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Willmore Wilderness Foundation 2015 Annual Newsletter Photo by Susan Feddema-Leonard - September 2014 Bazil Leonard and Kelsey Dozorec riding in Willmore Wilderness Park Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 2 Page 3 Annual Edition - 2015

President’s Report by Bazil Leonard

Jw Mountain Metis otipemisiwak - freemen Another year has come and gone; yet Media Arts Festival (JSFF) on September Buy DVDs On LinePeople & Peaks People & Peaks Ancestors Calling Ancestors Calling I am happy to report that the Willmore 27, 2014. “Ancestors Calling” Long Road Home: 45:13 min - $20.00 Long Road Home Long Road Home Wilderness Foundation has made strides shares the Rocky Mountain region’s Centennial Commemoration of Jasper’s Mountain Métis

In 1806 Métis guide Jacco Findlay was the first to blaze a packtrail over Howse ahead in many areas. We launched our rich culture through the music and

Ancestors Calling Pass and the Continental Divide. He made a map for Canadian explorer David Thompson, who followed one year later. Jacco left the North West Company and became one of the first “Freemen” or “Otipemisiwak” in the Athabasca Valley. fourth book “People & Peaks of stories of award-winning musician Laura Wildie: 44:14 min - $20.00 Ancestors Calling In 1907 the Canadian Government passed an Order in Council for the creation of the “Jasper Forest Park”—enforcing the evacuation of the Métis in the Athabasca Valley. By In 1804, the North West Company brought voyageurs, proprietors, 1909 guns were seized causing the community to surrender its homeland--including Jacco’s interpreters, and clerks into the Rocky Mountain District near the present town descendants. Six Métis families made their exodus after inhabiting the area for a century. Willmore Wilderness Park: The Vinson, a descendant of the early North Rosie Award Nominee in 2013 by Albertaof Jasper, .Film A new culture, & traditions Television and way of life was born. The This documentary, 1872 : PA-009129 evicted families, as well as Jacco’s progeny. Stories are shared through the voices of family indigenous Shuswap and Beaver Indians intermingled with the new French, members as they revealLong their Road struggle Home to preserve traditions and culture as Mountain Métis. Legacy Continues” at the Alberta West Company employee Louis Loyer. Scottish and Iroquois immigrants. The Mountain Métis, a horseback culture focuses on a 14-day return trip by the descendants of the emerged from this unique blend of people. Ancestors Calling shares the rich Outfitter’s Association AGM banquet in “Ancestors Calling” is touring with Registered Trade Name Willmore Wilderness Foundation

culture through music and stories of award-winning musician Laura Vinson, a People & Peaks Productions copyright © Willmore Wilderness Foundation Women of Willmore Wilderness:descendant 44:50 of an early voyageur ofmin the Canadian Fur- Trade: $20.00 Louis Loyer. CollaborativeWillmoreWilderness.com Production with the Mountain | PeopleandPeaks.com Rocky Mountain House on March 2014. “The Best of JSFF,” so we’re excited that it • 44:27 minutres. www.MountainMetis.com Rosie Award Nominee in 2014 by Alberta Film & Television Métis Centre The publication has been well received was well received. Long Road Home Facebook.com/WillmoreWilderness and sales are going well. A big thanks goes Facebook.com/PeopleandPeaks 1872 Jasper House: PA-009149 Vimeo.com/PeopleandPeaks On April 5, 2014 the Willmore Twitter.com/WillmoreTweets out to Author Susan Feddema-Leonard Ancestors Calling: 44:28 min - $20.00 and Editor Estella Cheverie. I feel that Wilderness Foundation held the Annual it is incredible that they have published Gala. We held a live and silent auction as a fundraiser. The Grande Cache Alberta Film People & Peaks over seventy chapters featuring mountain & Television ta Film Rosie Awards People & Peaks Alber Nominated for a 2013 Women of Willmore Wilderness & Television Nominee Gala was a successful event. Women of Willmore Wilderness Rosie Awards 2013 Alberta Film & Television Rosie Award Series Nominee people. Their first person interviews Go to SHOP at: Canadian Rockies Series 2014 Nominated for 2 (two) 2014 Alberta Film & Television Rosie Awards showcase the unique culture, traditions

Women of Willmore Wilderness Women of Willmore Wilderness On April 22, 2014 my wife, Susan WillmoreWilderness.com BACK COVER FRONT COVER and history of the Canadian Rockies. Feddema-Leonard and I attended the AlbertaRockiesAdventures.comPeople & Peaks Nominated for a 2013 Alberta Film & Television Rosie Award Alberta Outdoor Coalition (AOC) AGM Women of Willmore Wilderness The stories of the Canadian Rocky S

- PIN Following the lead of historic women who challenged the traditions of the day, blaz

PayPal accepted E People & Peaks ing trails into a man’s world on horseback in the Canadian Rockies, modern genera- - held at the Alberta Trappers Association tions of women face their own challenges to travel these same trails. Women of Willmore Wilderness Mountain people are being showcased Women of Willmore Wilderness shares the stories of riding the Rockies thru time. It building in Westlock, Alberta. AOC shares the stories of women past and present as they reveal how their experiences in Following the lead of historic women who challenged the traditions of the day, blaz in film productions as well. People & mountain culture deeply inspired them. Meet free thinking individuals who blazed ing trails into a man’s world on horseback in the Canadian Rockies, modern genera- trails into a man’s rugged world. Share the humour and deep emotion of these souls tions of women face their own challenges to travel these same trails. member groups work in collaboration who find the essence of their lives’ work on trails rarely travelled. Peaks Productions Wildie was aired on Produced with the assistance of Women of Willmore Wilderness shares the stories of riding the Rockies thru time. It 1-866-WILMORE or 1-866-945-6673 or 1-780-827-2696Alberta Multimedia Development Fund shares the stories of women past and present as they reveal how their experiences in to ensure the continued respectful use, mountain culture deeply inspired them. Meet free thinking individuals who blazed WildTv - ’s and Fishing trails into a man’s rugged world. Share the humour and deepProduced emotion with the of assistancethese souls of who find the essence of their lives’ work on trails rarely travelled. enhancement and enjoyment of Alberta’s ta Film Bazil Leonard: Box 93 Grande Cache, Alberta T0E 0Y0 Canada ta Film Alberta MultimediaAlber Development Fund Tv Network, on March 8, 2014. “Long Facebook.com/WillmoreWilderness Alber & Television Rosie Awards Facebook.com/PeopleandPeaks & Television Nominee wilderness and natural areas for the Photo by Sue Feddema-Leonard 2014 Vimeo.com/PeopleandPeaks Rosie Awards 2013 Road Home” was featured on Saturday Twitter.com/WillmoreTweets Nominee 2014 Facebook.com/WillmoreWilderness PLEASE INDICATE BARCODE LOCATION benefit of all Albertans. We are proud Facebook.com/PeopleandPeaks BY INCLUDING A WHITE BOBOXX 1.25”1.25 BY 0.6”0.6 June 7, 2014 and Women of Willmore Vimeo.com/PeopleandPeaks ______CUT/FOLD TEXT SAFETYTwitter.com/WillmoreTweets to be part of this association under the DVD TRAPSHEET BLEED Wilderness was broadcast on October SIZE: 10.75” x 7.2” 2 on WildTv. The Willmore Wilderness leadership of President Maurice Nadeau. Bazil Leonard Foundation has a Broadcast Agreement Susan and I represented the with WildTv to air two more films that at Kvass Flats Willmore Wilderness Foundation at a are in production including Mountain meeting with Alberta Parks Conservation Men and Mountain Mustang. in September 2014 Inside This Edition Officers on May 12, 2014 to discuss Congratulations are in order to the summer trail clearing initiatives. riding a President’s Report 3 Pete & Lois McMahon 15 Producer Susan Feddema-Leonard, along Willmore Wilderness Park Commercial with Composers/Writers Laura Vinson & Trail Riding (CTR) Operators were also Quarter Horse colt he Dave Martineau for two (2) nominations as in attendance at the meeting in Hinton, Moccasin Telegraph 6 Memorial Clinic 17 Alberta. Under the leadership of Alberta’s February 2015 Alberta Film and Television Rosie Awards called Moon. new Premier Jim Prentice, the structure Willmore Wilderness Foundation Finalists for the documentary “Women of Alberta Parks has changed. Willmore Annual Newsletter Notes from the Editor 10 2013 Finances 18 & 19 of Willmore Wilderness.” Susan It was a © Willmore Wilderness Foundation was nominated for the Best Producer Wilderness Park is now managed under Alberta Environment and Sustainable no portion of this newsletter may be re- 2014 Trail Clearing Report 11 Dozorec’s Diary 20 for a documentary (over 30 minutes), Bryan Ellinson colt printed without written permission. while Dave and Laura were nominated Resource Development (ESRD). The Registered Charitable Organization for the Best Original Musical Score (over Willmore Wilderness Foundation looks that he started in a #89655 0308 RR0001 Willmore’s Wild Camera 12 Hersch Neighbor 21 30 minutes). We were very proud of the forward to working with ESRD in the accomplishments and look forward to next coming years. Larry Nelles Clinic. Jenn’s Journal 13 Membership Online 22 year’s nominations. The Willmore Wilderness Foundation

