Engagé, is an 18th-19th century Modern French term denoting a man, (usually French-Canadian), who is engaged, i. e., employed, with the promise of a steady salary to canoe (or row a boat) and handle all transportation aspects of river and lake-chain travel( maintenance, loading and unloading, propelling, steering, portaging, camp set-up, maps , interaction with Native American people, etc. ) in the North American frontier, particularly within the fur trade. It also applied to the men who staffed the pirogues on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Compare with the merchant voyageur and seafaring sailor .
From the 18th century, an engagé (, engagee) was a French-Canadian man employed to canoe in the fur trade, usually as an indentured servant. He was expected to handle all transportation aspects of frontier river and lake travel: maintenance, loading and unloading, propelling, steering, portaging, camp set-up, navigation , interaction with indigenous people, etc. The term was also applied to the men who staffed the pirogues on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Their role can be contrasted with the free, licensed voyageurs, the independent merchant coureurs des bois, as well as seafaring sailors .
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Engagé, is an 18th-19th century Modern French term denoting a man, (usually French-Canadian), who is engaged, i. e., employed, with the promise of a steady salary to canoe (or row a boat) and
From the 18th century, an engagé (, engagee) was a French-Canadian man employed to canoe in the fur trade, usually as an indentured servant. He was expected to
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river and lake-chain travel(
frontier river and lake travel:
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maps
navigation
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Native American
indigenous
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) in the North American frontier, particularly within the fur trade. It
The term was
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Compare with the merchant voyageur and seafaring sailor
Their role can be contrasted with the free, licensed voyageurs, the independent merchant coureurs des bois, as well as seafaring sailors