6th Graders Become Voyageurs
Voyageurs were the workmen who carried the weight of the fur trade on their backs. Unfortunately, few voyageurs could read or write, so they left no diaries that describe their experiences. Yet there are documents that other people left, including employment contracts, diaries, songs, letters, and other accounts. Through these, you can begin to understand what the life of a voyageur was like. The 6th graders studied documents, images, and captions to begin to uncover what a voyageur's life was really like. They were asked to write a diary that describes what it would be like to trade places with a young voyageur. The students used parchment-style paper and then Miss Griffis burned the edges to make them look authentic. During the week the class also enjoyed a voyageur treat of galette. Voyageurs ate galette almost every day. It was a flat, round bread made by adding water to flour. The cook then kneaded the dough, adding a little dirt from his unwashed hands. The galette was then baked over a campfire.
Recipe:
Mix 250 mL of flour with 5 mL of baking powder. Add enough water to make the dough moist but not sticky. Knead the dough, then roll it out to about 1 cm thick. Bake or fry at medium heat until light brown. It's delicious with maple syrup.