People & Peak Productions has is working in collaboration with Municipal Tribute to a Willmore Book Sales Online 23 recently produced the documentary Affairs under the MSI Operational Funding Outfitting Family 14 “Ancestors Calling,” which was program. The goal of the MSI funding Alberta Rockies Adventures 24 premiered at the Jasper Short Film and is to restore and develop trails and ... continued on page 4 Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 4 Page 5 Annual Edition - 2015

President’s Report .. continued from page 3 infrastructure of Willmore Wilderness 4800-square-foot office building. Mooser-Kolly, Susan Feddema-Leonard and Park. This initiative also supports the Jenn Houlihan cooked nutritional meals and Youth Mentoring and Trail Clearing Alberta Rockies Adventures is a served delicious lunches and suppers to all Program. program spearheaded by the Willmore those who attended the clinic. There was Wilderness Foundation. All member never a shortage of food. A special thanks Trail crews were out and revitalizing businesses operate in or around Willmore goes out to Hank Cheverie for keeping the the trails during the summer and fall of Wilderness Park. fires going and keeping the cooks stocked 2014. The Foundation has been focusing with firewood. Hank was a great asset on Alberta Rockies Adventures its efforts on the 2002 and 2009 burns the team, arriving long before the cooks, to represents the oldest tourism operators, in the Sheep Creek, and get the fires burning and wood bucked up. lodges, Bed ‘n Breakfasts, and outfitters Jackpine Valleys. A total of 127 km of trail in or adjacent to Willmore Wilderness were cleared in Improvement District On Day 2 of the clinic it rained late in Park. The businesses often have a personal #25, also known as Willmore Wilderness the afternoon. We had a good time overall, connection to the history of the fur trade. Park. A lot of hard and dirty work was and all participants made great progress. Owners share their personal history needed for restoration and development We decided to quit early and gathered and knowledge of the region offering a to keep the trails open and improve around the cozy campfire to warm up. unique traditional and historic tourism infrastructure of Willmore Wilderness On Day 3 Larry gave an overview of his that focuses on the history of our area Park. For more information refer to the “TRAINING, TUNING & SHOWING” in the Rockies that features accounts Trail clearing Report outlined later in the technique. On Day 4 there were more of how Canada’s west was opened. 2015 Willmore Wilderness Foundation lessons in the round pen; and then the We had a great clinic at Smoky River Ranch, AB. Our youngest colt rider was 11 years old and our oldest participant was 79 years old. For more information go to www. horses were readied for a short trail ride Newsletter. Thanks to all participants who supported this year’s Mountain Horsemanship Clinic. AlbertaRockiesAdventures.com. around the ranch. Day 5 was exciting as The Willmore Wilderness Foundation’s the newly started colts and riders were Back (lt to rt): Bazil Leonard, Paul Dumont, Tom Wanyandie, Riley Thiessen, Lorne Thiessen, Sean Elliott, Martin Hallock, Braiden Hallock, We were busy with many trade AGM was held on June 1, 2014 at the “tested” with a trail ride into Kvass Flats in Charlene Hagman, Betty Bellamy, Mimi Kelly, Reaghan Kelly, Emily Wayandie and Jenn Houlihan,. shows and exhibitions promoting Alberta Smoky River Ranch. After an informative Willmore Wilderness Park. Congratulations Bottom (lt to rt): Gunner, Mike Norton, Kyle Leonard, Payton Hallock holding Rosie Pup, Susan Feddema-Leonard, Rockies Adventures, as well as letting the and productive “outdoor” meeting, the were in order on Day 6 for Payton Hallock public know about Alberta’s best kept Fabienne Mooser-Kolly, Katie Cull, Logan Vinson, participants enjoyed a great BBQ on (11 yr), Braiden Hallock (14 yr) and Martin secret, which is Improvement District Missing: Gord Leonard, Jim Bruhm and Jaeda Mae Feddema. Right is our mascot Jaely Willow Moberly, Jaeda’s daughter. a sunny afternoon/evening. The newly Hallock (15 yr) who all rode their colts #25 or Willmore Wilderness Park. Laura elected Board of Directors included bareback. On Day-7 we all said goodbye Vinson and Dawn Woolsey attended Bazil Leonard, Vice President after a good day’s work in the round pen Journal’s Alberta Summer Herb Schmidt, Secretary-Treasurer and a delicious supper. It was an end to an Travel Show in the spring of 2014. Susan The Willmore Wilderness as the Official Clinic Cook. Lois is Foundation office at 4600 Pine Plaza, Shawnna Nichols, and Directors Hank incredible week for both riders and horses. Feddema-Leonard and Laura attended Foundation will be hosting a 7-day famous for her homemade cinnamon buns Grande Cache. I wish everyone a great Cheverie, Ed Regnier, Emily Wanyandie- and home cooked meals. 2015. the Alberta Northern Rockies Tourism It was with sadness that Hank Peter McMahon Memorial Bequette, and Gord Leonard. The Board of honouring Alliance meetings throughout the year. Peterson from Rocky Mountain House, Horsemanship Clinic, Directors is progressive and energetic. The Pete on June 25 to July 1, 2015. Pete Last but not least, I personally want Happy Trails Jenn Houlihan represented the Willmore Ishbel (Hargreaves) Cochrane from new Board is the driving force behind the McMahon introduced Susan and me to to congratulate our MLA Honourable Bazil Leonard, President Wilderness Foundation at Canada’s Wild and Peter McMahon from conventions and fundraising banquets that Larry Nelles in 1996, after which she Robin Campbell on his new positions as Outdoor Expo in Stony Plain, Alberta. Jenn rode over the Heavenly will be held in 2015. organized the first colt clinic in Grande the President of Alberta Treasury Board, and also attended the Wild Sheep Foundation Divide in 2014, and we had to say Cache. Without Pete’s introduction, we the Minister of Finance. Honourable I would encourage travellers to Show in Red Alberta. goodbyes. It is coincidental that both would have had a hard time maintaining Campbell has been a great ambassador for take time and visit the Grande Cache Peter and Ishbel passed over at the same The Willmore Wilderness Foundation the horsemanship traditions that many our region, and it is great to see him being Tourism & Interpretive Centre. Willmore time. Both these trail hands loved Corral hosted the Larry Nelles Mountain of us enjoy today. We have secured Larry honoured with such prestigious positions. Wilderness Foundation books and DVD Creek and made the camp their home. Horsemanship Clinic on June 22 to Nelles for the 7-day clinic and the dates sales are doing extremely well from Ishbel’s father Roy Hargreaves, who built I also want to congratulate June 29, 2014 with Alberta Municipal are locked in place. this venue. A 70-inch television screen corrals during the 1940s to roundup his Yellowhead’s new Member of Parliament Affairs Capital MSI Funding support. We displays the People & Peaks Production horses, named Corral Creek. Peter rebuilt Jim Eglinski. I feel that Jim will be a great were excited to have Master Horseman The Peter McMahon Memorial documentaries; and a beautiful log, display the camp and corrals during the past two ambassador for this region.Remember to Larry Nelles back in Grande Cache for Horsemanship Clinic will be “first stand showcases the books, DVDs and decades, and used the area to base his mark your calendar for the next AGM to the 7-day clinic. It was a great learning come, first served,” and will only accept Alberta Rockies Adventure brochures. The hunts out of. Pete’s son be held at Smoky River Ranch on Sunday experience for both the riders and horses. 16 participants. Please note that this collective sales from various outlets bring Tyler McMahon, along with Peter’s wife May 31, 2014 at 2 pm. Hope to see you Many participants camped at Smoky event is booking up fast. Larry Nelles in enough income monthly to make the Lois McMahon will keep the outfit running. there. In the event of rain, the AGM River Ranch and enjoyed the breathtaking has especially requested that Lois mortgage payments on the Foundation’s will be held at the Willmore Wilderness scenery of the Smoky River Valley. Fabienne McMahon, Peter’s widow be contracted Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 6 Page 7 Annual Edition - 2015 The Moccasin Telegraph by Susan Feddema-Leonard

