The Red Sash

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

From 1803 until 1821, Fort William was the inland headquarters for the
North West Company; the main headquarters was located in Montreal.
Because it was too far to take the furs acquired by the traders from the
far northwest to Montreal and return with trade goods and supplies, the
“canot du nord” carrying the furs would “rendezvous” with the
“canot de maоtre” carrying supplies at Fort William.

The Red Sash (the title refers to the distinctive red sashes worn by
the voyageurs) tells of a fur trader’s family at Fort William
preparing for the great feast to celebrate the return of the traders
from their travels. The story, which provides a glimpse of life at Fort
William in the early 1800s, is told by the young son who one day hopes
to be a voyageur like his father. In the meantime, he and his mother and
sister, like the families of many of the traders, work at the Fort in
the kitchen or dairy, or on the farm, and wait for the summer
rendezvous.

Pendziwol thoughtfully provides the historical background for the
well-written story. A glossary of unfamiliar terms is included. Highly
recommended.