From here we crossed the courtyard to the great hall. This was the center of activity for the aristocrats that frequented the Fort. Often found dressed in top hats and coat tails, these gentlemen lived in luxury, dining on fine china and consuming delicate wines brought up by the schooners. As we entered the room three of the gentlemen were engaged in a spirited conversation about the seating arrangements for the nights dinner. We quickly found ourselves sucked into the debate as we were challenged as to our heritage and given a proper seating assignment. The building was also the center for dances and other forms of entertainment enjoyed by the elite. As we left the gentlemen were still nitpicking at each other over the proper status of some arriving guest. We headed out to the gunsmiths where we found Gervais Nolin finishing up some adjustments to one of the muskets which were traded for pelts. In the background Francois Marshal carefully replaced a power horn spring. He actually was quite a craftsman as he showed us a powder horn which he had carved in scrimshaw-like etchings, producing a marvelous scene on the side of the container. Again it stuck me that in addition to being actors in the truest sense, these people were true artisans, producing quality items under ancient conditions. We moved on to the canoe barn where a larger than normal transport canoe was being built. The voyager re-enactments that go one continuously through the summer require regular maintenance and replacement of these delicate boats. Birch bark is stretched, flattened and then tied to a light wood frame. The seams are coated with a pitch made from birch gum. Keeping them watertight is a day to day job, much as it was in the 1800s. During its heyday, the Fort produced one canoe a week throughout the working months. The black paste is not the best sealant ever discovered but it was available and it did the job with proper care. Needless to say, anytime the canoe hit anything, the pitch broke away and the canoe took on water. The Indians perfected the art of canoe making over hundreds of years. It was amazing to find that he original boats could still be made and floated using the traditional Indian methods. Our friends admitted that there is only one remaining master canoe builder left at the park. With the Fort tour completed we passed out through the back gate to the palisade and into the farming community that supported it. On our way we stopped by one of the many houses on display. Inside, over an open fire, Marissa had just completed cooking potato soup, a staple for the Fort's middle class. This had to be done using only the basic tools afforded a household for that time period. A large cauldron over an open fire which was tended by the kids she was raising. I marveled at the conversation we were having as she chattered about her life as if we were old friends. As I knelt by the fire savoring the aroma, I was offered a tin cup for sampling. Slow cooking had produced a smooth flavorful porridge with a zesty aftertaste. To my surprise it was a good as anything I had eaten in a modern day restaurant. The farming community which actually supports the efforts of the rest of the community as well as producing much of its own animal feed, is a sprawling development of barns, stables and storerooms. New born animals are around for the kids to pet. Sheep wander freely through the yards. It takes several people in attendance at all times and as we sat and took in the surroundings we could get the feel of what life was like in this environment. Several girls were sitting with us preparing spruce root to be used as rope. All the smells and sounds were bountiful in support of the farming activities. It was a wonderful experience just to sit there and feel the existence of farm life. As we wandered back to the car from what had turned out to be an all day affair I had to give the presentation the highest marks for authenticity and overall creation of a feeling rarely witnessed in visiting living museums. This is a must for anyone desiring to understand the people and times that produced the Canada as it is known today.

For more information, visit their website at www.fwhp.ca/homepage.html

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