Shipwreck Report: Lord Selkirk’s Canoe Brigade (1816)

Identification & Site Information

• Incident Name: Lord Selkirk’s Canoe Brigade
• Date of Incident: 1816
• Vessel Type: Fur trade canoes
• Location: Near Maple Island, at the southern entrance to Batchawana Bay, Lake Superior
• Purpose: Transporting North West Company (NWCo) partners to Montréal for trial following the Seven Oaks Massacre.

Incident Details

Context: The Seven Oaks Massacre occurred in 1816, when settlers of the Red River Colony, led by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) governor, clashed with buffalo hunters and allies of the North West Company (NWCo). Lord Selkirk, a major shareholder in the HBC, personally arrested several NWCo partners at Fort William and began escorting them by canoe to Montréal for trial.

Incident: As the canoe brigade approached Whitefish Bay, a sudden squall swept over Lake Superior. The voyageurs sought shelter near Maple Island, a common refuge point for fur traders. All but one canoe made it to safety. The final canoe capsized in the storm, tragically drowning nine men, including Kenneth Mackenzie, an NWCo partner.

Aftermath

Legal Repercussions:  The trial and the larger dispute between the HBC and NWCo marked one of the most contentious chapters in Canadian fur trade history. Ironically, Lord Selkirk lost the court battle following his actions and was countersued for damages. This ultimately resulted in the loss of his fortune and his death in 1820, just two years later.

Historical Significance

Impact on the Fur Trade: The drowning of Kenneth Mackenzie and the other men underscores the dangers of fur trade travel on Lake Superior, where large birchbark canoes were vulnerable to storms and squalls. The loss became a symbol of the hazards faced by voyageurs and the political stakes of the fur trade wars.

Legacy of Lord Selkirk  Selkirk’s ambitions for the Red River Colony and his aggressive tactics during the fur trade disputes remain a controversial and tragic part of Canadian history.

Legacy and Cultural Memory

Batchawana Bay and Maple Island remain significant historical sites for their connections to the fur trade and the dramatic events of 1816. The incident exemplifies the dangers of fur trade transportation and the intensity of rivalries between the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company during Canada’s early economic development.

Further Exploration

• Visit Lake Superior Provincial Park to learn more about the voyageurs and the fur trade routes.
• Explore the Huron County Museum for archival materials related to fur trade history.
• Study fur trade accounts from historians specializing in the Hudson’s Bay Company and North West Company conflicts.