Dans la blanche cérémonie où la neige au vent se marie
Dans ce pays de poudrerie mon père a fait bâtir maison
Et je m’en vais être fidèle à sa manière à son modèle
La chambre d’amis sera telle qu’on viendra des autres saisons
pour se bâtir à côté d’elle

Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver
Mon refrain ce n’est pas un refrain, c’est rafale
Ma maison ce n’est pas ma maison, c’est froidure
Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver

De ce grand pays solitaire je crie avant que de me taire
A tous les hommes de la terre ma maison c’est votre maison
Entre mes quatre murs de glace je mets mon temps et mon espace
À préparer le feu, la place pour les humains de l’horizon
Et les humains sont de ma race

Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver
Mon jardin ce n’est pas un jardin, c’est la plaine
Mon chemin ce n’est pas un chemin, c’est la neige
Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’hiver

Mon pays ce n’est pas un pays, c’est l’envers
D’un pays qui n’était ni pays ni patrie
Ma chanson ce n’est pas une chanson, c’est ma vie
C’est pour toi que je veux posséder mes hiversMy country isn’t a country, it’s winter
my garden isn’t a garden, it’s the plain
my road isn’t a road, it’s the snow
My country isn’t a country, it’s winter

In the white ceremony where the snow is married to the wind
in this land of blizzards my father had a house built
and I’m going to be trueto his ways,
to his example my guest room will be the one
that you go back to, season after season to build beside it

My country isn’t a country, it’s winter
My refrain isn’t a refrain, it’s a gust of wind
My house isn’t my house, it’s the winter cold
My country isn’t a country, it’s winter

About my solitary country I cry out before I am silenced
to everyone on earth my house is your house
inside my four walls of ice I put my time and my space
to prepare the fire, the place for the people of the horizon
and the people are of my race

My country isn’t a country, it’s winter
my garden isn’t a garden, it’s the plain
my road isn’t a road, it’s the snow
My country isn’t a country, it’s winter

My country isn’t a country, it’s the contrary
of a country that was neither land nor nation
My song isn’t a song, it’s my life
It’s for you that I want to possess my winters

1456 marks the start of the craze for fur hats in Europe. The hats were a symbol of authority and importance for those who owned them. These hats were a fashion trend that was so huge that the industry quickly exhausted all the beavers in Europe. The fur trade industry was now looking elsewhere to supply the growing demand for beaver pelts.

In the 1650’s, Raddisson and Grosseilliers were the two notorious “Coureurs de Bois”. Known for their ambition and adventure, they kicked off an industry of bringing traded goods from Europe in exchange for the furs that the natives supplied. The French governor, at that time, was taxing them heavily on their profits. They were certainly more committed to their growing industry than to their country, so they decided to seek support from England.

Raddisson, Grosseillers and support from the English were responsible for the establishment of the first fur trading posts, or forts, which were located at the south end of James Bay including Fort Charles, Moose Factory and Fort Albany. These were the first of many forts that would be scattered across Canada where the natives could bring the furs and trade for things such as blankets, axes, knives, saws, as well as pots and pans.

Soon after these forts were built an official charter, signed on May 2 of 1670, established the Hudson’s Bay Company, which had three goals; the fur trade, mineral exploration and the discovery of the North West passage.

If the native people didn’t make the trek and come to the forts, then the fur trade had to send people into the wild to do the trading. The easiest way to navigate the wilderness of this new country was by paddling up and down the rivers. These paddlers were known as the voyageurs, who packed and hauled trading goods and provisions in birch-bark Canoes.

The only personal belongings of a voyageur who was “en route” would have been a blanket, moccasins and clothes and perhaps a rosary. Their shirts, sashes and tuques were often red, a popular color among voyageurs. Each sash was unique in color and design, handmade by their families or loved ones. Paddles were hand-carved, covered in designs and became an extension of a voyageur’s arm.