Travelling by horseback into the Rocky House, up the Churchill River to Beaver Company to harvest game for the families Mountain wilderness with Tom Wanyandie, River, to Lac La Biche. From there they living in the Jasper area. Official Scrip a Cree Aboriginal elder is like travelling portaged to the forest of the Athabasca.1 records of 1900 show that Basa would often back in time. This summer, the 83-year-old travel to the Smoky River area where game native joined the Willmore Wilderness In the Athabasca the three Iroquois was plentiful, and bring back enough meat Foundation on a trail clearing expedition took wives of the Sekanaise tribe of the for the residents of the Athabasca Valley. deep into Willmore Wilderness Park. Montagnais Nation. Roaming the country, His 18-year-old grandson Dale Belcourt, they did much of the early exploring of The 1872 Jasper Census gives us a who was being taught the “ropes” of the the Rocky Mountains and its passes and good idea of who was living in the Upper trail, accompanied him. Outfitter Bazil of Lesser and Greater Slave Lakes. They Athabasca River region during Basa’s Leonard and his 22-year-old son Logan were reported to have gone down the lifetime. Records show that 14 Shuswap Leonard were also on the trek; along Mackenzie River and to Great Bear Lake. men, 14 Shuswap women and 40 Shuswap with camp cooks Kelsey Dozorec and Later they were the guides of Alexander children were residing in the area. There Fabienne Mooser-Kolly. I tagged along as a Mackenzie, David Thompson, Cheadle, and were also 30 French half-breed men, 30 cinematographer documenting the journey others. These Iroquois are unrecognized, French half-breed women and 150 French for an up-coming film. Mayhem broke out unsung heroes of the fur trade.2 half-breed children. It is of interest to note on day ten of the 21-day adventure—the that there were no English half-breeds and The North West Company records night a hungry little porcupine waddled no Whites noted, with a total population also show that Ignace Wanyandie’s co- had settled a hundred years before, near into our camp. of 281 people. Jasper was a thriving town. workers and voyageurs in the Athabasca the present day Palisades, near Jasper. Bazil and I had been travelling with District, as early as 1806, included Pierre By the 1880s times were a-changin’ Basa reported owning eighteen head Tom for over a quarter of a century. He Delorme and Jacques L’Hirondelle. Others in the valley; and the railroad surveys of horses— second largest herd in the began in earnest, bringing new surveyors, Jasper Valley. Lewis Swift, Basa’s neighbour Pictured above: had a colourful family history. He was who followed later included mixed blood owned the biggest herd of twenty-four Susan Feddema-Leonard almost 40 years old when the New Town characters like Jacco Findlay, James Findlay, packers and outfitters. The original native Photo by Share Munoz of Vivia Digital Films of Grande Cache was first constructed Charles Loyer, and Louis Loyer, to name a families who had served the fur trade, for head of horses and one-milk cow. few. The language of these men was French the previous hundred years, continued to in the Canadian Rockies in 1969. He New people were moving into the and their faith was Catholic. live on their home-place ranches, guiding was one of the last people, who lived a Athabasca Valley, and 1906 was a time of traditional lifestyle, to be assimilated into the early survey parties into the deep Ignace Wanyandie was married to transition. There were many new names in modern civilization. Tom’s third great- recesses of the Canadian Rockies. Marie (Sekanaise) Walker who was of the valley including that of Outfitter John grandfather, Ignace Wanyandie had come mixed blood, and was the daughter of In 1906 the Canadian Government Yates (26) and William Fetherstonhaugh into the Athabasca Valley in 1806 when his fur trade factor boss. Their children, completed another census in the Athabasca (32) who was the head of the Grand the North West Company hired the first grandchildren and great grandchildren district. This record revealed the names, Trunk Pacific Survey. Fetherstonhaugh Pass voyageurs. Ignace was a Mohawk from continued to thrive in the Athabasca ages, sex, and amount of livestock that each on the Continental Divide is named after the Iroquois Confederacy and was always Valley for the next 100 years. Ignace had household owned. These families included this early surveyor. referred to as an Iroquois. a son named Jean Baptist, whose son those of John Findlay, Albert Gauthier, It is interesting that Thomas A. Vincent (Basa) Wanyandie was born in Angelica Tappe, Louis Karakuntie, Adam Top: (lt to rt) An excerpt from a document in the Groat (20) was noted as a single and was Jasper House in 1859. Historians often Cardinal, Martin Joachim, Adam Joachim, Jean Baptise and Ignace Wanyandie Provincial Archives of Alberta reveals some listed as “an employee,” who was from refer to this man as Vincent Wanyandie; Isadore Findlay, Ewan Moberly, Bill Moberly, Bottom: Marie (Sekanaise) Walker of the historic stories of the Rockies. At Edmonton. Of the194 names entered on however, Tom and his relations refers to John Moberly, Adolphus Moberly, and the end of the eighteenth century (circa the Census, 113 were newcomers to the his grandfather as Basa. Lewis Swift; along with Henry Kenney and Nona Foster created these images. 1800), three Iroquois came to what community and were associated with the is now known as Alberta. These three, Kenny Kenney, a family about which Tom They are composites of four generations Basa grew up during the second half railroad survey. The other 81 entries were Louis and Ignace Karakwante and Ignace Wanyandie has often spoken. of family likenesses based on of the 1800s in the beautiful Athabasca long-time descendants of the Canadian fur Wanyandie came from the Indian Village of facial structure. The clothing was based River Valley, riding horses, hunting, trapping Forty-eight-year-old Basa (Vincent) trade era. Caughnawaga, nine miles east of Montreal, on archival journals, and the and fishing. He proved himself a skilled Wanyandie, his beautiful wife Isabella Quebec. They followed the customary One year after the Census, in 1907, hunter and was hired by the Hudson’s Bay and five children were also on the 1906 purchasing habits of these individuals. water route from Montreal to Fort Garry, the Canadian Government passed Records were kept by both the 1 Alberta Provincial Archives: Jasper census. The list included seventeen- now known as Winnipeg, Manitoba. At year-old son Daniel Wanyandie, who was North West Company and the this point they joined Joseph Belcourt and Accession No 71.185 2 Idem (same as previously mentioned) Tommy’s father. Basa was still living in Hudson’s Bay Company. continued west by way of Cumberland ... continued on page 7 the same location that his grandfather ... continued on page 8 Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 8 Page 9 Annual Edition - 2015

