| A Long Ways from Iroquois Country | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 17 2015, 02:05 AM (32 Views) | |
| Firebird | May 17 2015, 02:05 AM Post #1 |
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Firebird briefly thought back over her life. She came from the Seneca tribe of the Iroquois League of Nations (Haudenosaunee). Growing up near Niagara Falls, she had become familiar with the nearby fort there which the French had built as a castle and which was also used as a trading post. Firebird had always wished to become a trader from the time she was little, and would not let being a girl stop her. Or anything else, for that matter. For when she became a Christian, Firebird had to flee up to a settlement in Canada. The French Blackrobes had helped her there. Once in Canada, Firebird caught sight of the voyageurs, or fur traders ... and insisted on being hired by the fur company to help negotiate with the Western tribes at the Rendezvous at Grand Portage. Firebird would paddle the canoe, she would sing, she would carry the packs along the portage trails as best as her small size allowed, and she would cook. Her enthusiasm was duly noted, so she was hired. With Serge le Voyageur as the Avant (or captain at the front of the canoe), all went well for several seasons. But then Serge got sick and could no longer paddle the canoe, so he went away. The man who took over as the new Avant was mean, and Firebird did not like him. So at the end of the next season, she hid in the woods at the end of the Rendezvous. The canoe could not wait for her, so it left. Free again, Firebird caught up to the trading party of the Lakota Sioux as it was heading back home from the Rendezvous. Now she would live with this tribe, and spend the winter with them. And that winter, Firebird met an hivernant ... a white man friendly with the Sioux who had also been given permission to stay with the tribe over the winter. This hivernant was something of a trader too, interested in medicine and strange lore that Firebird had never seen. Soon enough Firebird had married him. Now they were headed South, to a place called Arizona. ![]() NOTE ON PHOTO: I am wearing the bright red wool dress. Serge is standing next to me, facing me. Yes, I'm a historical interpreter. What you see is a voyageur camp. A lady from the Cleveland Metroparks took the photo years ago. I volunteered there for many years. Edited by Firebird, May 17 2015, 02:32 AM.
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| Kayne Farradey | May 17 2015, 07:41 AM Post #2 |
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(You sure are an active person, this is a nice photo.) |
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| Firebird | May 17 2015, 07:36 PM Post #3 |
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(Thank you, Kayne!) |
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