One of a series of French-Canadian folk songs, this film was illustrated by Norman McLaren for the Chants populaires series. White gouache drawings on black cards were photographed with overlapping 'zooms' to suggest the forward movement of a canoe along rivers and lakes. This film appears in Chants populaires no. 5 and in Chants populaires no. 6.
Ages 15 to 17
History - Early Colonization/Settlement
History and Citizenship Education - First Occupants (to 1500)
History and Citizenship Education - Industrialization (1800s)
History and Citizenship Education - Society in New France (1608-1760)
After viewing this film and paying attention to the lyrics of the folk song, students can do research to learn more about the living conditions of the coureurs des bois, river drivers and lumberjacks, with an eye to understanding the consequences of working so far from home on these men’s lives, and those of their families.