The Moccasin Telegraph - con’t by Susan Feddema-Leonard ... continued from page 8 ... continued from page 7 an Order in Council for the creation a long trip from Kvass Flats. more re-routing. of Jasper Forest Park—imposing the evacuation of all the native and mixed It didn’t take Tom long to notice that a Bazil had hoped to clear to the blood families in the Athabasca Valley. porcupine had been chewing on the walls headwaters of Bazil Creek; however, Many of the long-time residents who had of the log building, and there were lots thunder and lightning brought the trail arrived during the fur trade era left Jasper of fresh tracks and scat. He became very clearing effort to an abrupt halt. Tommy compliantly, leaving six families who were excited by the sign and announced out had always had a fear of thunder, so determined to stay on their homesteads. loud that we were going to have porcupine he jumped on his horse Tex and sped By 1909 the federal government sealed for dinner one night. One thing for sure towards camp, leaving the others behind. the guns of those families, along with was that Tommy loved porcupine meat. The rest of the crew couldn’t catch Tom; those of everyone else who lived in the and Bazil was surprised because he never I remember one trip in 2003 when Athabasca Valley. This action forced the knew that Tex could travel so fast. we were clearing trail through the 2002 fur trade descendants off their land, as Smoky River burn, past Copenhagen Hill. Tom was in camp well before the they needed their guns to hunt for food. I spotted a porcupine in a very tall spruce others. We had a great supper that Kelsey The only one who kept his homestead tree. I knew that Tom loved his porcupine and Fabienne had prepared, and enjoyed a was Lewis Swift, a newcomer to Jasper in and called out to him, pointing to the campfire before bedding down. We were the 1890s, as he had his land deeded just prickly varmint. “Too bad, Tom,” I said, all tucked into bed at 10 PM and were before the government created the Park. “You forgot your gun.” Tom jumped off his ready for a good night’s sleep. wait for the morning to hunt the creature. his porcupine, but they couldn’t see the Top left: Tom Wanyandie gutting We can gain a glimpse into what the horse and said, “No problem—I brought twigs in the dark; so they abandoned the The sound of gnawing woke Bazil his porcupine at the creek. Athabasca Valley looked like through the my chainsaw.” The three brave souls tracked the search until morning. The crew was tired and me from a sound sleep at 11:30 PM. I eyes of old time trapper Shand Harvey. animal in a hurried search. Logan spotted and retreated to bed. There was no more Top right: “Tom’s Meat.” Tom fired up his Husqvarna and could hear a chewing sound and thought When he first arrived in Jasper in 1909, the porcupine, loaded the .22 and shot the chewing, and it became a very quiet night. proceeded to cut down the forty-foot it was my Border Collie Rosie. She was Photo by Fabienne Mooser-Kolly Shand stated: varmint; but only wounded it. He reloaded! pine tree. I stood looking in disbelief while just a pup and chewed on anything she The porcupine was running fast, but Logan Tom was up at the crack of dawn and “Families were scattered along the Bazil held Tom’s horse. Old Dan Hallock, could get her teeth around. I yelled at her was able to put another shot into the came into the cabin announcing that he valley—faring well on farms. About a Merlin and Curtis Hallock looked on in to stop, but the noise persisted. critter, which slowed it down. The prickly was going to find his prized meat. He had Tom was up at hundred of them lived in the comparative amazement. Tom ran and grabbed a big creature disappeared momentarily, but no idea where the crossed sticks were, Logan and Kelsey were awakened in security of a crude, white-man’s type of stick and went chasing after the porcupine, Logan put the flashlight on top of the gun but he was bound and determined to find the crack of dawn the wall tent by the noise. Logan grabbed civilization. The men were descended from which was making a quick get-away after barrel so that he could see and shoot at them. Baz knew roughly the location of his cell phone so that he could use it as a canoe-men and snowshoe-men in the the tree came crashing to the ground. He the same time. They found the porcupine the critter and knowing that Tom might and came into the flashlight. He told Kelsey that he thought eastern forests (of Canada)—they were found the poor critter and clubbed it to lying on its side. Logan looked at Kelsey have trouble finding the markers, he it might be a porcupine chewing on the now horsemen and mountain climbers.” death. It wasn’t long before he was holding and asked, “Do you want the last shot?” decided to go out and give him a hand. cabin announcing side of the cabin. Logan, wearing boxers, the dead porcupine by the foot, a delicacy She looked at the porcupine, looked back Finding the dead porcupine was no easy threw on a T-shirt. Kelsey followed him, Tom Wanyandie was descended from that was going to be supper. Old Danny at Logan and said “Give me the damn gun!” task, but Baz finally did locate the carcass that he was going chasing the little critter as it scuttled away a long line of mountain men, and it was no Boy and Tommy devoured this delicious Kelsey aimed at the porcupine and asked 500 to 600 yards from camp as fast as it could. When they reached surprise to us that he agreed to come on meal and revelled in how good the meat where its head was. Logan pointed it out, to find his the back of the cabin, they ran into Bazil a 21-day trail-clearing trip at the tender tasted. Tom loved porcupine, and I knew and she made the final shot. The crew all Tom was pretty happy now that who was in his long johns and big boots, age of 83 years. It was July 31, 2014, and he would be looking for the pesky critter came back to camp and decided to get the he had hold of his favourite meat. He prized meat. holding a loaded ’22. “Let’s go hunt a we were on day six of the expedition. We that was chewing up the log cabin. dead critter in the morning. re-lit the big camp fire behind the cabin had been clearing trail to the Jackpine porcupine,” Baz said. and began to singe off the quills. He River and were moving to a new camp. We On day ten of this trip, Bazil, Tom, When Tom realized that the porcupine scraped the carcass with a stick until I ran out to tell Tom, Dale and arrived at the Jackpine cabin after a nine- Dale, and Logan were clearing trail on was dead, he didn’t want to wait for there were no more signs of quills. Tom Fabienne the news, but all three were hour ride. We were using the log building Bazil Creek, the route that goes up to daylight. He left the warmth of the fire took the rodent down to the creek and standing by the campfire. Tom told me as our base camp to clear the trails along Morkill Pass. There were problems with in hot pursuit. He was attired in tattered quickly gutted it. He cut the carcass up that he wasn’t going to leave the warmth the Continental Divide. The winter snow muskegs, which were very soft and had long johns and was accompanied by his into pieces and placed them on a green of the fire. The four of us watched as the had knocked the heater stovepipes down, to be re-routed. It seemed like some new grandson Dale who was wearing boxer garbage bag to keep the meat clean. flashlights moved relentlessly through the forcing the big stove to completely topple springs were coming up out of the ground, shorts and a T-shirt. Kelsey and Logan had woods. There was no way that Tom was over. We had set up a camp and had some which made the trail impassible. There marked the trail with two sticks in an “X” Tom asked me for a big pot to boil going to encounter the sharp quills of a cabin cleanup to do. There was wood to was a second section of the trail that was formation, so that they could easily find his meat and asked me to make up a big porcupine in the blackened night. He would chop and stack; and we were all tired after in bad condition, and which also needed the critter. Everyone tried to help Tom find batch of bannock. He told us that the ... continued on page 10 Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 10 Page 11 Annual Edition - 2015 The Moccasin Telegraph - con’t ... continued from page 9 The 2014 Summer Trail Clearing Report porcupine meat would have to boil for In the end the dogs stole most of the by Susan Feddema-Leonard two hours before it was ready to eat. He carcass, as no one could bring themselves cooked a meal fit for a king. to eat it. The Willmore Wilderness Foundation Tom always said that porcupine was Working with Tom Wanyandie over was formed in 2002, with a goal of his number one meat. He delighted in the past quarter century has taught restoring the historic pack trails. The eating the boiled delicacy with, bannock me many old ways. I am sure if tough Foundation’s efforts have opened up, and salt. He headed to the back of the times ever came, I would know how to maintained and restored many kilometres cabin with a full plate of food and sat hunt, clean, cook, and eat a porcupine. of trails that have traditionally been used relishing his dinner. I must admit that the I am very grateful for having had the by hunters, trappers, outfitters, anglers, other crew members didn’t think that opportunities to travel with this mountain and horsemen for the past 200 years. porcupine was the most delicious meal man, experiencing the historic traditions, The Willmore Wilderness Foundation ever served. Everyone ate a morsel of culture and way of life from an authentic would like to thank Alberta Municipal the meat; and it was funny to watch the descendant of the Canadian fur trade. All Affairs for its contribution towards contorted expressions on their faces as in all, we cleared many miles of trail on the 2014 trail clearing initiatives. We they tried to swallow the implied treat. that trip; I shot great film footage; and we would also like to thank the MD of all enjoyed an amazing expedition. Greenview for its support over the years. Notes from the Editor’s Desk The Willmore Wilderness Foundation by Estella Cheverie spent forty days clearing trail in the western With regard to my search for animal beginnings, she was led to a successful portion of Willmore Wilderness Park. Elder stories in last year’s Newsletter, I did equestrian career. Tom Wanyandie and Bazil Leonard, long– not receive any prospective contacts or time outfitter, mentored the youth involved submissions. I did, however, run into a I can’t say more without exposing in the trail clearing initiatives. person last year at the Grande Cache the whole story, but I highly recommend Deathfest. She was among the vendors this book. You will have an adventure in A total of 127 km of trail were who came to town during our big annual exploration! At present, I eagerly look cleared in Improvement District Dale Belcourt and Logan Leonard were mentored by Bazil Leonard and Tom Wanyandie. event, an extreme racing event: the forward to the sequel to Horseface, which #25 aka Willmore Wilderness These young men cleared many kilometers of trails during the summer of 2014. Canadian Death Race. Ms. Link told me she plans to publish early Park in 2014. A lot of hard and dirty The insert shows Logan replacing a sign that a tore down. this year. Inquiries for her books may be work was needed for restoration and This vendor caught my eye because directed to: development to keep the trails open and she was selling BOOKS—a foremost Lynn Link improve the infrastructure of Willmore Restoration from the confluence of Restoration from the Muddy Water interest for me! Then when I saw that the P.O. Box 1120 Wilderness Park. Bazil Creek to Ptarmigan Lake through River to Sheep Creek Cabin. books were about horses, I had to stop. Wabamun, AB T0E 2K0 the 2009 burn. The lady in question was the author—of Some of the initiatives included: Phone: 780-892-2408 - 28 km of moderate clearing completed. even greater interest to me! I had never of heavy clearing through the burn My previous invitation still stands to Rehabilitation of the main Smoky River - 12 km heard of this person and was delighted to to Pauline Creek with lots of downed burnt Restoration from the mouth Sheep our Newsletter readership for stories of trail from the Sulphur Gates Staging Area to talk with her, however briefly. Her name timber. Moderate clearing from Pauline Creek Cabin to the mouth of Cote Creek adventures, encounters or experiences the Muddy Water River . is Laurette-Lynn Link, and she lives in Creek to Ptarmigan Lake. through the 2009 burn. Wabamun, Alberta. She is an Albertan, born with horses or other animals; so that in Edmonton, and a true horse person. we may share them with our entire - 15 km of moderate clearing completed. Restoration from the mouth of Bazil readership. Also, I would welcome any - 10 km of heavy clearing with lots of Clearing the Muddy Water to Boulder Creek to the avalanche area, which is the Her book is called Horseface: 50 suggestions of titles you feel might be of beginning of the tree line on the trail to downed burnt timber. Lots of cutting through Years with Horses and Our True Stories. Her interest to us for our library. Creek Trail through the 2002 burn. very old burnt trees with large diameters. Morkill Pass. Estella Cheverie Aug 2014 stories give a real appreciation of the I am pleased to say that in this past - 20 km of heavy clearing. Lots of downed After the 2014 Trail Clearing initiative connection between animals, in particular - of heavy clearing around the Photo by Susan Feddema-Leonard year we made a second printing of our first burnt timber from the winter winds. 10 km was completed an early heavy snow came horses, and people. I am sure our horse- muskegs with a lot of downed timber. oriented readership will feel a kinship book People & Peaks of Willmore Wilderness and flattened a lot of the trees over the Restoration of Boulder Creek Trail to with this author. Ms. Link’s character Park: 1800s to mid-1900s. We also published trails that were just cleared. We managed Pictured on top the confluence of the and Restoration from the mouth of Bazil comes through as unpretentious yet its sequel, People & Peaks of Willmore to get out and clear to the Muddy Water Bazil Creek. Creek on the south side of the Jackpine 83-year-old Tom Wanyandie reveals a comic sense of humour as she Wilderness Park: the Legacy Continues. River, but there will be lots of trail to River to Fox Lake. Summer 2014 recounts her adventures and experiences. restore next spring. Happy reading and best wishes to all - 20 km of moderate clearing completed. Her down-to-earth approach will of moderate clearing completed. Photo by Susan Feddema-Leonard for the coming year! - 12 km resonate with you. Although from humble Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 12 Page 13 Annual Edition - 2015 From Willmore’s Wild Camera Jenn’s Journal by Jenn Houlihan On July 24, 2014 I travelled to Stony Plain, Alberta to attend Wild TV’s Wild Outdoor Expo. Brandon Smith, my fiancé, was to be my travel companion, but his job as a Vac Truck Operator had other plans for him. He dropped me off in Stony Plain where we unloaded the PT cruiser and set up the booth with books, DVDs, newsletters, brochures, business cards, and pictures. After we set up, it was time for Brandon to head back to Grande Cache for work the next day.

