First Journey, Fort William

Overview

Set in 1815, this is the dramatic story of a child of the fur trade, son of a Native mother and a Scottish-Canadian fur trader. John Mackenzie's father is a wintering partner of the Montréal-based North West Company, which was for decades the wealthiest merchant enterprise in North America. To mark his entry into adulthood, twelve-year-old John is travelling for the first time to Fort William, the Company's lavish winter headquarters by Lake Superior. In following his journey, the film reveals the complex network of people--Scottish, French and Native Canadian--that made up fur-trading society and gave a unique flavor to the opening up of Canada's northwest.

Cast

N/A

Bobby Kitchkeesic

John Mackenzie

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Daniel McGoey

Father

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Cheryl Kylander

Mother

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Denis Malette

Bissonnette

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James Hughes

Mr. McLeod

Walter Massey

Self - Narrator (voice)

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Thomas Lackey

Self - Narrator (voice)

N/A

Gloria Demers

Self - Narrator (voice)