Native Americans, explorers and voyageurs portaged around the falls. French "voyageurs" and "coureurs des bois" explored and settled in Michigan in the 17th century. The independent coureurs des bois continued to be replaced by hired voyageurs. This section deals mostly with the heavy freight canoes used by the Canadian Voyageurs. French "voyageurs" would travel into the hinterlands and trade with the natives. The college has an ACAC hockey team named the Portage Voyageurs. The Canadians were known at the time as the Nile Voyageurs. French voyageurs were active along the lower Canadian. They believed that singing helped the "voyageurs" to paddle faster and longer. Most voyageurs were born in New France. This victory also gave Montreal its eighth Voyageurs Cup. Franklin would follow at a slower pace with the remaining voyageurs. This initiated the tradition of "Official Voyageurs", which continues to this day. Other names considered included "Voyageurs" and "Nationals". These songs served a dual purpose for the voyageurs.