At the Expo I was surprised how many people had heard of me. At the Willmore Wilderness Foundation I do a lot of behind the scenes work Top left: and am less mentioned in any of the Jenn Houlihan ‘Charismatic mega fauna’ is the how cats utilize kills. I have quizzed Photo by Susan Feddema-Leonard Laura Murdock and Arthur Veitch high-falutin’ term used by media, local Fish & Wildlife officers about documentaries, books, websites, or Photo by Susan Feddema-Leonard biologists and environmentalists to grizzly bear movements in the spring. social media as the other members in Willmore Wilderness Park clearing trail and family, not just of the Willmore December 2014 describe the critters that really grab And I’ve listened to the stories from the office. I was known the most for at this point in the summer, so that was Wilderness Foundation, but of the the public’s attention. area trappers about the antics of starring in Wildie. I am the nineteen- a hot topic at the Expo. people I personally know. Brandon’s . It all paid off, and I’ve year-old girl struggling to find more Uncle, Tom Smith from Edmonton, I had the pleasure of meeting For example, a video documentary gotten pretty darn good at getting about her family history while originally Fairview, came to meet me Top right: Stellar’s Jay Ryan Kohler, Vice President of Wild TV or magazine article on wildlife in the the money shots of these ‘charismatic maintaining a trusting bond with a at the booth and proved to be quite Photo by Arthur Veitch and host of The Edge when he came Willmore Wilderness Park would mega fauna.‘ magnificent wonder, Mildred. People the socializer. After being at the likely focus on the big, scary carnivores asked me a lot of questions about to our booth for a chat. Ryan had just booth by myself the day before, it was like grizzlies, wolves or cougars to Working with Sue and the rest of starting Mildred (My Wildie). How long purchased an outfit in the Willmore refreshing to have someone to talk to grab and hold the viewers’ interest. the People and Peaks crew has shown did it take? How did I learn? If she Wilderness Park and had many and to help me when the line started The filmmakers or writers want a that I need to broaden my scope and bucked or didn’t buck. Did I still have questions about the area, weather exceeding my skills. big splash, so it’s not likely that a include the smaller, less charismatic her? Yes, Mildred is still in my life, and I systems and habitats. Richardson’s ground squirrel would be beasts. Footage of beavers, muskrats do see her often. I plan to attend next year’s Expo Later on, Helgie Eymundson chosen as the focal point. and song birds could really brighten with my co-worker, Kelsey Dozorec. stopped by the booth for a visit to the “B” Roll of future documentaries. I met a lot of interesting We agreed to make a girls’ trip out I’ve long known that photos of people at the Expo, who are make sure I was going to the vendor of it. We are both women who love wild cougars, bears and such are far I’m going to dedicate a camera supportive of the goals of the Willmore mixer later on Saturday evening. nothing more than spending the day more attractive to most buyers, and set to these smaller creatures, and I’m Wilderness Foundation. With the I assured him I would, along with in the wilderness exploring. Our good images of them illicit higher looking for help because I don’t know release of our new book People & my two friends Kaleb Gilchrist and favourite colour is camouflage, and accolades than equally good shots much about things that don’t have big Peaks of Willmore Wilderness Park: The Brandon Huff. I had two extra wrist our favorite perfume is campfire. The of less “sexy” beasts like hares or fangs. I want to first focus on birds, Legacy Continues and documentaries bands because of my sudden change of weekend was a great success for the muskrats. To get these images, I’ve everything from starlings to owls. I am in the filming stages, we received plans. It was better that the passes be Willmore Wilderness Foundation. sought the advice of experts to calling on wilderness enthusiasts for much positive feedback from hunters, used rather than thrown away. At the either bring the animals closer to any tips on how to lure these little fishermen, outfitters, and business mixer I saw many people I knew from my cameras or to get me closer to guys to a camera (in a wild setting, people. It seemed everyone at the other organizations through my work. the critters. I’ve pestered mountain not a back yard). Call Jennifer at the Expo bought a film or book, or just The Expo was a great opportunity lion biologists foolish enough to Willmore to leave your name and stopped by to grab a newsletter or to showcase our work to friends publish toll free numbers about number and I’ll pick your brain. brochure. Susan and Bazil were in the Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 14 Page 15 Annual Edition - 2015

