Lake Vermilion Cultural Center hosts conversations on the fur trade

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2016 — Late in the 17th century the cultural intersection between the ancestors of Lake Vermilion’s Bois Forte Ojibwe Indians, and French Voyageurs and Courier du Bois traders created an economy which provided benefits for both peoples, yet drastically changed life in the boreal forest around Lake Vermilion. Early people used water routes and well worn portages facilitating transportation and establishing trade relationships across Minnesota, North to Hudson’s Bay and East across the Great Lakes border country all the way to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Routes also traveled to the West as well as down the Mississippi River and crossed this continent in trade routes for approximately 8,000 years before Europeans arrived. The north woods experienced big changes when the French arrived bringing European manufactured trade items, monetizing the economy and creating deep business relationships with the Indians of the Lake Vermilion area and across North America.

Bill Latady, curator of the Bois Forte Museum, and Lake Vermilion author Bill Durbin graciously entertained and educated an interested audience in two Saturday afternoon lectures in the club car of the Tower Train Museum. Each gentleman presented his research on different aspects of the fur trade. Latady talked about the trade from the point-of-view of the Bois Forte Band Indians living on Lake Vermilion, and across the lake country, during the time period circa 1725 through the 1850s. Durbin presented an overview of the incredible logistics of the fur trade from the St. Lawrence River to Duluth, Grand Portage, Lake Vermilion, Basswood and Rainy Lake. The lectures were sponsored by the Vermilion Cultural Center during its Midsummer 2016 Festival. The programs were free and served as a prelude to an evening fundraising dinner.

Latady, who has a lifetime of experience working in archaeology, historic preservation and museum… [Read More]