Coureur des bois

A coureur des bois, or coureur de bois, was an individual who engaged in the fur trade without permission from the French authorities. The coureurs de bois operated during the 17th century in eastern North America. The term literally means "runner of the woods".

"Coureur de bois" - A woodcut by Arthur Heming

During the 17th century the fur trade was very lucrative for New France. Competition was fierce and many colonists ventured west and north from the settled territory around Montreal (to the pays d'en haut, or "upper country") to seek out native trappers to trade with. These coureurs de bois were not looked upon favorably by Montreal authorities and royal officials. They did not like people leaving the developing agricultural areas to seek their fortune trading. The French authorities would rather the transportation of furs be handled by the natives rather than independent unregulated colonial traders who were bringing in so many furs that the market was oversupplied. This traffic in furs also undermined Montreal's role as the focal point for the fur trade - where traders would exchange beaver pelts for trade goods such as clothing, muskets and copper pots. Some of these illicit traders also caused problems by trading alcohol for furs. Some coureurs de bois became famous, including Étienne Brulé, Louis Joliet, Médard des Groseilliers and Pierre-Esprit Radisson, Jean Nicolet, Guillaume Couture, and Jacques de Noyon.

The Voyageurs

"Canoe Manned by Voyageurs Passing a Waterfall" by Frances Anne Hopkins

By 1681, the French authorities realized they had to control and restrict the numbers of traders so that the industry remained profitable. They therefore legitimized and limited the number of coureurs de bois by establishing a system that used permits (or congés). This legitimization created a "second-generation" coureur de bois: the voyageur, which literally means "traveller". Voyageurs held a permit or were allied with a Montreal merchant who had one.

The fur trade was now controlled by a small number of Montreal merchants and New France began a policy of expansion to control the trade. French influence extended west, north and south. Forts and trading posts were built with the help of explorers and traders. Trade treaties were negotiated with native groups, and fur trading became very profitable and organized. The system became complex, and the voyageurs, many of whom had been independent traders, slowly became hired labourers.

Contemporary actor costumed as a voyageur at a historic site in Minnesota

For the most part, voyageurs were the crews hired to man the canoes that carried trade goods and supplies to "rendezvous posts" where goods and supplies were exchanged for furs. These canoes travelled along well-established water routes. They then carried the furs back to Montreal. Some voyageurs stayed in the back country over the winter and transported the trade goods from the rendezvous posts to farther-away French outposts. During this time they also helped negotiate trade in native villages. In the spring they would carry furs from these remote outposts back to the rendezvous posts. Voyageurs also served as guides for explorers (such as Pierre La Vérendrye). These canoe men typically spoke French, and were French Canadian, or Métis, and were usually from Montreal island or seigneuries and parishes along or near the St. Lawrence River.

The voyageurs were highly valued employees of trading companies such as the North West Company (NWC) and the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Because of the effectiveness of voyageurs, the NWC was able to challenge the HBC. The HBC started hiring their own voyageurs in 1815 to help them compete with the NWC.

The voyageurs are legendary, especially in French Canada. They are folk heroes celebrated in folklore and music. Without the voyageurs and the coureurs de bois before them, there would have been no fur trade and therefore the settlement of much of North America would have taken a different direction. Explorations that led to the opening of the West would not have occurred, and the relationship between European and native people would have been much different.

External links

• The Fur Trade in New France: Les Coureurs des Bois
• US National Park Service page on voyageurs