Interview of Lois and Pete McMahon Tribute to a Willmore Outfitting Family by Susan Feddema-Leonard in 2012 by Susan Feddema Leonard Pete Well, I started outfitting, we just happened to have a bottle of Lois All I remember is going I think in ’72. I started taking bird hunters, 32-over-proof rum, which was George’s across the Smoky, and he said, “If you and I had always wanted to hunt. What favourite. He would stop every now and don’t go across that Smoky you have to I really liked to hunt was elk, and I like again and have a drink, and he’d offer me go five miles to get around it.” I thought, to hunt in the mountains. So it was in one. I would take a small one, and he’d one way or another, I am going to die. 1978 that I came up here hunting elk, offer Lois a sip and she would say, “No.” (Laugh) We were on our way across and and I killed a fairly good elk with a friend. Well, I knew maybe she’d had enough, Pete yelled, “Don’t turn around or you I was packing it out, and we ended up when I saw her take a great big swallow of are going to drown.” That river was really losing two horses; one of mine and one 32-over-proof rum, when we stopped at going fast. That was probably the worst of my friend’s. We were coming up every Eaton Creek. (Laugh) part of that whole trip, I think, except weekend looking for them, so I decided when I got to the hotel. I was so stiff and to bring Lois up one weekend. I put some Riding back in the snow, we hit the sore, I thought I would never, ever do that stock racks on the truck in case we found wire at Sulphur Gates and George said, again—but here I am many years later. the horses and phoned a friend of mine “Well, do you want to ride down the in Grande Cache by the name of crazy highway and back up the hill to the Saddle Pete Yup, it was over a year George McNeil. I said, “Can I borrow Club the way we come—or we can cross before I could get her to get on a horse, if some horses to go look for the two I lost the Smoky at the Sulphur Gates and ride it wasn’t in the backyard or at her sister’s somewhere along the Smoky?” I had lost right up to Grande Cache? It will only farm. Anything that was more than a mile them at Davey Creek right at the edge of take us an hour.” from the house was out of the question. Findlay Flats. Lois said, “I don’t think I can ride Joe Gienger found the two horses George was more than happy to lend another four-and-a-half hours.” and called me a week later. My horses were ranging with his, so he caught them. the horses and come along. So we met There was a little ice floating down Publisher’s Note: him at the Big Horn Cafe at 4:30 in the Joe was living with Leola Moberly. They the river. It was late October when we lived at Number One Mine Flats, also morning, as it used to open that early then. crossed the Smoky. Lois was on a short We had breakfast and headed down to known as Joachim Enterprises, just north horse, so we had a crash lesson on of the Blue Bridge on the Smoky River. his barn, which is just down from Grande crossing the river. I told her to let her Bazil Leonard and I first met Pete McMahon at the Sulphur Gates Trail Head to Willmore Wilderness Park. We developed Cache, and saddled up three horses. We I guess the horses left Davey Creek and a life-long friendship with Pete and his family. Tyler was about 12 years old at the time and talked as much then as he horse drink all he wanted and when he grazed down towards Joe’s and hooked up rode all the way down the hill, across the lifts his head, start him going across the does now. He always wore an old felt hat and worn cowboy boots. with his herd. Blue Bridge, and up the hill. We checked river. I stressed that she should keep every trail—all the way to the Muddy focused on the other shore, but Lois’s Sue I have been a long-time friend Peter was the first person to introduce me to Master Horseman Larry Nelles back in the fall of 1995. He was Water. Any place there was a trail or a horse was lagging behind and drifting of Joe and Leola’s, although they are not exuberant in telling me that this new trainer, Larry Nelles, was like magic starting young colts. I was intrigued by Pete’s horse track, we rode in and followed it. downstream (laugh); and it’s snowing; together today. I would have been around passion and brought Larry Nelles to Grande Cache in May of 1996. Larry’s clinics over the past twenty years have gone When we left in the morning, it was and she’s wet. We crossed the river and Grande Cache at that time. I certainly a long way in strengthening the skills and abilities of our mountain horseback culture, which has existed in the Canadian went about two hours through these remember George McNeil and his Rockies for more than two hundred years. kind of drizzly rain. We had those old yellow rain suits, which in theory were winding little trails before we hit the brother Dan. You were running with some town of Grande Cache. I think we landed pretty interesting characters. Bazil and I were down in Arizona in December 2014 filming Larry for the up-coming movie called good. Of course after a couple of hours we were wet, and the rain turned to somewhere down about where the water Mountain Mustang. Larry suggested that we dedicate the 2015-year Horsemanship Clinic, to Pete McMahon—thus Pete George was a wild man, snow. It kept snowing and drizzling, and treatment plant is. Then we went up the Pete McMahon Memorial Clinic was envisioned. We have asked Lois McMahon to cook for this event, as she but he was always straight with me. He the fog had descended into the Smoky through town and rode along the streets. was in his element in the bush and dearly was and still is the heart and soul of Sherwood Guide and Outfitters. Some even say she is the best cook in Willmore Valley. All of a sudden, George reached over Wilderness Park. Larry has agreed to come for a seven-day colt-starting clinic on June 25 to July 1, 2015; so mark your and opened a gate, and we cut through loved the Park. Beneath his rough exterior, calendars. George and I would ride up so we somebody’s yard. He opened another I believe he was hiding a soft heart. could stop to take a leak, but of course gate and came out in somebody else’s Sue Were you guys married The following is an excerpt from Pete and Lois McMahon’s interview published in People & Peaks of Willmore Lois’s horse didn’t want to be left behind. front yard. Pretty soon we showed up then? Wilderness Park: The Legacy Continues. We thought it fitting to give Pete a chance to share his love of Willmore So she’d trot up, and we would trot at George’s house, and he tied the three Wilderness Park with our readers. If you don’t have a copy of the publication, be sure to order it online at further up. She had never ridden more horses to the swing set, and we went Pete Yeah, we were married. I http://www.albertarockiesadventures.com/product-category/book/ than a forty-five minute ride prior to that, inside to warm up. think we had Brenda then… but she was game for it. We rode all the Sue How was that for you, Lois? All the best in 2015! way up to the Muddy Water River and ... continued on page 16 Susan Feddema-Leonard back. We were riding back, and of course, Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 16 Page 17

Tribute to a Willmore Outfitting Family... continued from page 15 by Susan Feddema Leoanrd

Lois Yeah, Brenda and it was raining, and she had on one of went on a day ride. Then we rode back Michelle. them big yellow slickers, which was a big to Adam’s Creek. That would be Saturday. improvement from the last rain jacket she We would ride back out Sunday morning Pete …and Tyler was being had. Tyler’s head stuck out of the front of and get to the gate at noon. I would say planned. (Laugh) the slicker. He was sitting on the saddle in good-bye to those guests, pick up another front of her and yelling instructions to all set of guests and head back in. I would do Then I got Lois to go up on the the horses—at three years old. I think we that all summer long, and I think I used Berland (1980). I took her on a little had fourteen horses tail-tied. We rode in to take a maximum of eight guests. I took summer trip up the Berland and took and hung out there for a couple of days. I one hundred fifty-eight people on my best my oldest daughter; and we had a better got camp all ready, then we pulled it and year. summer. I had a nice wall tent and a stove, went home. and we met some other people when We had no radio communication, so we were trail riding in there. Lois kind of Lois has turned into a hell of a trail I would send a note home to Lois as she thought, well this isn’t all that bad. hand. I mean we used to do eight-day trail was looking after all the food and supplies. rides, with three different camps. Basically Everything had to be planned two weeks in In 1980 I started doing some trail the agenda was we picked you up at the advance. So if I needed it, I wasn’t going to rides with Grant MacEwan College. gate at noon and rode you into Adam’s get it for a week from the time I ordered it. I got her to come out when I pulled Creek. Day two we went on a day ride. I would send a note with one set of guests. camp. I had a pretty good girl cooking Then the third day we moved up to Pope They would phone her, and she would ship for us then—Linda Parisi. Linda loaded Pete McMahon Memorial Clinic Thoreau, and day four we went on a day it up with the set coming up a week later. up the kitchen with food before she left ride. The fifth day we moved you over It ran smooth, and we had a good time. and Lois came up. She brought our son to the North Berland, and day six we Lois would take usually two weeks of her June 25 to July 1, 2015 Tyler in riding horseback. I remember vacation and come out to camp. Cooking by Willmore Wilderness’ Awesome Cook Lois McMahon

