Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lord Selkirk’s Canoe Brigade
- Type: Fur trade canoes
- Year Built:
- Builder:
- Dimensions:
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Near Maple Island, at the southern entrance to Batchawana Bay
- Original Owners: North West Company
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type: Fur trade canoes
Description
Description: The Lord Selkirk’s Canoe Brigade was a group of fur trade canoes used to transport North West Company partners to Montréal for trial following the Seven Oaks Massacre. The brigade faced a tragic incident when a sudden squall capsized one of the canoes, resulting in the drowning of nine men.
History
History: The Seven Oaks Massacre occurred in 1816, involving a conflict between settlers of the Red River Colony and buffalo hunters allied with the North West Company. Lord Selkirk, a major shareholder in the Hudson’s Bay Company, arrested several NWCo partners and began escorting them by canoe to Montréal for trial. The incident highlights the intense rivalries and dangers faced during the fur trade era.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents:
- 1816: The canoe brigade capsized in a sudden storm near Maple Island, drowning nine men, including Kenneth Mackenzie.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition: The incident had legal repercussions for Lord Selkirk, who lost a court battle and was countersued for damages, leading to his financial ruin and death in 1820.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility: Batchawana Bay and Maple Island are significant historical sites related to the fur trade. They remain accessible for exploration and education about the fur trade and the events of 1816.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lord-selkirks-canoe-brigade-1816″ title=”References & Links”]
Closing Summary: The story of Lord Selkirk’s Canoe Brigade serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by voyageurs in the fur trade and the intense rivalries that shaped early Canadian history.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
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.
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