The 2011 Rendezvous Days voyageur encampment at the Grand Portage National Monument was bustling with activity as it likely was in August 1797. This “widow” of a North West Company officer sews lace on a pair of pantaloons for her daughter to wear to the dance at the Great Hall on Saturday evening.
The Golden Galette is a voyageur cooking competition, won this year by Dylan Patterson of Thunder Bay (right) whose entry of blueberry bread was submitted with a hand-lettered leaflet with some familiar-looking arches declaring “McDonald’s – a fine Scottish Treat.” A close competitor was Grace Boisvert, of Roosevelt, MN with a tasty pastry adorned with raspberries. Eyeing her entry—and the others—was her little brother, Daniel Boisvert (center).
Canoe making and repairing takes up a lot of time at the Rendezvous Days encampment.
The competition was fierce in this lacrosse game on the lawn of the Grand Portage National Monument on Saturday, August 13.
Voyageur Gene Tisdahl or “Henri,” explains the meaning of his tattoo. Voyageurs often were washed out of canoes and lost. If their bodies were found, tattoos would help identify them. Henri and others with the North West Company have a distinctive tattoo of a canoe passing Hat Point. The permanent India ink tattoos are created by Isaac Walters.
The shoemaker at Rendezvous Days checks the fit on the oxhide-soled shoes being tried by Madeleine Bartlow-Sibley, 6, of Eagan, MN.
The pageantry of the Grand Portage Rendezvous Days PowWow is never more apparent than in the dignified Grand Entry. Tribal leaders with staffs and veterans with flags led the way on Saturday, August 13, 2011.
It is wonderful to see young people taking part in the Grand Portage traditional PowWow, like this tiny fancy dancer.
Jingle dresses are not only beautiful, the gentle sound of the dancer’s bells complements the sound of the drums at PowWow.
Participants enjoyed dancing to Host Drum Minomin Creek Drum and the Lake Vermilion Singers, the Co-Host for the PowWow.
There were 33 drum groups at the Grand Portage Rendezvous Days PowWow on Friday – Sunday, August 12 – August 14 and 476 registered dancers. The arena director for this year’s PowWow was Terry Goodsky and emcee was once again Murphy Thomas.
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