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING May 31, 2015 at 2 pm Smoky River Ranch for good weather Willmore Foundation office if raining Date: Thursday June 25 to Limited number of Note: One colt per entry Wednesday July 1, 2015 spaces are available for the No alchohol during Place: Smoky River Ranch seven-day training. training sessions 15 kilometres north of Grande Cache Book early by calling Filming and photography will take place. Jenn Houlihan at Cost: Youth 18 and under - free Adults $350.00 780.827.2696 or email Meals and included. info@Willmore Wilderness.com Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 18 Page 19 Annual Edition - 2015

WILLMORE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATION WILLMORE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATION BALANCE SHEET STATEMENT OF EARNINGS AS AT DECEMBER 31, 2013 FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2013

2013 2012 2013 2012 $ $ REVENUE $ $ General Sales 1,050.00 50.00 ASSETS Grants 480,600.00 462,558.00 Current Memberships 3,499.00 6,098.47 Cash 0.00 134,423.40 Book Sales 25,308.94 2,672.92 Accounts Receivable 243,687.67 7,221.25 DVD Sales 210.00 1,295.00 Security Deposits 200.00 200.00 Donations 32,166.25 100,874.14 243,887.67 141,844.65 Training & Clinics 2,100.00 720.00 Capital Assets Trail Clearing Contracts 48,000.00 6,400.00 Building 287,000.00 287,000.00 Fundraising Proceeds 9,416.09 78,595.69 Equipment 13,855.19 13,855.19 Rental Income 0.00 2,700.00 Office Equipment 2,468.15 2,468.15 Interest 46.28 42.22 602,396.56 662,006.44 Camera, Video & Film Equipment 64,371.22 57,125.55 Computer 38,900.54 38,900.54 OPERATING EXPENSES Furniture & Fixtures 14,427.26 12,535.12 Accounting & Consulting 1,537.50 0.00 421,022.36 411,884.55 Advertising & Promotion 4,610.61 6,113.42 Less: Accumulated Amortization 74,804.53 54,234.19 Amortization 20,570.34 23,907.55 346,217.83 357,650.36 Donations 0.00 340.00 Fundraising Costs 7,835.69 49,233.79 590,105.50 499,495.01 Bank/Credit Card Charges & Fees 2,235.87 3,656.80 Insurance 2,332.00 660.00 License, Fees & Permits 90.75 300.25 Loan/Mortgage Interest 5,558.68 5,910.76 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Supplies 116.82 4,235.80 Conventions, Banquets & Meetings 291.41 266.15 Current Liabilities Training & Clinics 373.00 0.00 Bank Overdraft 4,794.64 0.00 Office 21,895.93 8,534.81 Accounts Payable 124,765.94 41,560.79 Utilities 3,934.53 4,710.53 129,560.58 41,560.79 Property Taxes 8,376.80 7,108.91 Book & Film Production Costs 0.00 35.85 Telephone & Fax 1,896.84 2,217.70 Long Term Liabilities ATB Mortgage Payable 119,387.71 127,029.03 Maintenance & Repairs 369.40 2,683.80 Building Renovations 0.00 12,013.95 Travel 225.37 474.36 ConocoPhillips 248,948.29 168,589.82 Wages & Benefits 81,283.88 40,278.31 for supporting the Sub-Contracts/Consulting 3,000.00 0.00 Equity RADF Project Costs 425,609.12 430,634.59 Larry Nelles Clinic Retained Earnings 341,157.21 330,905.19 592,144.54 603,317.33 & the 590,105.50 499,495.01 EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS 10,252.02 26,484.95 Grande Cache Gala

Thanks to the Alberta Municipal Affairs for Also thanks to MD of Greenview, Infrastructure Improvements to Alberta Multimedia Funding Agreement, Improvement District #25 aka Willmore Wilderness Park Travel Alberta: Cooperative Marketing Funding, and Community Initiatives Program Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 20 Page 21 Annual Edition - 2015

Dozorec’s Diary Excerpt from the Hersch Neighbor Chapter by Kelsey Dozorec People & Peaks of Willmore Wilderness Park: The Legacy Continues