There were two types of birch-bark canoe. Canoe de Maître or Montreal Canoes were very large, almost 40 feet long, and easily carried lots of trading goods via the extensive system of rivers and lakes. Canoe du Nord or North Canoes, were much smaller, holding only six to eight people and were preferred when navigating smaller rivers carrying less cargo. These canoes often needed repair and most evenings were spent patching small leaks or large rips in the birch bark.

To keep their spirits up and paddling in sync, they often sang songs about the good times as well as the bad. A sense of power, teamwork and camaraderie was cultivated as they paddled hard and enthusiastically sang together. Many French voyageurs came from the Catholic tradition and St. Anne was the patron saint of the voyageurs. Prayers often brought faith and courage to a fearful or weary voyageur. They believed that offerings to the “old lady”, or “mother nature”, would keep the pouring rain from drenching them to the bone. The harsh weather and treacherous conditions were very often extremely difficult and sometimes a death by drowning or illness would occur. They would often mark the burial of a lost voyageur by making a cross from broken paddles.

Women played a very important role in the survival of these untamed explorers, especially during the harsh, cold winters. Most women were either native or Métis. Clothing and equipment such as Moccasins and Snowshoes were made almost exclusively by women. Hard-working and ingenious they also prepared food and provided shelter using buffalo for both pemmican and tepee, or tent coverings. Many women could speak more than one language and were also useful to the voyageurs as interpreters.

From 1670 to 1874 many independent traders or “coureur de bois” roamed the wild intercepting the natives before they reached the trading posts. In 1774 the North West Company was formed creating competition for the Hudson’s Bay Company and for the next 40 years numerous forts would be constructed along the many rivers that spanned the vast Canadian wilderness. Many more explorers and adventurers would penetrate further westward in search of better beaver fields.

Eventually however, the dawn of the age of railroads was the sunset of the voyageur era. In 1821 the Hudson’s Bay Company merged with the Northwest Company and retired many of them to small farms in western Canada.

The only evidence that remains of these great, historical figures of the 18th century culture is documented in museums, books, on CD and DVD. We hope you catch the force and enthusiasm of the many wonderful songs and stories of these hardy and courageous voyageurs, who played such a pivotal role in Canada’s history!

Voyageur Time Line

1456 – Start of the fur hats fashion craze in Europe which become a symbol of authority and importance

– Coureurs de Bois – saves the French fur trade after the destruction of Huronia

1608 – Champlain est. Quebec – first trading post

– Hurons emerge as the greatest source of furs for the French

1663 – New France becomes a royal colony under King Louis XIV

1610 – Henry Hudson discovers Hudson Bay

1650 – Launch of the trading empire under French colonial government

- 60 canoes confiscated and taxed for having left without permission

1665 – Des Groseilliers and Raddisson go to England to present a plan to King Charles II (time of the plague) with hopes of riches and the North-West passage

1668 – Trade expedition to Hudson Bay

- With agreement and financial support from King Charles, Radisson and Des Groseilliers sail over on Nonsuch and Eaglet to establish…

1. Fort Charles (in honour of the King), Ruperts’ House, Waskaganish

2. Moose Fort, Factory (where the factor lived)

3. Fort Abany

1670 – King Charles II, Royal Charter Hudson’s Bay Co. (HBC)

1671 – The Governor and the adventurers begin trading in the Hudson Bay

1675 – Des Groseilliers and Raddisson officially sever ties to the HBC

1679 – La Chesnaye meets Radisson in Paris, formation of La Conpagnie du Nord

1682 – Des Groseilliers and Radisson show up on the St. Pierre and the St. Anne representing the Company du Nord

– Rival fur trade company with partners from New France, First Fort – Fort Bourbon at the mouth of the Hayes River

1683 – Radisson takes control of HBC at Port Nelson

1684 – Des Groseilliers retires

1685 – Commando raids from The Company du Nord take over HBC posts and capture Radisson. Commander Chevalier Pierre de Troyes

