While harvesting for food and furs occurred throughout the year around Northern Lake Superior, it took expert knowledge of the waters and lands to harvest throughout the notoriously harsh winters—knowledge that Métis, born and raised in the region, were well-equipped with.
For instance, the 1858 Michipicoten post journal identifies six out of the post’s nine post harvesters as Métis. Like many fur trade posts, Michipicoten relied heavily on skilled Métis harvesters to conduct activities throughout the year.
One of the Michipicoten’s most successful Métis harvesters was Toussaint Boucher.
In addition to being an accomplished spear fisherman, Toussaint Boucher was also a skilled Métis hunter and trapper. In January 1858, for example, Michipicoten’s harvesting activities focused almost entirely on hunting and trapping, producing one lynx, three deer, and thirty-one rabbits.
All thirty-one rabbits were reported as harvested by Toussaint Boucher.
Without Toussaint Boucher and the other Métis harvesters, Michipicoten and other trading posts across the Homeland would have struggled to succeed throughout the winter season.
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