Snow Shoes and Canoes. Or, The Early Days of a Fur-Trader in the Hudson Bay Territory


Book Description

In William Henry Giles Kingston's 'Snow Shoes and Canoes. Or, The Early Days of a Fur-Trader in the Hudson Bay Territory', readers are transported to the rugged and unforgiving landscapes of the Hudson Bay Territory as they follow the adventures of a young fur-trader. The book is written in a descriptive and engaging style, immersing readers in the daily struggles and triumphs of early settlers in the region. Kingston's attention to detail and vivid imagery bring the harsh wilderness to life, making it a captivating read for those interested in historical fiction and exploration literature. The novel also explores themes of survival, resilience, and the clash of cultures in a remote and treacherous environment. A must-read for fans of adventure fiction and Canadian history. William Henry Giles Kingston's own experiences as a sailor and writer inevitably influenced the creation of this gripping tale, drawing on his knowledge of maritime adventures and exploration in remote regions. His firsthand experiences in the British Navy likely inspired the vivid depictions of life on the high seas and the challenges faced by those who ventured into uncharted territories. Recommended to those interested in the intersection of history, adventure, and skilled storytelling.







Snow Shoes and Canoes: The Early Days of a Fur-Trader in the Hudson Bay Territory


Book Description

The short summer of the North-West Territory of British America, the region in which the events I am about to describe took place, was rapidly drawing to a close. I had been sent from Black Fort, of which my elder brother Alick had charge, with Sandy McTavish, an old follower of our fatherÕs, and two other men, to bring up ammunition and other stores as a winter supply from Fort Ross, about 150 miles offÑa distance, however, of which we did not think much. The stores ought to have been brought up the greater part of the way by the Saskatchewan, but a canoe had been lost in ascending the rapids, and no other was at that time to be procured to replace her. It became necessary, therefore, at all costs to transport the required stores by land. We had eight pack-horses, besides the four animals my companions and I rode. We were all well armed, for though the Crees and other Indian tribes in the northern part of the territory were generally friendly, we might possibly encounter a party of Blackfeet on the war-trail who, should they find us unprepared, would to a certainty attack us, and endeavour to steal our horses and goods. We were but few in number for such an undertaking, but no more men could be spared. Sandy, however, was a host in himself. He thoroughly knew all the Indian ways, and from his long experience was well able to counteract them. Many an evening, while seated at our camp-fire or at the stove in the fort, during winter, has he beguiled the time with accounts of his hairbreadth escapes and desperate encounters with the redskins. He had no enmity towards them, notwithstanding the attempts they had made on his life.




Snow Shoes and Canoes


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From Nursery Rhymes to Nationhood


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As Canada came to terms with its role as an independent nation following Confederation in 1867, there was a call for a literary voice to express the needs and desires of a new country. Children’s literature was one of the means through which this new voice found expression. Seen as a tool for both entertaining and educating children, this material is often overtly propagandistic and nationalistic, and addresses some of the key political, economic, and social concerns of Canada as it struggled to maintain national unity during this time. From Nursery Rhymes to Nationhood studies a large variety of children’s literature written in English between 1867 and 1911, revealing a distinct interest in questions of national unity and identity among children’s writers of the day and exploring the influence of American and British authors on the shaping of Canadian identity. The visions of Canada expressed in this material are often in competition with one another, but together they illuminate the country’s attempts to define itself and its relation to the world outside its borders.




Peel's Bibliography of the Canadian Prairies to 1953


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The Prairie Provinces cover Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.




Reading for the Young


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Readings for the Young


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