DOCSLIB.ORG

Living the Middle Ground: Four Native Presbyterian Missionaries, 1866-1912

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Living the Middle Ground: Four Native Presbyterian Missionaries, 1866-1912 FOUR NATIVE PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARIES LIVING THE MIDDLE GROUND: FOUR NATIVE PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARIES, 1866-1912 By DARCEE MCLAREN, B.A., M.A. A Dissertation Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy McMaster University © Copyright Darcee McLaren, February 1997 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (1997) McMaster University (Religious Studies) Hamilton, Ontario TITLE: Living the Middle Ground: Four Native Presbyterian Missionaries, 1866- 1912. AUTHOR: Darcee L. McLaren, BA, MA (McMaster University) SUPERVISOR: Professor Ellen Badone NUMBER OF PAGES: vii, 165 11 Abstract This dissertation will examine the motives and intentions of four native men, John Thunder, Peter Hunter, George Flett and John McKay, who participated in the missionary endeavour as native missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada ministering to native people in southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan between 1866 and 1912. In examining the lives and careers of Thunder, Hunter, Flett and McKay, it becomes apparent that their goals and their perception of the missionary role were not necessarily those of the Foreign Mission Committee (FMC), the governing body concerned with the missionary work of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The dissertation follows and extends the theoretical framework delineated by historian Richard White (1991), who argues that in cross-cultural encounters a 'middle ground' may emerge, a common, mutually comprehensible world partaking of aspects of all cultures in the contact situation. It will be shown that the two Dakota men, John Thunder and Peter Hunter, used the office of missionary and the symbols of Christianity to communicate their needs to the dominant white society and to achieve their own goals on behalf of the Dakota people. Likewise, the Country-born men, John McKay and George Flett, appropriated the role of missionary in an attempt to maintain the atmosphere of negotiation and accommodation which characterized the middle ground of the Red River Settlement in which they were raised. iii In contrast to prevailing views of missions as destructive of native culture and an imposition of the colonial agenda on native life, I demonstrate the various ways in which the missionary endeavour was perceived as valuable by the native people and how, as missionaries, each of these four native men had some degree of influence over the pace, level, and type of adaptation which they and their people would make to white society. iv Acknowledgements This dissertation, this degree, would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of a great many people. First, I would like to thank my supervisor, Ellen Badone, for her detailed attention and insightful criticism, her kindness and her patience. In addition, I would like to thank Louis Greenspan for his indispensable role as Religious Studies advisor. I literally could not have pursued this study without his support. Acknowledgement is also due to Trudy Nicks and Michael Gauvreau for the support they have given me and the many contributions they have made as members of my advisory committee. Finally, I would like to gratefully acknowledge Duke University Press for permission to reprint portions of an article published in Ethnohistory 43(2). On a personal note, I would like to thank Jennifer, for going first (and surviving) and for always believing I could do this, and Dave and Lily, for taking us in when I needed to finish the Ottawa research. I would also like to acknowledge the constant love and support I received from my family-Mark, Linda, Tyler, Nana, Uncle Mac, and especially my parents, Don and Ardella McLaren. I could not have done this without their encouragement and unfailing optimism. Finally, I would like to thank my partner, Rick Wybou, who single-mindedly overcame the limitations of PowerPoint to make the maps look great, who cooked, cleaned, and generally stayed out of the way, and who was always there to share the disappointments and the frustrations as well as the successes. v Table of Contents Chapter One: Introduction: ......................................................................................... 1 Endnotes: ........................................................................................................ 24 Chapter Two: The Red River Settlement as a Middle Ground ................................ 30 Endnotes: ........................................................................................................ 59 Chapter Three: Flett and McKay of Red River ........................................................ 60 Endnotes: ........................................................................................................ 91 Chapter Four: Thunder and Hunter of Birdtail Creek ............................................ 99 Endnotes: ...................................................................................................... 