The Grand Portage National Monument fur trade depot was a busy place on Rendezvous weekend, August 13 – 15. On Saturday, there was a rousing game of lacrosse on the lawn of the Great Hall—skins versus shirts.
Entertaining the voyageurs in the encampment under the pines was Boon’s Lick Strings—Al Bucknat of St. Louis, Missouri and Joe Tesson of Warrenton, Missouri.
Joe Manduca of Old Fort William, Thunder Bay, was able to start a fire using flint and tinder in the Rugged Voyageur Contest on Saturday.
Corey Morse of Lindstrom, MN just missed out on bragging rights in the Golden Galette cooking contest. His delicious piroges won second place. But Morse redeemed himself in the Rugged Voyageur Contest by completing the voyageur obstacle course and hefting the keg in the fastest time— 51 seconds.
One of the most enjoyable events of Rendezvous Days (for the judges, at least) is the Golden Galette, which challenges encampment residents to create a culinary delicacy with the ingredients that were on hand in the voyageur’s day. Judges were last year’s Galette winner Paul Prenevost of Excelsior, MN; Shannon Nelson of Hayward, WI; and News-Herald editor Rhonda Silence. Megan Cline won first place for her non-traditional but delicious strawberry galette sprinkled with sugar. Winning the coveted Golden Galette was MaKenzie Patterson of Thunder Bay with an enticing blueberry-stuffed bannock.
The 2010 Grand Portage Royalty candidates danced in the very hot sun to the drum of Black Bear Crossing on Saturday, August 14. Named to represent Grand Portage in the coming year were (L-R, front) Tiny Tot Brave Patrick Pierre, Jr., Tiny Tot Princess Rhonnie Poyirier, Junior Brave John Pierre. L-R, back) Senior Brave Jaden Aubid, Senior Princess Autumn Clearwater Day, Junior Princess Samantha Scalise.
Lovely Grand Portage princess candidates (L-R) Rhonnie Poyirier, Christina James, and April Clearwater-Day.
There were dancers of all ages on the powwow grounds, “dancing their style” to the song of 28 drum groups.
Every dancer had his own style—of dance and dress.
Young men in fancy dress take a break from dancing on Saturday afternoon.
The raising and lowering of the flags is a meaningful and solemn part of the PowWow. A Boise Forte Honor Guard, a veteran, assumed the duty for the center flag.
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