1685 – Radisson back working for HBC

1690 – Inland expeditions by Henry Kelsey

1713 – Treaty of Utrecht – Hudson’s Bay Company – takes over Hudson Bay

1728 – La Vérendrye – Company du Nord – established trading forts in western Canada

1754 – Inland expeditions by Anthony Henday

1759 – Britain defeats French at Plains of Abraham

1771 – Samuel Hearn makes expedition through the Barrens to Arctic Ocean

1774 – Samuel Hearne establishes first inland trading post – Cumberland House

1782 – Prince of Wales fort is destroyed by the French

1784 – North West Company established – partnership of nine different fur-trading groups (Les Montrealais, Les Hivernants)

1820 – North-west company sends a delegation to propose merger with HBC1826

1826 – George Simpson becomes governor of the HBC

1870 – HBC sells land holdings to the dominion of Canada

The three leaves of the Fleurs-de-lis represent the medieval social classes: those who worked, those who fought and those who prayed. Fleurs-de-lis crossed the Atlantic along with Europeans going to the New World, especially with French settlers. The fleur-de-lis appears on the Canadian coat of arms, the flags of Quebec and Nova Scotiain Canada, and south of the border on that of Detroit (originally a French name, though at present pronounced quite differently), New Orleans, and elsewhere. The Acadian region and various cities in southern Louisiana, such as Lafayette, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, also use the fleur-de-lis. On 9 July 2008, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal signed a bill into law making the fleur-de-lis an official symbol of the state. Following Hurricane Katrina, the fleur-de-lis has been widely used in New Orleans as a symbol of grassroots support for New Orleans’

Hello music pickers and future music pickers

I hope this letter finds you well as we all enjoy this amazing weather through the month of October, I just spent thanksgiving with my daughter, Genoa, and Parents, Larry and Carmen in Naramata, BC also rode in a trials motorcycle competition and placed 2^nd in the junior class.

We’ve hired a new fiddler, Braden, to tour with Les Bûcherons, he’s amazing, he placed 11^th at the grand nationals in Ontario and is very coachable with learning the ins and outs of facilitating workshops and animating our “Story of Canada” school show.

Braden, the Gates Family Band and myself went to see Calvin Vollrath play in Athabasca on Saturday night then went to a house fiddle jam afterwards, didn’t get home till 2 am that night.

The past summer had some highlights as well, Cabine Soleil, home of Les Bucherons hosted its first summer music camp which was a great success, I also taught at the Hotchkiss Guitar camp, north of Peace River as well.  Had the great opportunity to study some more Old time fiddle at the British Columbia Bluegrass workshop at the end of August too.

Last spring we were fortunate to have been invited to play at the East Coulee Spring festival. This is one of Alberta’s best kept secrets, a beautiful festival in a historic school that was turned into a museum/community center.  This is where I met Naomi, she thought it would be a swell idea to host a music retreat at this venue.  We’ve been working together to make this happen.

The music retreat is following a similar format to the Lumberjack Music Camp.  We decided to focus our repertoire on the songs from the “O brother, where art thou?” soundtrack.  The mornings include a structured jam, pairing off wood shedding, one on one private lesons.  The afternoons include workshops on the Nashville numbering system, pentatonic scales, harmonies and a variety of other musical skill development.  The evenings include a band scramble, open stage and more free style jamming.

The retreat starts Friday evening at 6 pm and ends Sunday around noon.

Please feel free to share this information with anyone you know who may be interested in this rare opportunity and keep posted for future events like this one to come in the future.

Please call me for more information at 780 996 8520

Sincerely,

Ian

What follows is some more information that Naomi included:

Cost:

$125 per person. Fee covers tuition and food.

Food is:

light snack Friday evening. Lunch & supper on Saturday. Light snack on Sunday. Coffee, tea & real fruit juice included.

If you stay at a place that does not offer breakfast in the mornings, there will be cereal, milk & muffins available for you at the East Coulee School Museum.