133 Chapter Five: Conclusion: ....................................................................................... 139 Endnotes: ...................................................................................................... 150 Bibliography ............................................................................................................. 151 vi List of Maps Map 1: Reserves and Settlements of Southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan ..................... 27 Map 2: Reserves and Settlements of Southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan Inset: Birdtail Creek Area ......................................................................................... 28 Map 3: The Red River Settlement: Geographic Distribution of Groups ............................. 29 vii Chapter 1: Introduction This dissertation will examine the motives and intentions of four Native American men, John Thunder, Peter Hunter, George Flett and John McKay, who participated in the missionary endeavour in Canada as native missionaries of the Presbyterian Church in Canada ministering to native people in southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan between 1866 and 1912. In examining the lives and careers of Thunder, Hunter, Flett and McKay, it becomes apparent that their goals and their perception of the missionary role were not necessarily those of the Foreign Mission Committee (FMC), the governing body concerned with the missionary work of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The dissertation follows and expands upon the theoretical framework delineated by historian Richard White (1991), who argues that in cross-cultural encounters a 'middle ground' may emerge, a common, mutually comprehensible world partaking of aspects of all cultures in the contact situation. It will be shown that the two Dakota men, John Thunder and Peter Hunter, used the office of missionary and the symbols of Christianity to communicate their needs to the dominant white society and to achieve their own goals on behalf of the Dakota people. Likewise, the Country-born men, John McKay and George Flett, appropriated the role of missionary in an attempt to maintain the atmosphere of negotiation and accommodation which characterized the middle ground of the Red River Settlement in which they were raised. All four native men appropriated the office of missionary and used it as a middle ground to buffer the cultural changes with which they were faced. As missionaries, each had 2 some degree of influence over the pace, level, and type of adaptation which they and their people would make to white society. Despite the fact that there were dozens of native missionaries in nineteenth century Canada alone, there have been very few studies of native missionaries.1 The relative lack of attention which native missionaries in Canada have received can be explained by two simple observations. First, missionary records, where these men are most prominently figured, have largely been ignored until recently; and second, native missionaries are not easily understood in terms of earlier theories of culture contact in colonial situations, which emphasize resistance, syncretism, or acculturation. Within these paradigms, any native person who willingly chose to convert to and preach Christianity was an enigma to the social sciences which regarded Christianity, and missionaries in particular, with suspicion. Thus, it is only with the decline of the negative evaluation of the missionary endeavour and the rise of more encompassing theories of culture contact that native missionaries have emerged as legitimate subjects for scholarly enquiry. The Study of Missions The missionary endeavour has been studied in many different academic disciplines. Theologians, historians, and anthropologists have all discussed various aspects of mission work and specific missions and missionaries. However, most of this literature is concerned with white, Christian missionaries of European ancestry who established mission stations among non-Europeans, often in a colonial context. 2 As a result, scholars have tended to assume, and indeed it was often the case, that 3 Christianity was in opposition to local indigenous religions. Furthermore, the societal guilt and culpability associated with the colonial context, particularly for North American scholars, has had a negative impact on the study of missions. To some extent, 'missionaries' became a symbol of all that was wrong about the colonial encounter. This "concern with inegalitarian social structures" has "brought the missionary effort under fire both for needlessly meddling in native culture and (not altogether
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Blue Jay, Vol.74, Issue 2
