The Paddles of Walter Caribou
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Grand Portage National Monument in Grand Portage, Minn. marks the lower terminus of the 8-mile Grand Portage used by fur-trading voyagers to transport trade goods and furs from the Pigeon River to Lake Superior. The current fort is a reconstruction of the original fort. Inside the stockade, there’s a display of paddles built by Walter Caribou, a Ojibwe, who lived in Grand Portage. Caribou was known as a great storyteller and a good paddle maker. In the above picture, the paddles from the left going clockwise are labeled:
- Ladies Paddle
- Middleman Paddle
- Francis Anne Hopkins painting “Canoe Shooting Rapids” paddle.
- U.S.A. Paddle
- “Rendezvous Awards” Paddle
- Ladies Paddle.
- Cribbage board
- “Distressed” paddle
- U.S.A. Voyageurs Paddle
- Wild Ricing Sticks
- Crossed “gift” paddles
In addition to the great paddles on display, the fort is full of birchbark canoes. At points, someone may even be building one. Historic reenactors and park service interpretors tell the history of the fur trade and give a glimpse into the romanticized lifestyle — it wasn’t a picnic. The second weekend of every August Grand Portage hosts Rendezvous Days and Pow Wow celebration. During the event, reenactors set up a large voyager village and live as the voyagers would have during the fur trade. The Grand Portage tribe puts on the Pow Wow. If you love canoes and the fur trade culture, then it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event and great place to visit. Did I mention the best fry bread ever. Loads of pictures below.
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5 Comments
Darren
Hudson Bay Snuggies? :-)
I love that place…it oozes history. I wonder if they’d let a guy take some lines off some of Walter’s paddles. Any idea? I’d love to carve some of those patterns.
Andy
Nice article. I really gotta visit that place. and of course, do the fry bread.
Bryan Hansel
Mmmm…. Fry bread.
Darren – I bet they’d let you. Ilena has a friend that works there, so there’s always that connection.
James Garrison
Bryan – Thanks for writing this article! I remember Walter, and bought one of his paddles in 1991 when I was at Grand Portage photographing the Little Cedar Tree Spirit on Hat Point. I’ve used it a few times, and it’s light as a feather. He signed this one “Walter Caribou, Grande Portage MN, 1991 55605” in blue ballpoint pen.
Bryan Hansel
You’re welcome. Do you have a picture on your paddle? I’d love to add it to the article.