Fish and potatoes.....1870's

Francoise Janvier preparing fish to dry.
La Loche 1980. Photo by Ray Marnoch.

"Fish....make up almost the entire diet of the inhabitants....along with potatoes" 

La Loche Wildfire May 31, 2012

May 31, 2012....2:00 p.m.  

This dangerous wildfire is about one hour old and 1.5 k from La Loche.  

La Loche and area has a population of over 3500 people.

A skate board park for La Loche

Installed a few days ago this skate board park in La Loche is already a  popular place. It's free and roller skates, in-line skates, skate boards and BMX bikes are allowed.

Editing Paul Kane

Paul Kane's The Surveyor 1845-46 oil on canvas

Kane chose vibrant colours for this painting of Captain John Henry Lefroy. Not all Kane's paintings remained in such a pristine condition. 'Fort Edmonton' and 'Metis Buffalo Hunters' shown below became faded over time. These have been edited by RD Laloche to show what they may have looked like 160 years ago.                                           ....read about Paul Kane

La Loche photo search

'La Loche tepees' (date unknown) from Canada Archives. 

The date of this photo in now known and a description has been found.

Revillon Freres in La Loche

The Revillon Freres Post in La Loche June 30-July 2, 1918  from Canada Archives (colourized version) with Dene Chipewyan teepees gathered for a 'summer mission'.. 
This photo is in the following book by Franklin Kitto published in 1919. The photo was probably taken during his visit between June 30-July 2, 1918.         ...view Franklin Kitto's book

Sturgeons stolen on the Saskatchewan in 1862

York boat and crew at Fort Edmonton Park

"The sight of us on the Saskatchewan caused a general alarm among the “Savanais” camped on the left bank. From far away as soon as these Indians saw us coming, they ran in all directions, dragging by the gills or carrying on their naked backs huge sturgeons. They hurried to hide their catch from the Metis who were starved for fish.

Birth on a York boat in 1862

York boats with tent coverings on Lake Winnipeg by Peter Rindisbacher in 1821

“On June 28 we camped on the shore of Lake of the Woods. It was a beautiful site that the rain did not let us admire very much. We passed the night in the boats, turned into sleeping quarters with the aid of coverings.

Father Petitot leaves Fort Garry 1862

Fort Garry and  St. Boniface by Paul Kane circa 1851-56. The church of St. Boniface on the left was a burnt ruin when Father Petitot arrived in 1862. 

"We took our place , M. Grouard and I, in one of the boats of the Hudson Bay Company that left that day for the ‘Grand Portage La Loche’.

Father Petitot arrives at Portage La Loche

The entrance to Portage La Loche is across the lake behind the island.

“Clear Lake and Buffalo Lake that we then crossed were beautiful and scenic. The second is around 43 kilometers. The first is even bigger but the dimensions are not yet known. A sinuous and flat river joins them to Lac La Loche which is 13 kilometers long. We arrived at this last lake on July 18, but we were not able to cross to the ‘Grand Portage La Loche’ until the 20th. because of the wind.