    OBSERVATION OF ABUNDANT NORTHERN LEOPARD FROGS AT WARGATIE LAKE, MANITOBA Cary Hamel, Nature Conservancy of Atlas observers have reported Canada, Manitoba Region, 200-611 densities of frogs as high as 100 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0P3 individuals per 100 m2.6'7 Several [email protected] (up to five to 10 in places) northern Melissa Grantham, Nature Conservancy leopard frogs per metre of shoreline of Canada, Manitoba Region, 200-611 (considered "immense numbers") Photo credit: Annie McLec Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0P3 were reported at the Pinawa sewage [email protected] the season prior to surveys).10 The lagoons in July 1990, which were property lies adjacent to perennial Conservation Status similar to observations at a Weyburn, grass pasture, hayland, wetlands, & Local Abundance Saskatchewan golf course in July and Wargatie Lake. Annual cropland The northern leopard frog 2003.7-9 occurs within 800 m of the property (.Lithobates pipiens) is a Species and is characteristic of regional land of Special Concern in the prairie Study Area & Methods use. Wargatie Lake is 160 ha large provinces.1 These frogs reguire three Surveys occurred on a 65 ha and 12 m deep.11 habitat types to complete their parcel that is a component of the While conducting vegetation life cycle: terrestrial (uplands and Nature Conservancy of Canada's surveys on September 8, 2011, native prairie) for summer foraging, Riding Mountain House conservation Nature Conservancy of Canada staff wetlands for reproduction, and project near Keeseekoowenin, south (Cary Hamel, Julie Pelc, and Levi permanent water bodies that do of Riding Mountain National Park, Newediuk) noted what appeared not freeze solid for overwintering.1'3 Manitoba (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Directory – Indigenous Organizations in Manitoba
    Indigenous Organizations in Manitoba A directory of groups and programs organized by or for First Nations, Inuit and Metis people Community Development Corporation Manual I 1 INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN MANITOBA A Directory of Groups and Programs Organized by or for First Nations, Inuit and Metis People Compiled, edited and printed by Indigenous Inclusion Directorate Manitoba Education and Training and Indigenous Relations Manitoba Indigenous and Municipal Relations ________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION The directory of Indigenous organizations is designed as a useful reference and resource book to help people locate appropriate organizations and services. The directory also serves as a means of improving communications among people. The idea for the directory arose from the desire to make information about Indigenous organizations more available to the public. This directory was first published in 1975 and has grown from 16 pages in the first edition to more than 100 pages in the current edition. The directory reflects the vitality and diversity of Indigenous cultural traditions, organizations, and enterprises. The editorial committee has made every effort to present accurate and up-to-date listings, with fax numbers, email addresses and websites included whenever possible. If you see any errors or omissions, or if you have updated information on any of the programs and services included in this directory, please call, fax or write to the Indigenous Relations, using the contact information on the
    [Show full text]
  • Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory
    Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory September 2017 CAUT Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory September 2017 The following document offers the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) recommended territorial acknowledgement for institutions where our members work, organized by province. While most of these campuses are included, the list will gradually become more complete as we learn more about specific traditional territories. When requested, we have also included acknowledgements for other post-secondary institutions as well. We wish to emphasize that this is a guide, not a script. We are recommending the acknowledgements that have been developed by local university-based Indigenous councils or advisory groups, where possible. In other places, where there are multiple territorial acknowledgements that exist for one area or the acknowledgements are contested, the multiple acknowledgements are provided. This is an evolving, working guide. © 2016 Canadian Association of University Teachers 2705 Queensview Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8K2 \\ 613-820-2270 \\ www.caut.ca Cover photo: “Infinity” © Christi Belcourt CAUT Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples and Traditional Territory September 2017 Contents 1| How to use this guide Our process 2| Acknowledgement statements Newfoundland and Labrador Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia New Brunswick Québec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta British Columbia Canadian Association of University Teachers 3 CAUT Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples and Traditional Territory September 2017 1| How to use this guide The goal of this guide is to encourage all academic staff context or the audience in attendance. Also, given that association representatives and members to acknowledge there is no single standard orthography for traditional the First Peoples on whose traditional territories we live Indigenous names, this can be an opportunity to ensure and work.
