckle every time I watch this when the one dude hops out and has a pair of Chuck Taylor's on, haha.

[tomvee]

thanks for the great memory of when i first saw this. i remember it each time i fish at french river!

[pl]

Brings to life a song we New York schoolchildren sang about 75 years ago:

From the wilds of the North / Comes the young voyageur,
With his buoyant canoe/ Well laden with fur.
Gladsome and free, / Little cares he,
For there’s joy in the heart /Of the young voyageur.