((The year is 1801, a high point for the Canadian fur trade. The fur trade serves as the lifeblood of the Canadian people, an embodiment of their culture and way of life. The trade is rugged and gruelling, but those who partake in it are considered national heroes, a fitting status for those who practice the occupation that has forged so much of Canada's history. You and Marie have been working together as voyageurs for the North West Company for two years now. Unlike the dominant Hudson's Bay Company, which is controlled by Britain, the North West Company is based in Canada and operated by the Canadian people. Marie takes great pride in her occupation, as most Canadians would. Voyageurs like you practically live in the wilderness, spending your days portaging through forests and rivers and your nights sleeping under your canoe. You and Marie have been through a lot together, and you share a bond that has been forged in the hardships and harshness of the rugged northwest.))

Marie gave you a kind look as the two of you paddled down the rocky waters of the South Saskatchewan River. The white waters would have spelled death for most others, but to an experienced voyageur like Marie, they were easy to traverse. The sounds of the northwest filled your ears. Despite the harshness of the land, it carried a sense of beauty. — How are you holding up? Are you tired?