    [Show full text]
  • THE NATIONAL PARK 87 15 CRAWFORD PARK 91 16 CLEAR LAKE THEN and NOW 94 17 SNAPPING up LAKESIDE LOTS 101 18 RIDING MOUNTAIN POTPOURRI 103 Introduction
    i= I e:iii!: When Walter Dinsdale, MP for Brandon­ EMMA RINGSTROM, who was born on her Souris, learned that a book was being pre­ parents' homestead near Weyburn, Sask., pared on tj1e Riding Mountain, he wrote, "It moved with her husband to Dauphin, Man.,. gives me great pleasure to congratulate in 1944. Mr. Ringstrom was a grain buyer for Emma H. Ringstrom and the Riding Moun­ National Grain Co. She later became an tain Historical Society on the presentation associate of Helen Marsh, editor and subse­ of this excellent history ... quently owner and publisher of the Dauphin "As a young lad, I was present at the offi­ Herald. cial opening--my father, George Dinsdale, At one time Mrs. Ringstrom owned and attended in his capacity as MLA for Bran­ operated the Wasagaming Lodge at Clear don. When I married Lenore Gusdal in Lake and did some r~porting fo, the Dauphin 1947, I discovered that her father, L. B. Gus­ Herald, the Wirinipeg Free Press, the Min­ dal, had taken out the first leasehold long nedosa Tribune and the Brandon Sun. before Riding Mountain became a national She collaborated with Helen Marsh on a park. Many of her relatives were among the book on Dauphin and district. Scandinavian craftsmen who left a unique She has been active in community affairs, legacy in log buildings, stone work and furni­ the school board, and the area agricultural ture." society. Later, Mr. Dinsdale was instrumental in Mrs. Ringstrom is the mother of five chil­ introducing a zoning policy "to preserve the dren.
    [Show full text]
  • Doctrine of Discovery Research
    Doctrine of Discovery Research Quotations from the A&P and WMS Annual Reports (and some additional sources*) which reflect a colonial attitude towards Indigenous people by The Presbyterian Church in Canada Prepared by: Bob Anger, Assistant Archivist, April 2018 * The quotes noted are essentially a large sampling. The list is not intended to be exhaustive or definitive; nor is it intended to reflect all aspects of the history of the Church’s interactions with Indigenous people. The A&P and WMS annual reports have been used as they reflect more or less official statements by the General Assembly and the WMS. Aside from these, there are a few quotes from Synod and Presbytery minutes, as well as quotes from the letters of Rev. James Nisbet which shed light on the early years. 1 Abbreviations PCC – The Presbyterian Church in Canada CPC – Canada Presbyterian Church FMC – Foreign Mission Committee HMC – Home Mission Committee HMB – Home Mission Board GBM – General Board of Mission WFMS – Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society WMS – Womens’ Missionary Society (Western Division) A&P – Acts and Proceedings of the General Assembly of The Presbyterian Church in Canada Note All quotations are from materials housed within The Presbyterian Church in Canada Archives. 2 Table of Contents 1866………………………………………………………………………………………….pg. 7 Quotes re: the first meeting between Rev. James Nisbet and the Indigenous people living along the North Saskatchewan River, near what is today Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (pg.7) 1867-1874...........................................................................................................................pg. 9 Quotes re: transfer of territory from the Hudson’s Bay Company to the Canadian Government (pg. 9) Quotes re: presumed inferiority of Indigenous culture and/or superiority of Euro-Canadian culture; use of terms such as “heathen” and “pagan” (pg.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Profile of the Great Slave Lake Area's Mixed European-Indian Ancestry Community
    Historical Profile of the Great Slave Lake Area’s Mixed European-Indian Ancestry Community by Gwynneth Jones Research and & Aboriginal Law and Statistics Division Strategic Policy Group The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice Canada. i Table of Contents Abstract ii Author’s Biography iii I. Executive Summary iv II. Methodology/Introduction vi III. Narrative A. First Contact at Great Slave Lake, 1715 - 1800 1 B. Mixed-Ancestry Families in the Great Slave Lake Region to 1800 12 C. Fur Trade Post Life at 1800 19 D. Development of the Fur Trade and the First Mixed-Ancestry Generation, 1800 - 1820 25 E. Merger of the Fur Trade Companies and Changes in the Great Slave Lake Population, 1820 - 1830 37 F. Fur Trade Monopoly and the Arrival of the Missionaries, 1830 - 1890 62 G. Treaty, Traders and Gold, 1890 - 1900 88 H. Increased Presence and Regulations by Persons not of Indian/ Inuit/Mixed-Ancestry Descent, 1905 - 1950 102 IV. Discussion/Summary 119 V. Suggestions for Future Research 129 VI. References VII. Appendices Appendix A: Extracts of Selected Entries in Oblate Birth, Marriage and Death Registers Appendix B: Métis Scrip -- ArchiviaNet (Summaries of Genealogical Information on Métis Scrip Applications) VIII. Key Documents and Document Index (bound separately) Abstract With the Supreme Court of Canada decision in R. v. Powley [2003] 2 S.C.R., Métis were recognized as having an Aboriginal right to hunt for food as recognized under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
