The person steering sits at the back of the canoe. To turn right, put the paddle in the water on the left side and pull back - and vice versa. To brake the canoe, put the paddle in the water behind you and pull the paddle forwards.
The front person acts as the ‘motor’ by paddling on the same side for longer periods of time at a steady, even pace. The person at the back (the coxswain) steers the canoe and keeps the pace while taking small steering strokes. If there are three paddlers, the two in front are the motor.