Word of the Week…en français

rendezvous /ʀɑ̃devu/ masculine noun

gathering

During the fur trade: a large summer gathering to exchange furs, do business, play games, and relax. They were held in places like Fort William on the north shore of Lake Superior and St. Joseph Island, in the St. Mary’s River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. Today, a community event found throughout the historical fur trade areas of North America, from Montreal to the Rocky Mountains including music, traditional foods, reenactments, storytelling, as well as opportunities to trade or purchase traditional crafts. Sometimes held jointly with powwows.

featured image: 1837 Rendezvous, Jacob Alfred Miller