    [Show full text]
  • George Flett, Native Presbyterian Missionary: "Old Philosopher"/"Rev 'D Gentleman1'
    UNIVERSITY OF MANLTOBA/UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG JOINT MASTER'S PROGRAM GEORGE FLETT, NATIVE PRESBYTERIAN MISSIONARY: "OLD PHILOSOPHER"/"REV 'D GENTLEMAN1' THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS BY ALVINA BLOCK WINNIPEG, MANITOBA OCTOBER, 1997 National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 WeliiiStreet 395, nre Wellington OttawaON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seU reproduire, prêter, distriiuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic fomts. la forme de microfiche/fïlq de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantid extracts f?om it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES ***** COPYRIGHT PERMISSION PAGE GEORGE PfiETï, HATIVE PBESBYTERUH MISSIOî?AEY: "OLD PBZLOSOPfIE61'1/"BEV' D -" A ThesidPracticum submitted to the Facalty of Graduate Studies of The University of Manitoba in partial fnlnllment of the reqairements of the degree of Permission has been granted to the Library of The University of Manitoba to lend or se11 copies of this thesWpracticum, to the National Library of Canada to microfilm this thesis and to lend or seil copies of the film, and to Dissertations Abstracts International to pubIish an abstract of this thesis/practicum.
    [Show full text]
  • Biographical Information Template
    Compilation of Biographies: Members of the Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia This compilation should be considered a guide only. After researching identities of the members of the Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia for several months, it has become clear that it is not currently possible to supply complete biographies, free of errors or ommissions, for all of the members of the Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia. It may take future researchers years to reach satisfactory conclusions as to exact biographical details for some individuals. In this compilation, where possible, links are supplied to online biographies of the members listed below. In instances where online biographies are not available, or there are questions about an individual’s identity or historical activity, additional biographical notes are supplied. ______________________________________________________________________ Contents: Andrew Graham Ballenden Bannatyne ................................................................................. 2 André Beauchemin ................................................................................................................. 3 Baptiste Beauchemin .............................................................................................................. 4 Curtis James Bird .................................................................................................................... 5 John Black ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Convention of 40 Transcript.Pdf
    Convention of Forty/La Grande Convention Debates _____ Comprising the period from the twenty-fifth of January, 1870 to the tenth of February, 1870 Edited by Norma Jean Hall Ph.D. Reconstituted Debates of the Convention of Forty/La Grande Convention, 1870 1 INTRODUCTION Reconstituted Debates of the Convention of Forty/La Grande Convention On 15 November 2010, the Premier of Manitoba, Greg Selinger, unveiled a permanent display of historical documents and photographs that pay tribute to the central role of the Métis in the political and social history of the province. This edited transcription of the debates of the Convention of Forty/La Grande Convention brings the content of some of those historical documents to light. The documents on which this transcription is based recorded proceedings of the Convention of Forty that owed its occurrence to an earlier gathering in Red River Settlement. From the autumn of 1869 to January 1870, numerous meetings had taken place during which settlers debated how best to ensure that their rights and land holdings would be respected with the anticipated transfer of Rupert‘s Land to Canada. On the eighteenth and nineteenth of January, at a public meeting held outdoors at Upper Fort Garry, a commissioner from Canada, Donald A. Smith, communicated his understanding of Canada‘s intention with respect to the Red River Settlement and to settlers and their existing privileges and rights. At the end of the meeting Louis Riel proposed a motion, seconded by A.G.B. Bannatyne, ―that 20 representatives shall be elected by the English population of Red River to meet 20 other representatives of the French population‖ to decide how to proceed in light of Smith‘s assurances.1 The motion carried.
