Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La

Veréndrye

About La Vérendrye

Who was he?

Born on November 17, 1685 in Trois- Rivières, Quebec

La Vérendrye at the Lake of the Woods (Lake Superior)

About La Vérendrye

Who was he?

Gaultier family were noble landowners

About La Vérendrye

Who was he?

Was a French-Canadian fur trader and traveler

Beaver Fur

About La Vérendrye

What did he do?

At the age of 12, he was recruited into the French army in Canada and France

About La Vérendrye

What did he do?

Only became an explorer when he was over 40 years of age

About La Vérendrye

What did he do?

Explored farther west than anyone before him (he reached North Dakota and upper Missouri River)

La Vérendrye Leading an Expedition to the West

Mission

Why did European explorers sail across the ocean?

Curiosity about wealth

Mission

Why did European explorers sail across the ocean?

Need for simplified trade routes

Mission

Why did European explorers sail across the ocean?

Many people believed that there was a “western sea” (Pacific Ocean) just beyond the reaches of the explored areas of Canada

Mission

What is he known for?

Exploration of North America in search of a fabled “western sea” because he thought it might’ve been a shortcut to China

Mission

What is he known for?

Looking for an overland route to the Pacific Ocean

Mission

By the early 1700’s, was the interior of Canada largely explored?

Not until La Vérendrye, and 3 of his sons, set out from Montreal to explore

Results

What happened?

Searched for this sea, but didn’t find it

Results

What happened?

Discovered rough countryside that hadn’t been explored by Europeans before

Results

What happened?

Explored lakes and rivers in what is now present-day Ontario and Manitoba

La Vérendrye’s route from 1731-1739

Results

What happened?

Established fur trading posts in areas he explored on behalf of France and the colony of New France

Results

What happened?

His explorations and trading posts paved way for further exploration

Results

What happened?

Efforts led to settlement in what is now central and western Canada

Results

What happened?

Got as far west as what is now Saskatchewan and Dakota by 1738

Later on

What did his sons do later?

2 sons may have reached Rocky Mountains in 1742

Later on

What did La Vérendrye do later?

Created reports that added to the knowledge of the geography of the area

Later on

What did La Vérendrye do later?

Fur trading business was unprofitable so he returned to Montreal in 1743

Later on

What did La Vérendrye do later?

Died in Montreal on December 5, 1749 (lived to age 64 which is quite old compared to other explorers)

BibliographyE. first people and the fur traders. Retrieved from http://canadachannel.ca/HCOJR/index.php/E._First_People_and_the_Fur_Traders

HEIDENREICH, C. H. (2011). La vérendrye, pierre gaultier de varennes et de. Retrieved from http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004412

La verendrye In (2004). World Book Encyclopedia (12 ed.)Chicago: World Book, Inc.

La verendrye leds an expedition to the west. (2003). [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://canadachannel.ca/HCOJR/index.php/E._First_People_and_the_Fur_Traders

Pierre gaultier de varennes, sieur de la vérendrye. In (2011). Wikipedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Gaultier_de_Varennes,_sieur_de_La_Vérendrye

Rebus, A. R. (2007). Pierre de la verendrye. Calgary, Alberta: Discovering Canada.

Russell, D. R. (Photographer). (2008). La vérendrye at the lake of the woods. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://douglasrussellphotographic.com/la-verendrye-pictures

Smith, W. S. (Photographer). (2001-2010). Cat fur closeup. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://mayang.com/textures/Nature/html/Fur and Skin/index.html

University of Toronto. (2000). Gaultier de varennes et de la Veréndrye, pierre. Retrieved from http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=1366