ALBERTA ARCHAEOLOGICAL REVIEW Number 20 ISSN 0701-1776 Spring 1990 Copyright © 1991 by the publisher, The Archaeological Society of Alberta Inside: • Lac La Biche Mission Book Reviews page 3 page 16 • News and Notes Field Trip Photos page 6 page 20 • Tooth Enamel Patterns page 7 Archaeological Society of Alberta Charter #8205, registered under the Societies Act of Alberta on February 7, 1975 PROVINCIAL SOCIETY OFFICERS FOR 1989-90 South Eastern Centre: President: James Marshall (elected April 1989) 97 - 1 Street E Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 5J9 President: Dr. Brian O.K. Reeves 527-2774 #16, 2200 Varsity Estates Dr. N.W. Rep.: John H. Brumley Calgary, Alberta T3B 4Z8 Group Box 20, Veinerville 286-8079 Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7E5 527-8152 Executive Secretary/ Mrs. Jeanne Cody Treasurer: P.O. Box 4609, Postal Station C Alberta Underwater President: John Marczyk Calgary, Alberta T2T 5P1 Archaeology Society: 4323-115 Street 243-4340 Edmonton, Alberta T6J 1P5 427-3608 (bus.) Editor, Review & Dr. Michael C. Wilson Rep.: as above Publications: Department of Geography University of Lethbridge Peace River Centre: President: Morris Burroughs 4401 University Drive 9205-111 Avenue Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4 Grande Prairie, Alberta T8V 3L7 329-2524 532-9588 ERRATA Past President: John H. Brumley Your editor has played the "switch captions" game again. I Group Box 20, Veinerville carefully selected four of the five field trip photographs that Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 7E5 Jim Marshall sent, and worked up captions - then managed to 527-8152 substitute the "left out" photo for one of the selected ones. For the record, then, the top photo on page 13 of AAR #19 Vice-President: (position not filled) is looking northeastward and the river is to the right! See the back page of this issue for the proper version - and don't Elected Secretary: Beth (Mrs. E.A.) Macintosh blame Jim Marshall for the slip! #314, 4516 Valiant Drive N.W. Calgary, Alberta T3A 0Y1 • • • 288-1837 Members of the Archaeological Society of Alberta receive a copy of the Alberta Archaeological Review. Non-members and institutions may subscribe to the AAR for $7.50 (under REGIONAL CENTRES AND MEMBER SOCIETIES review) per calendar year. Cheques should be made payable to (election dates vary) the Archaeological Society of Alberta. Unsolicited contributions are welcome for consideration for Calgary Centre: President: A. Geoffrey Payne possible publication. The AAR welcomes submissions con­ 2510 - 21 Street N.W. cerning Alberta archaeology or of special interest to practising Calgary, Alberta T2T 5A8 or avocational archaeologists in Alberta. The views expressed 244-5296 are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of Rep.: Wes Johnston the Archaeological Society of Alberta: we welcome healthy 27 Hendon Drive N.W. debate. Communications regarding subscriptions and submis­ Calgary, Alberta T2K 1Y6 sions to the AAR should be sent to the Editor, Dr. M.C. Wilson, Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Edmonton Centre: President: G.F. (Jerry) Paschen Alberta, T1K 3M4. Communications regarding the Archaeo­ 11911 University Avenue logical Society of Alberta should be addressed to the Executive Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z6 Secretary/Treasurer (address upper left). 436-4913 Partial funding for this issue is provided by a grant Rep.: Nick Sheptycki from Alberta Culture. 5811-113ASt. Edmonton, Alberta T6H 1A9 Cover: Migrating Indians in the Calgary area, ca. 1886. 434-2316 Note what appears to be filleted meat on the drying racks (made from at least four travois lashed together). The can­ vas tipi is anchored by stakes, but one stone (light grey) Lethbridge Centre: President: Robert F. Shore may be visible at base on right together with unidentified 937 - 16 Street S. darker masses. The blanket on the right travois serves as a Lethbridge, Alberta TlJ 3C1 sun-shade. This photograph is part of a series taken along 327-8007 the Canadian Pacific Railroad right-of-way for promotion­ Rep.: Lawrence Halmrast al purposes. Norman Denley Collection, National P.O. Box 165 Archives of Canada, neg. no. PA 66595; identity of pho­ Warner, Alberta T0K 2L0 tographer not certain (probably O.B. Buell). Printed with 642-2126 permission of National Archives. THE LAC LA BICHE MISSION, ALBERTA by Tom Maccagno1 INTRODUCTION ment. The Lac La Biche Mission served points as far north as Fort Good Hope by river transportation. With the arrival of The Lac La Biche Mission, Notre Dame des Victoires, was the railroads in the late 19th century the Lac La Biche Mission founded at its present location 10 km west of the existing slipped into a state of decline and reverted to a pastoral role. town of Lac La Biche in 1855 by Oblate