    [Show full text]
  • The Metis Cultural Brokers and the Western Numbered Treaties, 1869-1877
    The Metis Cultural Brokers and the Western Numbered Treaties, 1869-1877 A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of History University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon By Allyson Stevenson Copyright Allyson Stevenson, August 2004 . 1 rights reserved. PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements of a Graduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection . I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor who supervised my thesis work, or, in his absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done . It is understood that any copying, publication, or use of this thesis or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission . It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis . Requests for permission to copy or to make other use of material in this thesis in whole or part should be addressed to : Head of the Department of History University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A5 Abstract i Throughout the history of the North West, Metis people frequently used their knowledge of European, Indian, and Metis culture to mediate Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal social, diplomatic, and economic encounters .
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Review of Elk–Agriculture Conflicts in and Around Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center Human–Wildlife Interactions for Spring 2009 Historical review of elk–agriculture conflicts in and around Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada Ryan K. Brook University of Manitoba, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/hwi Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons Brook, Ryan K., "Historical review of elk–agriculture conflicts in and around Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, Canada" (2009). Human–Wildlife Interactions. 21. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/hwi/21 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Human–Wildlife Interactions by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Human–Wildlife Confl icts 3(1):72–87, Spring 2009 Historical review of elk–agriculture con- fl icts in and around Riding Mountain Na- tional Park, Manitoba, Canada RYAN K. BROOK1, Environmental Conservation Lab, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada [email protected] Abstract: Confl icts between elk (Cervus elaphus) and farmers have been occurring since the 1880s when agriculture began around what is now Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP). Initially, the confl icts were related to low elk numbers caused primarily by unregulated harvest of elk. The creation of RMNP in 1930 and the associated ban on hunting allowed elk numbers to reach critically high levels. Since farming began, elk have been associated with considerable damage to fences and crops around RMNP, with annual damage often >$240,000.
    [Show full text]
  • James Finley Killed Two Sheep ---.”
    James “Jim” Finley In the Pacific Northwest in 1794 By Chalk Courchane James was born probably at Upper Bow Fort, Saskatchewan in 1794. And with his brothers, he trapped and hunted with his father in his youth. He is probably Jacques Raphael, Junior. It is not known if he was a member of the Snake Country Brigades for the Hudson's Bay Company. He may be identified by a nickname not usually connected to him such as: Klaykick or Pinesta who are referred to as members of the brigades. Wade Thomson wrote in a letter dated 8 Dec 1986: "Pichina and James were quite active in the late 1820's and early 30's at Jasper House as free men doing odd jobs for the Post, then going on their fur trapping hunts over the Winter and Spring. They had horses like most of the Freemen at the Post." The Journal of Michael Klyne at Jasper House, October 2, 1827: (The post was originally named Rocky Mountain House, but was renamed to avoid confusion with the Roky Mountain House trading post on the North Saskatchewan River, becoming "Jasper's House" after the postmaster, Jasper Hawes, who operated the post from 1814 to 1817. The first location is believed to have been at the outlet of Brûlé Lake, downstream from the present site. The second Jasper House was established at the northern end of Jasper Lake in 1830, primarily serving travellers crossing Yellowhead Pass or Athabasca Pass. The site operated until 1853, and was occasionally used until 1858 when it was reopened seasonally by Henry John Moberly, who operated it into the 1860s.
    [Show full text]