This is a no-alcohol event. If you wish on Saturday night after our session, there’s a great little bar called the Last Chance Saloon in a wee old coal-miners’ town down the road, in Wayne. If we’re feeling spirited (pardon the pun), we can pop down there.

***ARE YOU ALLERGIC TO ANYTHING? Please reply promptly (zephyrchick@hotmail.com)  so I can arrange accordingly with the menu. The food will be down-home, comfort food with a modern tweak, and all made from scratch.

Possible accommodations are as follows:

1.       East Coulee School Museum (bring own sleeping bag & air mattress & warm blankets. No showers available. Get lulled to sleep by the creaks of the old wood floors, the coal boiler steward coming in to shovel coal downstairs, and the hissing and knocking of the steam pipes and radiators. Many school groups and tour groups have slept here and lived to tell the tale.

To book a space at the School Museum, just let me know.

2.       Heartwood Inn in Drumheller. Link: www.innsatheartwood.com/

Patrice is offering special rates for you. Phone Patrice at 403.823.6495 or 403.823.4956 to book and tell her that you’ll be attending the East Coulee Music Retreat to get your special rates

3.       East Coulee Motor Inn: just a block away from the School Museum. Rooms are $50 per night. Coffee only available in the mornings. Phone Judy at 403.822.3765 to book.

4.       Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne. (the Rosedeer Hotel is attached to the famed Last Chance Saloon). Rooms are $60 per night. Phone Fred at 403.823.9189 to book. The rooms are quaint and cozy, and everyone shares the bathroom and shower…just not at the same time. Think European-style. No breakfast available in the mornings.

Let’s see…anything else…oh yes, you’ll have a grand time! Treat yourself to a wonderful, professional but fun learning weekend with Ian. You’ll come away amazed. Sluff off your worries at the door. You’ll also be treated to a 1936-style classroom session, and if you like, you can help shovel coal. A tour of the museum is also included.

Naomi

1. Keep alert to what’s ahead

2. Respond to changing currents

3.Trust your crew

4. Look out for each other

5. Follow directions

6. Ask for help

7. Keep your word

8. Stay focused

9. Commit to the journey

10. Explore the unknown

11. Expect adversity

12. Persevere

Ingredients

• 1 quart vegetable oil(for frying) shopping list
• 1(10 1/4ounce)can beef gravy shopping list
• 5 medium potatoes, cut into fries shopping list
• 2 cups cheese curds shopping list

How to make it

---

• Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep heavy skillet to 365°F (185°C).
• Warm gravy in saucepan or microwave.
• Place the fries into the hot oil, and cook until light brown, about 5 minutes.
• Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
• Place the fries on a serving platter, and sprinkle the cheese over them.
• Ladle gravy over the fries and cheese, and serve immediately.

Typically we’re feeding a large family but feel free to ½ this recipe or freeze some. (Not every family has 14 kids like in the good old days ha!!)

Les Bucherons Famous Tourtière

Dough:

10.5 cups flour
1.5 lbs Crisco
2.5 cup very cold water plus maybe a little more
1.5 tsp salt
1.5 tsp heaping baking powder

Follow instructions on Crisco box on how to make dough.

Filling:

10 lbs (not lean) ground pork
2 cups water
2 cups chopped onions
3 tsp salt
3 tsp pepper
3 tsp sage or to taste
2 grated raw potatoes
2-3 cups fine bread crumbs

Directions:

Using a BIG pot on low heat, mix pork, water, onions, grated potatoes, salt and pepper. Stir often and cook for about 20 min. Turn burner to med adding the sage and enough bread crumbs to absorb the liquid. Cook for a little while longer till pork and potatoes are cooked.

Make pie crust, add enough filling to fill pie plate and cover with top crust. Bake on low rack @ 375 degrees if you are using foil pie plates. Med. rack for other kinds of plates for approx. 20-30 minutes.

If meat pies are frozen, thaw the night before. Reheat in oven at 350 degrees for approx. 30-40 min till heated right through. They taste much better if reheated in the oven vs a microwave.

ENJOY!!!!!