Canoeing with the Cree facts for kids

Canoeing with the Cree is an exciting book from 1935. It was written by a journalist named Eric Sevareid. The book tells the true story of a long canoe trip he took with his friend, Walter Port, way back in 1930.

The Big Canoe Adventure

This amazing journey happened in the summer of 1930. Eric Sevareid and Walter Port had just finished high school. They wanted to go on a huge adventure. A newspaper, the Minneapolis Star, even helped them with their trip.

Starting the Journey

Their goal was to canoe from their hometown, Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States. They aimed to reach York Factory in Canada. York Factory is a historic trading post on the Hudson Bay.

The Long River Route

Their canoe route was very long and winding. They started on the Minnesota River. Then they paddled to the Little Minnesota River. After that, they carried their canoe over land to Lake Traverse.

From Lake Traverse, they went down the Bois des Sioux River. This led them to the Red River of the North. The Red River took them all the way to Lake Winnipeg. Finally, they paddled down the Nelson River, Gods River, and Hayes River. These rivers led them to the Hudson Bay.

The whole trip took almost four months. They traveled more than 2,250 miles! That's like going across the United States.

Meeting the Cree People

The book's title, Canoeing with the Cree, comes from a special part of their journey. While on Lake Winnipeg, Eric and Walter met people from the Cree nation. They spent time with them and learned about their way of life. This was a very important experience for the two friends.

Inspiring Other Adventurers

Since it was first published, Canoeing with the Cree has inspired many people. Other canoeists have wanted to follow Eric and Walter's path. Some have done the whole trip, while others have explored parts of it.

Distant Fires Book

One person inspired by the book was Scott D. Anderson. He was a pilot from Minnesota. In 1990, he wrote his own book called Distant Fires. In his book, Scott and a friend retraced Eric and Walter's journey. Scott's book became very popular in Minnesota. It even won an award. Eric Sevareid himself praised Distant Fires.

Teenage Canoeists

In 2008, two teenagers from Chaska, Minnesota decided to try the same adventure. Sean Bloomfield and Colton Witte wanted to follow Eric and Walter's exact route. They finished the journey in just 49 days! Their amazing trip got attention from all over the country. In 2016, Sean Bloomfield wrote a book about their voyage. It was called Adventure North.