Nokomis smiled, "My little grandson means it well, Moqua. He was longing for you to come. I, too, am glad to see you. The last time you were here you told us of the great ones of our race. I hope that while you learn of our own great you also learn of those of the white man's race who suffered hardship and sacrificed so lovingly to Ill bring to us the story of Him who is the Great Father of all men." MESSENGERS TO THE RED MAN Moqua's face sobered as, sitting down before the fire, he answered: "Oh, yes indeed, Nokomis, I like to know of them too. They indeed are our brothers. Do you recall the name of the man who first brought JT WAS a lovely star-lit night and Nokomis and Ogemah were sitting that message to our people here?" by their campfire in silence. Then Ogemah, who could never be silent long, spoke. "I do wish Moqua would come and tell us more Nokomis nodded, "Yes. It was a man whose name was James stories, don't you, Grandmother?" Nisbet. Perhaps you could tell us about him. Ogemah has heard "Yes," Grandmother replied. "I enjoy his stories. He is so interest- his name but I am sure knows very little about him." So, settling ed in people and likes to find out about them. He will be here before himself comfortably, Moqua began. long no doubt." "Long, long ago, far across the sea, a little boy was born who> was Again there was silence, broken only by the crackling of the fire one day to thrill a nation with his courage and devotion. He belonged and the song of frogs in a distant pond. Ogemah whittled busily at to what was known as a 'middle class' family in Scotland, so he went a small totem he was trying to make. Looking up suddenly he to work when he was quite young as a carpenter, like another Little shouted with joy. "Here he comes! Here is Moqua! Welcome, Boy had done long ago whose footsteps James Nisbet tried to follow. welcome Chief Moqua, teller of stories." Most boys of fifteen do not take much responsibility, but when he Moqua laughed. "You flatter me, although to be a 'teller of stories' might not be anything of which to be proud." was fifteen he was superintendent of a Mission Sunday School. When he was not many years older his family decided to leave Scotland and came to Canada. It was then that James Nisbet resolved to enter the ministry. After he became a minister he served around Oakville, Ontario, and was quite happy there until one day he met a former classmate, Rev. John Black, who told him thrilling tales of his work at Kildonan, Manitoba, and of the great opportunity awaiting the Church among the Indians. "James Nisbet was greatly impressed by these stories and was there- fore delighted when a few years later the Presbyterian Church in Canada appointed him as their first missionary to the Indians. Miss LUCY BAKER "After months of preparation for the journey, the little band, con- sisting of Mr. and Mrs. Nisbet and their little daughter, Mr. John McKay, who acted as interpreter, his wife and two little daughters, Mr. William Macbeth and Mr. Alexander Poison, finally set forth. "The little party endured great hardships, travelling as they did in Red River carts across country which only had cart tracks to follow. When they had to cross a wide body of water they made a boat by taking trie carts apart, tying the two cart wheels together and spreading an oilcloth over them. Finally, after careful consideration, James Nisbet chose the site where they would establish the Mission and named it. Prince Albert after Queen Victoria's husband. Then he had to make friends with the Indians. We are not easy to make friends with either. 20 21 Ogemah loved to show some knowledge, so quickly he shouted before Moqua got a chance. "I do, Grandmother, it was Lucy Baker. I have often heard you tell about her." Nokomis nodded. "Yes, you have. I saw her when I was a little girl. I always wished that I could have gone to school to her." Mistawasis • Mission "Tell us about her, Nokomis. I like to hear stories as well as tell House them. I know a little but not much about Lucy Baker. Where did she come from?" "She was bom in eastern Canada," said Nokomis, "where she taught school for a few years. She travelled far, that little lady, far away to France, where she learned to speak French. Then she came back to Canada. When she heard that Mr. Nisbet wanted a woman for his school and to help the little Indian boys and girls, Lucy Baker volunteered to come to us. That was in 1878. Only one thing could "Mr. Nisbet planned to found an industrial mission, to gather the have made that dainty little white lady do what she did." Nokomis young people into schools where the boys would be taught carpentry, paused, lost in thought. farming and cattle-raising; the girls, needlework and housekeeping. "What, Grandmother, what?" asked Ogemah. Before that the Indians main occupation had been hunting and fishing. It is interesting to note that the Church has followed his plan ever "Love," said, Nokomis. "Love for her Indian brothers and sisters since. and first of all for Him who made us brothers and sisters." "Although his home was at Prince Albert, James Nisbet travelled "How did she come, Nokomis?" asked Moqua. "There were no far afield. Before long he and one of his workers had travelled as far trains then out this far." as Edmonton, a distance of 450 miles,-holding services at Indian camps and Hudson's Bay Company posts. "No, there were not. It took her six weeks to come from Winni- peg to Prince Albert. Many people were looking for new homes on "James Nisbet possessed the characteristics necessary to win us— the prairies at that time and they travelled like James Nisbet did in kindness and devotion—so our ancestor's hostility vanished. Any that Red River carts. All Indians were not friendly: some would not did remain disappeared when an epidemic of the dread small-pox hesitate to take a white man's scalp, or woman's either. So the people attacked the settlement and James Nisbet saved hundreds of lives by travelled in groups of from fifty to one hundred wagons in one party, administering vaccine, thus winning undying gratitude. In 1870, a clustering close together at night for safety. Imagine how she would church was built large enough for 150 people, and two services were have felt, not knowing when a wild Indian might pounce upon her held each Sabbath, the morning service in English, the afternoon in as she tried to sleep, listening to the coyotes howling." Cree. Our people were slow to give up their own form of worship, the worship of the Great Spirit through the worship of thunder, The boys laughed. "She was a brave little white lady. We agree lightning, birds and animals, but James Nisbet won them by his with you, Nokomis." loving devotion. "Nothing happened, though," Nokomis continued, "and on October "There were others, too, worthy of remembrance . ." said Moqua 28th, 1879, Miss Baker arrived in Prince Albert. A happy day for as he looked thoughtfully into the fire. many, many Indian boys and gixls!" "Yes,' said Nokomis, "there were others. Not all men either, "She was there during the North-west Rebellion, wasn't she?" Moqua, there were brave white women, too. James Nisbet, whom you asked Moqua, who was interested in history. have told us of, realized that a good white woman could do much "Yes, she was." replied Nokomis. "She was a great help to many in a school where Indian children could stay while their fathers and wounded too, as she gave her home for a hospital and nursed the mothers roamed the prairies in search of good hunting-grounds. He sick and wounded without thought for herself. She was a brave, asked that a woman be sent to us. Do you remember her name?" 23 - • 22 brave woman. She knew that the Sioux Indians knew nothing about to the children in English and to the French half-breeds in French. God and felt very sad as she listened to the wailing from their encamp- She nursed them when they were sick and she made clothes for the ment. She was anxious to go and tell them the story of His love. children. She showed them how to use cups and plates and knives Everybody considered the Sioux outlaws, even men hesitated to go and forks and spoons. She made them good things to eat and treated near them. Indians who were her friends warned her that she would them as if they were her own children." most certainly be killed if she went near the Sioux. But she was sure that they were 'her neighbours' and kept on making preparations to "The Indians really did love her, didn't they, grandmother?" said go to them." Ogemah. "Did she really go?" asked Ogemah. "Yes, indeed. I was a very little girl when she came back from the last furlough she had east. Indians assembled from far and near "Yes, she really did." said Nokomis. "First she learned as much to welcome her. I went with my father and mother. The flag was as she could of the language.