The settlement of Frog Lake in 1885
In early 1885 Father Fafard had just finished building Notre Dame du Bon Conseil two miles south of Frog Lake in an area of small wooded hills near Lac Clair. Fafard could speak Cree, French and English and regularly taught classes to about twenty children.
The rectory was a simple log house with a large room which served as kitchen, parlour and classroom. On one side doors opened to a small chapel (which also served as the confessional) and a bedroom for Father Leon Fafard. Upstairs in the attic were three small rooms. Two were in use by Father Felix Marchand who was learning the Cree language and Fafard's lay assistant John Williscroft .
A dozen feet from the rectory was the recently completed 40 foot long church made of square-cut logs. The church was dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel (''Notre Dame du Bon Conseil'' in French). Beside the church was a timber frame that held the bell. A well, a shed, and a stable completed the site which was surrounded by pole fences.
Father Fafard was the director of this major mission which included three dependencies; the mission of Saint Louis at Onion Lake founded by Father Felix Marchand in 1884, the St. Raphael mission at Cold Lake (a Chipewyan reserve) with Father Legoff in charge and the Saint Charles mission at Long Lake which was without a priest.
Two or three hundred feet from the church on a rise were the solid buildings of the Indian Agent. The Hudson's Bay Company post and George Dill's store were nearby. North West Mounted Police occupied a large area with barracks, a supply depot, a blacksmith, stables and other buildings necessary to support the small detachment.
Two miles west on Frog Creek John Gowanlock was building a grist mill (flour mill) which was almost complete.
Map of settlement
Three Wood Cree groups who were mostly Christian formed a reserve which was located nearby.
In January 1885
Big Bear and his band of about 20 families camped in the valley of Frog Creek close to the mill. None were Christian.
Rumours of War
In the last months of winter rumours of war came to the small village and on March 28 two representatives of Poundmaker brought to Big Bear a piece of tobacco that he had received from Batoche. The messengers carried news of the uprising and the success at Duck Lake and asked that the Cree unite against their common enemy. A council under Wandering Spirit (Big Bear was absent) deliberated on future plans and then the calumet (pipe) was smoked.
On the night of March 31 a soldier from Captain Dickens arrived to advise the white residents of the grave situation and to take refuge at Fort Pitt. None of them left for one reason or another believing themselves safe. The small NWMP detachment left for Fort Pitt.
The next day (April 1) Big Bear returned from a hunt and with his son Ayimesis spent an agreeable evening with Quinn. Big Bear returned to his lodge but his son joined Wandering Spirit and his group who a little after midnight began to put their plans into fruition.
On the night of April 2 the houses of the settlement were put under guard and the horses were secretly taken.
Around 4:30 in the morning recounts Mrs. Delaney we were awakened by Johnny Pritchard (Quinn's interpretor) and Ayimesis. Ayimesis told my husband the Metis were in revolt and had stolen the horses. He took all the blame since he had danced almost all night with his friends and was asleep at the time
He then left with his group for the mill two miles away where Gilcrest was staying.
(to be continued)
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