Most people think of the fur trade as an entirely male occupation, partly because of the strength and stamina required to paddle long hours, or to portage loads weighing up to 180 pounds. From fur trade journals to paintings, almost all the records tell of men. This presentation considers the contributions of women to the fur trade, from Thanadelthur, who worked closely with the Hudson’s Bay Company, to Magdelaine La Framboise, one of the most successful fur traders in the Northwest Territory, to the Grey Nuns, who paddled and portaged right alongside the men. Women in the fur trade can inspire us with their remarkable stories of grit and perseverance.

Though Nikki Rajala has a Finnish last name, she’s also a direct descendant of French-Canadian voyageurs, fur traders and explorers. As a teenage Girl Scout, she paddled the Boundary Waters and Quetico, discovering what her ancestors saw. Nikki delights in searching out fur trade journals, voyageur contracts, historic sites, rendezvous reenactments, museum displays and sharing her discoveries. Nikki has published 3 novels, taught school for 34 years, and continues to work as a writer and copy editor.