Canadian history is full of mentions of the voyageurs, but they are part of the history of both Canada and the United States. In legend, these men were the fur traders and their employees who travelled by canoe deep into uncharted North America. They were also known as the coureurs des bois, or runners of the woods.
The typical early voyageur spoke French. Many were native and métis, and so at times were lumped into history as 'Indians'. During the height of the Canadian fur trade, they were employed by the North West Company, the Hudson's Bay Company, or private entrepreneurs. For better and for worse, the voyageur interacted with the First Nations more closely than the settlers that were to follow in their footsteps.
