, (fitmta IntfaprHtlg IGthranj KINGSTON, ONTARIO THE HERO OF THE SASKATCHEWAN. LIFE AMONG THE OJIBWAY AID CREE INDIA! IN CANADA. BY JOHN MCLEAN, M.A., Ph.D. (ROBIN RUSTLER.) Author of " The Indians of Canada" — "James Evans, Inventor of the Syllabic System of the Cree Language"— &c., &c. REPRINTED FROM THE BARR1E EXAMINER. BARRIE, ONT. : Thb Barrie Examiner Printing and Publishing House. 1891. GEORGE McDOUGALL, Saskatchewan. The Hero of the THE HERO OF THE SASKATCHEWAN LIFE AMONG THE OJIBWAY AND GBEE INDIANS IN CANADA. JOHN MCLEAN, M.A., Ph.D. (ROBIN RUSTLER.) Author of "The Indians of Canada''— " James Evans, Inventor of the Syllabic System of the Cree Language"— &c., &c. REPRINTED FROM THE BA ERIE EXAMINER BARRIE, ONT. : Thb Barrie Examiner Printing and Publishing House. 1891. TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE SAMUEL SOBIESKI NELLES, D.D., LL.D., CHANCELLOR OF VICTORIA UNIVERSITY, MY HONORED INSTRUCTOR AND FRIEND. PREFACE. jSjBARLY in the year 1881 the plan of this book was conceived, and materials ^ejll begun to be collected which in the two following years were utilized in the preparation of the manuscript. In 1884 the book was laid aside unfinished and not uutil the present year was it resumed. The task is now ended, some- what imperfectly, but we hope these pages will not have been written iu vain. MOOSEJAW, A.SSINIBOIA, Canada, December 10 th, 1890. JOHN McLEAft. CONTENTS Preface. Chapter I. Birth and Boyhood 1 II. Youth and Early Manhood 3 III. Missionary Preparation 5 IV. Alderville 7 V. Garden River . 9 VI. Rama 11 Vil. Norway House 13 VIII. Maskepetoon 17 IX. Victoria 19 X. Edmonton 27 XI. TheBIackfeet 35 XII. The Last Hunt 38 XIII. The Departed Missionary ... 44 XIV. The Falleu Mantle 46 : ^Tfye 5ero of tfte Saskatchewan.*- LIFE AMONG THE OJIBWAY AND GREE INDIANS, IN CANADA, BY JOHN MoLEAN, MA, Ph.D. (Robin Rustler.) CHAPTER I. The tempting snares in the shape of wealth that presented themse'ves before BIRTH AND BOYHOOD. him, especially duiing his residence in the vast territory of the North- West, ASTER missionaries are not born J caused him not to swerve from the path Jevery day. When a missionary of duty, and the poire encroachments of ^ifPgeniu si eaves his imps ess on heathen- bigots or the daring bravado of immoral ism, and the influence of a leader is felt in frontiersmen were unable to deprive him the transforming power exhibited in tem- of the defiant and heroic spirit of his poral, moral and spiritual things, the eyes valiant ancestors. In hut and hall he of the multitude are directed toward the retained the proud mien of the Celtic happj possession of principles, which de- race, tempered with the refining influences signate him as divinely appointed and of the relipion of Christ. Thus, in the guided in his intensely earnest efforts for language of the national poet of Scotland, the amelioration rA humanity and the he found expression for the language of salvation of souls. We are all learners, the heart and the study of mankind is one of the most profitable studies in life. The lives "What tho' on hamely fare we dine, hodden-grey, a' that of missionary leaders become therefore Wear and ; eminently fitted lor perusal, imparting Gie fools their bilks, and knaves their accurate information, guiding against wine, error, generating a passion for souls A man's a man, for a' that." which culminates in a burning enthusiasm, Iiis father was a non-commissioned that smiles at difficulties and ensures officer of the Royal Navy. He performed success. naval service on the lakes on our frontier, The noble and enthusiastic GIeorge during the war from 1812 to 1815. When McDougall was one among the gifted peaceful times settled once more upon the spirits that have adorned the cause of country, and there was no longer any missions, and worthy is his name to find need for the defence afforded by the pre- a place in the missionary annals of the sence of the Royal Navy, his father with nineteenth century. many others were at liberty to forsake (jIeorge McDougall was born in the military life for that of peace and pros- city of Kingston, Ontario, in the year perity, as farmers, in the districts newiy 1820. opened up. When the resources of the During the tender years of childhood, country were becoming more fully devel- pious influences were thrown aiound him oped, and the enterprising settlers were in his home, whiuh left a lasting impres- preparing homes for themselves amid the sion upon his mind, and caused him in early forests, the family located on the Pene- manhood's years to rely implicitly upon tanguishene Road, above