My Summer in the Willmore at Boulder Creek for lunch. Not even five Originally, I was not going to publish trip, along with Adam Joachim and Henry Old Adam Joachim was an old Indian minutes into our ride, a horse got loose from Hersch Neighbor’s transcript in People Joachim. Clarence Wilkins was a wrangler, that was packing for us. Adam and I rode The word I would use to sum up my our pack string. Logan jumped off his horse to & Peaks of Willmore Wilderness and George Camp was the cook. down to the other camp. The doctor experience in the Willmore Wilderness Park grab it, and Tommy Wanyandie attempted to Park: The Legacy Continues. looked, and he said, “Mister, you’ve got to this year is WOW! wrangle the horse. Logan’s mount got loose as I changed my mind after I discovered Hersch We took out these have an operation. That thing is serious, well. After a few minutes of getting everyone that he was one of the wranglers on summer parties of sightseers. We had This year has been filled with new back together and ready to go, we headed and I am quite sure I know what’s in memories and friends. Earlier this year, I met out. Later, Logan was bucked off his horse; but Caroline Hinman’s thirty-five-day 1937 ten guests. It was Caroline Hinman from there.” That foot was swelled up like a Logan Leonard, Susan and Bazil’s youngest after eight hours, we tired riders arrived at the trip from Devona to Mt. Sir Alexander down in the United States. She used to balloon. He said, “I think you’ve got…” … child. We began to grow close, and he took Jackpine in one piece. Everyone was exhausted and south to Mt. Robson. Caroline had organize these parties and brought out and then he gave it some Latin name. “You me to the Willmore Park. It was my second so we set up tents, ate our dinner and went to filmed the expedition on 35 mm film, a bunch of kids. They were mostly young need an operation and to stay off of that time being in the park—as I had been on the sleep. which footage I had acquired from teenagers and that. That’s what we were for ten days.” grade six incentive hike. It was the first time the of the Canadian doing, and I was working for Wilkins and The next few days consisted of I had been on a horse in ten years. Rockies. I used segments of this footage Neighbor. Bert Wilkins was in charge of I said, “I can’t stay off of that for ten organizing the camp, cutting and stacking to produce a forty-eight-minute Alberta the outfit. days. The day after tomorrow we move on.” wood, trail-clearing, and some photography. We decided to go out to Kvass Flats for Film and Televsion Rosie Award, two-time We packed a lunch and made a trip to the night. We saddled up and rode out. nominated documentary called Women We were on a thirty-six day trip The doctor said, “Take your choice. Ptarmigan Lake, a glacier-fed lake that as far Photo of Kelsey Dozorec of Willmore Wilderness. in1937. We were going to make a big loop Get a saddle horse and start out for the Logan rode his horse Sulphur, and I as the eye could see was absolutely beautiful. in the mountains. Previous to the trip, I railroad. I don’t think you’ll make it, and if on her favourite horse Blaze rode Blaze. An hour and a half later we were What seemed like only a few short days in Hersch was born in 1906 in Oregon. was breaking some horses, and this one you do you are going to lose that leg.” riding through a giant meadow. The wind the Jackpine area turned into two weeks; September 2014 He guided in the Canadian Rockies horse was plenty hard to ride. He bucked was blowing pretty hard and knocked off and too soon it was time to start home. for a total of thirty-eight years. I came awfully crooked, and he just started going So I said, “Alright, sharpen up your my cowgirl hat, scaring Blaze enough to hop to know Hersch, as I worked with the stupid. He lost track of his feet, and he butcher knife, we’ll operate.” around and start running. After getting Blaze The end of the summer trip was to Photo by Susan Feddema-Leonard old film footage, editing the sequence fell on me and bruised a foot. Nobody to calm down and walk again, Logan looked Sheep Creek airstrip, even farther than Kreg You were seventy miles from together. He came across as a very thought anything about that, and he didn’t at me and laughed saying “You must have Jackpine, but just as beautiful. While Logan anywhere! been a professional horse rider in your past and Bazil tried to clear trail when the rain capable and knowledgeable mountain even disable me. We packed up a day or My first long life. You handled that really well.” I shook my was not so intense, Sue and I would bake man. I decided that it was important to so later and went to the mountains. Hersch It was going to take head laughing, and we continued on to the and take photos of the area. We tried include his interview in this People & quite a few days just with a saddle horse We got out pretty close to the summer in Kvass cabin. That night we sat around a fire everyday to go out and clear as much trail Peaks publication. to get out of there; it was quite a long Kakwa Lake country, and this foot was by our tent telling stories. and fly the drone, but the weather was not ways back. The doctor was anxious to do Kreg O. Sky interviewed Hersch getting sore—ungodly sore. I didn’t Willmore always in our favour. After days in the cold an operation. He was equipped to do up The next morning I awoke to a rain, we packed up and went back to Kvass, Neighbor in Fort St. John on November know what the devil, but an infection got to an appendix operation, so he took me breathtaking sight: the meadow was still where the sunshine didn’t stop and neither 23, 1983. Kreg had the foresight and started. It had bruised, and that foot was Wilderness Park in the tent there. (Laugh) They hacked me a little foggy, elk were grazing not even a did the bugs—until the last two days, when means during the 1980s to conduct many getting swelled up. I knew it was serious. open, and I guess scraped that bone. That’s hundred yards away, and the sun was rising. we were awoken by white, heavy snow interviews with Alberta and B.C. outfitters; Then I saw this red streak from the inside will never be what he told me he had done. The next This place was paradise. We went to the cabin and no horses in sight. After we found the after which he relinquished his taped of my leg. I knew it was blood poison, and morning Bert Wilkins came down, and to eat breakfast and talk with Logan’s parents horses, we packed up camp and rode home interviews to the Royal British Columbia she was getting pretty high. forgotten. I went back to camp. I have never seen who were out at the cabin as well. By the end to Grande Cache. Museum. I contacted the Museum’s that doctor since. It’s the only operation of our breakfast, Logan and I had decided, that Archives Department and received We were camped not too far from My first long summer in Willmore I have ever had. The doctor said, “I don’t we wanted to try a trip out here. We were approval to go to press, for which a big Kakwa Lake. These two Indian boys hired on as trail clearers for the twenty-one Wilderness Park will never be forgotten. I walked into camp, and they were taking think you will make it out of here. That’s learned many skills, including how to tie a thanks goes out to Kreg O. Sky and the day trip to the Jackpine in July. the same kind of a party from the Grande pretty serious infection.” You see there diamond hitch and cooking on an open fire. I Royal BC Museum Corporation. Prairie country, travelling through to Mt. was a streak like the length of your two June came along with my graduation made new friends and wonderful memories This incident took place in 1937 Robson with a bunch of college students. fingers up the inside of my leg. So you get from Grande Cache Community High School, in the Park. Willmore Wilderness Park is not on an expedition that Caroline Hinman They had a doctor in the outfit that went lucky once in a while. That was one of the as well as the new additions to our lives, our only a paradise… it is home. toughest trips I ever did. puppies Rosie and Lucy. Soon enough it was arranged with Curly Phillips. Bert Wilkins, along in case somebody got hurt. They I was excited to be home and see my Curly’s brother-in-law outfitted the trip. told us, “Well we’ve got a doctor down at time to go on our big adventure. Note: You can purchase this and family and friends, but heartbroken to leave The excursion started at the Devona our camp.” So we moved camp the next other stories . Go to SHOP at The first couple nights were spent in such an amazing place. I promised myself Railroad Station near Jasper and went day and camped not too far from them, online www.AlbertaRockiesAdventures.com or Kvass Flats preparing for the Jackpine. We that I would be back. to Mt. Sir Alexander and then south to and I went down to see this doctor to see www.WillmoreWilderness.com. saddled up to ride to the Jackpine, with a stop Mt. Robson. Hersch was a guide on that if maybe he could give me something. Willmore Wilderness Foundation Page 22 Page 23 Annual Edition - 2015

Willmore Wilderness Join Our Membership Online Purchase People & Peaks Books & DVD’s Online : Foundation Go to SHOP at: a registered charitable organization Purchase Membership’s Online #89655 0308 RR001 Go to SHOP at: WillmoreWilderness.com Box 93 Grande Cache, Alberta T0E 0Y0 Canada WillmoreWilderness.com AlbertaRockiesAdventures.com AlbertaRockiesAdventures.com Phone: 1-780-827-2696 PayPal accepted Toll Free: 1-866-WILMORE PayPal accepted Email: [email protected] 1-866-WILMORE or 1-866-945-6673 or 1-780-827-2696 1-866-WILMORE or 1-866-945-6673 or 1-780-827-2696 Web Pages: Box 93 Grande Cache, Alberta T0E 0Y0 Canada WillmoreWilderness.com or mail a cheque or money order to: PeopleandPeaks.com Box 93 Grande Cache, Alberta T0E 0Y0 Canada Great Divide Consulting Inc., Publisher Estella Cheverie, Editor People & Peaks of the Panther River & Eastern Slopes

Susan Feddema-Leonard RN, author of People & Peaks of Willmore People & Peaks Yearly Membership is as follows: Share in the history of some of Wilderness Park, shares the unique of the Panther River & Eastern Slopes the biggest Bighorn Sheep taken traditions, culture and history of a social structure in the Canadian People & Peaks of the Panther on Alberta’s eastern slopes. This Rockies. She has a passion for the River & Eastern Slopes is an exposé publication outlines the saga of trail life, mountains, horses, and the of twenty colourful mountain some of the Wardens, Rangers, wilderness; as can be seen in both men and women, whose stories early outfitters, trappers, and her writing and film productions. Annual General Meeting in June of each year. are woven into the very fabric of mountain men and women. It describes the early geological the Canadian Rockies. Experience For more information on the • $25.00 Individual Membership $100.00 for five years the first person accounts of survey expeditions on horseback, which opened the oil and gas Willmore Wilderness Foundation or or trail men like Bud Brewster, Rex People & Peaks Productions go to: Logan, Dewy Browning, Phil sector. This book will open the reader’s eyes on how our mountain Temple, Ray Legace, Stan Burrell, www.WillmoreWilderness.com Glen Kilgour, Bob Kjos, and more. regions were first explored by An independent newsletter published in www.PeopleandPeaks.com rugged, tenacious people. This The tales of mountain women Facebook.com/WillmoreWilderness untold story of Alberta’s Rocky are revealed as well. Linda Rose Facebook.com/PeopleandPeaks Mountains will be a hard book is a trail hand and expert horse Vimeo.com/PeopleandPeaks to put down. The publication is woman who will inspire ladies @WillmoreTweets

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Women of Willmore Wilderness Willmore of Women or Peaks & People with the land. Her frank, matter- and supplemented with archival January of each year. Following the lead of historic women who challenged the traditions of-fact accounts will leave the photos. of the day, blazing trails into a man’s world on horseback in the Canadian Rockies, modern generations of women face their own challenges to readers enthralled and laughing. travel these same trails.

Traveling as horseback people was a way of life for Native and Métis women living nomadically with their families in the Rocky Mountains. Later, and prior to World War I, a small number of affluent women afforded • Life Time Membership $500.00 the services of packhorse outfitters to guide them into unexplored areas of the Canadian Rockies. With the advent of the Second World War, there People & Peaks was a birth of feminism, and women began participating in non-traditional Women of Willmore Wilderness roles, including careers in the mountain wilderness. Many were trying to survive the post depression era, etching a living off the land; while others Author: were adventurers seeking a sense of freedom. Most of these women lived “outside the box” and were visionaries of their time. These explorers shed Susan

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