Missionaries, Peres Tissot and Maisonneuve, who were carrying out the instruc­ tions of renowned Bishop A. Tache, O.M.I. The Lac La Biche THE BEAUTIFUL QUEEN OF THE LAKE Mission (Figure 1) quickly earned the title, Tentrepot du (LA BELLE REINE DU LAC) nord" (Storehouse of the North). It was also the venue of a number of accomplishments which, it is respectfully submitted, Lac La Biche! I've heard so much about it! I have warrant its recognition as a National Historic Site: for exam­ finally arrived! What joy! ple, the first wheat grown in commercial quantities in what was to become Alberta, the first grist mill (1863), the first resi­ This was, in the past, the departure point for convoys dential school in Alberta, the first printing press in this to the Far North. The annual supplies were carried here province (1878), and the introduction of various pre-industrial across the Prairies from the Red River in ox carts and skills which played a key role in the transition of Native peo­ horse-drawn wagons. These supplies were stored in a ples from a nomadic economy. In addition, it boasted the first large warehouse until spring when they were sent on to cut road in Alberta, which was completed in 1856 and con­ their destination by way of the La Biche River, a tributary nected the Lac La Biche Mission with Fort Pitt, thereby secur­ of the Athabasca River whose rapids are so justly feared ing an overland route to St. Boniface and the Red River Settle­ (Breynat 1945:327; translated from original French). ' £? .-^i.~ ' ;iT>''<*r --'•'• FIGURE 1 The Lac La Biche Mission, Notre Dame des Victoires, founded by Les Oblats de Marie Immaculee in 1855. Undated photograph, pub­ lished by permission, Provincial Archives of Alberta (# OB 1054). President, Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society, P.O. Box 1622, Lac La Biche, Alberta TOA 2C0. [Ed. note: there will be more about this important site in the next issue of AAR.] Lac La Biche is a magnificent sheet of water dotted Oblate Missions and Codex Historicus, Notre Dame des Vic­ with islets of more or less considerable size, which are toires quickly reveal the importance of proper relations with covered with stretches of virgin prairie. It was to these the Hudson's Bay Company. Perhaps the following entry in islands that the native Indians came, each Autumn, for the Codex Historicus says it best: the fishing season, so as to secure a supply of fish for June 16-17, 1903. Warm weather. Some tomato and their subsistence during the winter... the Mission at Lac celery plants are sent for the occasion to Mrs. Spencer: La Biche, being an Episcopal residence, took on great this helps to keep good relations with the Hudson's Bay importance and became prominent over all other Mis­ Company. [James Stuart Spencer was the Honourable sions after St. Albert. Large warehouses were construct­ Company's factor at Lac La Biche at that time.] ed in which to store and keep the supplies of all the northern missions. There, early in the spring of each However, the Honourable Company was not the only com­ year, boats were built in order to be ready to be mercial enterprise in the region. The Lac La Biche Mission launched at high water time in the rainy season. And was also the home of many Metis fur traders, the role of when the goods were arriving from Red River or when whom is another little-known chapter in our history which has they were transferred to the boats and the little fleet was moldered into oblivion. One of the best known of the free getting ready for the trip, there was, around the mis­ traders at the Lac La Biche Mission was Joseph Ladouceur. sion's buildings, and along the shore of the lake, a busy The Lac La Biche Mission Historical Society (hereafter called and picturesque scene of noisy and bustling activity simply "the Society") is in possession of a Bill of Lading which (Legal 1914:45). indicates that he made a trip to Fort Garry in 1877 to pur­ chase from the H.B.C. $1395.91 worth of trade goods and Much like the pell-mell scenes described by Bishop Gabriel supplies for cash and furs. There can be no doubt that he used Breynat, O.M.I, and Bishop Emile Legal, O.M.I., the Lac La the goods and supplies to compete against the H.B.C. at Lac Biche Mission and other sites in the local area now represent La Biche! an archaeological potpourri on a scale rarely to be found in Alberta. The timespan of finds in the area is known to extend A number of Metis from the La La Biche Mission played from Agate Basin to the present (McCullough 1982). In other important roles in the history of the region: for example, words, there appears to be evidence of continuous human Louis Fosseneuve, the famous "Captain Shot," who earned occupation for at least 10,000 years in the Lac La Biche his title because he was the first person to shoot the much- region.