where the town the care and wisdom of a devoted mother, of Barrie is now located. The family and ultimately to revere the memory of consisted of two boys and three girls at the one dearest to him on earth. His this period. Two sons died before George parents were natives of Scotland, and was born. The guiding influence in the from them he inherited that spirit of per- household toward religious matters was severance and self-reliance which was the presence of the pious mother animated often put to severe te*ts, yet always con- by her prayers and enforced by her exam- quered, amid the wintry storms, and ple. Jt was her loving counsel that saved arduous duties «>f missionary life in her boy when treading the slippery path Kewatin and tiie Saskatchewan. of youth, and it was to her energy and pious enthusiasm that much of the success among the p or nobles of ihe earth, whose of her missionary boy s to be ascribed. heritage a id fortune consists in a good Her thrift and maternal devotion secured name and virtuous (beds. Jn the iunoc nt 1 for him an elementary educatio », and he; days of cuil linn d, the old log cabin was to Christian fortitude and tact led him in hiii i palace. Tnere, in his forest home, early manhood to yield his noblest powers he was learning those lessons that were to as a joyous sacrifice to Go I. During t .ese become .-o useful to him when the mantles boyhood years, as the bone and muscle of of fall- n missionaries had rested upon the embryo pioneer were > ein^ ot \ eloped, him. It wa» the truths taught him by the country was enjoying a season of rest poverty and perseverance that pre- which was well improve- i b^ the hardy pared nim for his life-wot k, and enabled colonists in enlarging their resources, cre- him to pmsue a career, notable for its ating new industries, sueing for religious exciting adventures, civilizing influences equality and increased po itieal power. ami spiritual results. As he romped Emigiation was encouraged, an I with among the trees, and sported in his child- such success that within a score of ye «rs ish glee with the squirrels anri butfei flits, after the war the population had nearly he exhibited ihose characteristics of his doubled. There were political dangers manhood, a joyous and earnest spirit en- which for a ume threaten* d to impede the cased in a poweiful physical frame. He progress of Upper and Lnvver Canada, was a child of the country. Th<e songs of but ultimately some of these were over- the foi est sonyst^rs sent music to his soul. come, while others lay for a season, until Thp liber ty-life of childhood in the coun- some daring spirits cast a rebellious gloom try developed his body, and the solitude over the land. of the life of a new settle, aided in giving Despite the very imperfect agricutnral freedom to a mind debarred by its consti- imp'etnents with which the fanners had tution and training from following the to start new faims, the agricultural in- grooves wrought out by the great majority terests of the colony were very prosperous. in life. A new spirit was infused into the people, Education in those days was next to and from the grim and ghastly scenes impossible, unless the hardy pioneer enacted by red-handed war, they fled to s ught to leach his children at home. the ennobling and inspiring haunts of The settlers were so far apart that even peace, where the toilers, by intelligent though a school had bten organized, the and joyous industry, built enterprising; younger numbers ot the families could not towns and villages, and gave an impetus walk there. to the colony, which helped materially to In entering a new district, the financial avert and overcome the subsequent evils outlay of the settler in buying provisions that stood in her way. necessary to sustain his family until the Though many thousands of emigrants first crop is taken off, is as great as he found their way to Canada during the can bear. For the fir^t few years every years succeeding the war, the newly set- muscle must be brought into action in the tled districts lacked the advantages and erection of buildings, and fencing and hindrances of older sections, and henc« clearing the farm, while the intellectual the comforts and joys of social life had to wants are left in abeyance until hunger is be sought in the home. Isolation pre- kept comfortably at a distance. Then vented the McUougall family from profit- schools are erected, and education ad- ing by the conversation of their neighbors, vances with rapid strides. still it was a preservative against tempta- Tiials were therefore the necessary re- tion and vice.