The Savage River: Seventy-One Days with Simon Fraser. Marjorie Wilkins Campbell. Calgary, AB: Fifth House (Distributed by Fitzhenry & Whiteside), 2003. 149 pp., pbk., $16.95. ISBN 1894856-24-4. Subject Headings: Fraser, Simon, 1776-1862. Fraser River (B.C.)-Discovery and exploration. Grades 8 and up / Ages 14 and up. Review by Ian Stewart. *** /4
	The Savage River Teacher's Guide ** /4

excerpt:

And, as Fraser realized only too fully, they [the voyageurs] would need all their vaunted prowess before this trip ended. And anyone of them, or the entire party, might be swirled to his death in a raging whirlpool if the river proved to be as bad as the Indians said it was. But for the fact that Alexander Mackenzie (like Fraser a partner in the North West Company) had recently made that gruelling trip which proved a man could reach the Pacific overland, they might be going to the moon. In all the known world few trips promised greater challenge or higher adventure.

Savage River was first published in 1968, as #33 of the “Great Stories of Canada Series.” It tells the gripping story of fur trader Simon Fraser's harrowing journey down the uncharted, wild Fraser River. In late May 1808, along with 23 voyageur paddlers, Fraser set off from Fort George with high hopes of discovering a navigable route to the Pacific coast. Fraser's story is a classic real life adventure tale. The cold hand of a watery death lurked in every rapid, under each submerged boulder and along the slippery precipitous banks the voyageurs were forced to traverse when running the river's rapids would be suicidal. As a seasoned fur trader, Fraser knew he had to befriend the Indians whose villages dotted the riverbanks. Their friendship, knowledge of the river's dangers, and willingness to supply provisions was vital to the success of the journey. He also knew he must be ever wary in guarding his precious canoes and scant supplies from thieves. After countless narrow escapes from death's clutches, Fraser and his men reached the Pacific coast. However, Fraser considered his adventure a failure; the river could never be used as a profitable fur trading route. With heavy hearts, Fraser and the voyageurs began the long dangerous paddle upstream to Fort George.

     Marjorie Campbell penned her tale of Fraser and his daring companions during the height of the United States' Apollo Project. Indeed, she compares Canada's great fur trade explorers to astronauts, writing, "...they might be going to the moon. In all the known world few trips promised greater challenge or higher adventure." This certainly points to the fact that Canadian history is not boring.

     The six page teacher's guide provides numerous useful activities for teachers who wish to integrate Savage River into their Social Studies and Language Arts programs. Examples include: asking students to prepare for their own adventurous canoe trip; discussing how the activities of today's scientists, mountain climbers and artists can be related to Fraser's quest; leading discussions on the qualities of leadership, communication skills and perseverance.

Recommended.

Ian Stewart teaches at David Livingstone School in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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