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The Official "On-Line" Magazine of the NAF

Smoke Signals

*Mar/Apr 2008 Issue now available

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NAF Officers

NAF Contacts & Companies

NAF Message Board

NAF Secure Forum

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2006

1st NAF National Encampment

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2007

Virgin River Camp

2nd NAF National Encampment

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2008

3rd NAF National Encampment

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Merchant of the Month

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What is a Frontiersmen

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NAF nafrontiersmen@lycos.com

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  We, the North American Frontiersmen, are a new association dedicated to meeting the challenges and enjoying the freedoms of the original American pioneers. We strive to re-learn, practice, and demonstrate the basic skills that our ancestors learned by surviving. We hope in time to reach new standards of authenticity, without losing sight of the fact that we do this for FUN.

 Many today yearn for a simpler time of friendship and honor, when folks of like minds gathered to celebrate simple existence under the open skies. This is the primary purpose of the North American Frontiersmen – to return, as often as possible, to a time when people worked together to overcome the challenges of nature, and so learned the meaning of trust and brotherhood.

 There are many worthy Associations dedicated to similar goals, under the umbrella of “living history”. Some are more concerned with presenting educational displays for the public, some are more concerned with reenacting particular events. We regard ourselves as “Experimental Historians”, seeking to re-create the situations of the frontier, living  through the same conditions, and learning the practical down-to-earth knowledge that is not recorded in books.

 The early history of our fellowship will be a building process with the fewest rules possible, to ensure a common purpose and recognize those who live up to our ideals. Our main purpose is to offer yet another path towards the “shining times” we all recall when first exploring this thing called "living history". Some of our terms will look familiar, some will be different, because we have tried to learn from those who have gone before. Overall, our desire is to respect the terms used throughout North American History by the first pioneers who ventured onto this land.

We are not re-enactors, “buckskinners” or trekkers, we are living in the 21st century, but we are using the skills of those that survived in the hardier times from 1750 to 1843. By using the early methods (skills) to live as did our forefathers, we learn what life was like to the closest degree possible while existing in our modern world.

Stop dreaming about what others are doing. Let’s share information that we have discovered by doing our research. Some examples are shown on this camp site: information on "point blankets" and some great pictures of historic wares from different collections. We will also be featuring traders and suppliers whose goods have proven useful in the field. As time passes, we will be adding reports and articles  submitted by our members. We will have an index of archived information to make it easier to search for items if interest.

The information shown on our BY-LAWS page has been intensively reviewed, but is still in its formative stages. Changes will occur as we live with these regulations and as suggestions are received. Much experience is embedded here, but we can always learn more. And “Hey, ladies” there's a place for you, stop washing that floor and give us your input. Women were walking the trail alongside their mates and families all across this land – we don’t intend to stop at only “half the story”.

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updated 01/10/08