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Early Canadian historical enthusiasts stepped back in time to the annual Black Powder Malahat Marauders Rendezvous at the Victoria Fish and Game Protective Association in Malahat, B.C., on Vancouver Island. The three-day event captures what life was like in the 1800's when people lived off the land. Using black powder firearms they fended for themselves and used survival skills to get by. With nicknames like Fire Fox, Bear Woman and Lil' Red, enthusiasts dressed in custom made period costumes and took advantage of the weekend to catch up, tell stories and share their love for the black powder rifle, pistol and mini-cannon.

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Malahat Marauder, Maurice Stevenot, wears a custom deerhide and wool period costume that he created, as he holds his replica Pensilvania 1800's percussion cap rifle with a 39 inch barrel.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Doug Linton, holds a custom engraved cattle horn filled with black powder.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Ethan Bickford, 14, from Edmonton, Alta, fills his rifle with black powder.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Page Schiller, 11, learns how to load a rifle with black powder from her uncle, Paul Schiller.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Smoke rises from a pan flash, as West Coast Ranger, Richard Crossley, pulls the trigger of his smoothbore rifle.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Metal targets, also known as gongs, in the shape of animals as far away as 250 yards are used to keep track of points while at the firing range.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Roby Petrie, aims his miniature artillery cannon at a steel drum 30 yards away during the small cannon event.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Flash pan fire rises as Roby Petries' miniature artillery cannon fires at a steel drum 30 yards away.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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West Coast Rangers who prefer to use their mountain names, Fire Fox and Bear Woman, with their dog Bella, rest outside their 16x16 foot primitive tent.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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Some members taking part in the weekends events set up primitive tents, made from canvas material and wooden logs and other material used in the 1800's, while avoiding using technologies from today.Chad Hipolito/The Globe and Mail

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