Smoke in La Loche May 2016

Thick smoke from the Fort McMurray wildfire in La Loche

"On May 1, 2016, a wildfire began southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. On May 3, it swept through the community, destroying more than 2,400 homes and buildings and forcing the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta's history."  Wikipedia

The northern Saskatchewan village of La Loche with an area population of 4,000 is 120 km (75 miles) to the east of the city of Fort McMurray. Clouds of smoke and ash from the wildfires reached La Loche on May 5.  When the air quality was poor the schools were either closed or the children kept inside.

West La Loche 2015

Leaving Poplar Point, a sub-division of La Loche, with Alfred Toulejour in his new skiff.

La Loche fires 2015

Photo source Mark Tuite on February 28, 2007 (Departing La Loche enroute to Fort McMurray) 

This aerial photo of La Loche shows how vulnerable the village is to forest fires. Two nearby fires and the resulting heavy smoke has resulted in the evacuation of several thousand residents of La Loche and the Clearwater River Dene Nation to Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina. 

Grassfires in La Loche

A grass fire in La Loche claimed the old pool hall across from Ducharme School last week. The building was built in the 1950s.  This picture was taken last year. In the spring every year dozens of grass fires threaten the community.

New store in La Loche

Center Point in La Loche, Saskatchewan will open on May 15, 2015.  The 10,000 square foot building has a large grocery area, a pharmacy, a concession (C-Store) and a fast-food outlet  (Sabai Express).

Fires in La Loche

Chester Fries Chicken outlet

The emergency fire siren started at 3:30 in the morning on October 1, 2014.  La Loche Volunteer Fire Department  was still at the scene at 3:00 in the afternoon and the fire was still smouldering when these pictures were taken.  Destroyed in the fire was the Chester Fried Chicken outlet on La Loche Avenue (the main street).  The owners, who lived in the buildings' suite, were awakened by the smoke alarms and called 911.  This popular store, built in the 1980s, sold concession and novelty items as well as take-out food 

Frog Lake Massacre 1885

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)

The Bell of Frog Lake

Frog Lake Massacre April 2, 1885

Sara Riel 1848-1883

"Sarah Riel the sister of Métis leader Louis Riel was born October 11, 1848 in St. Boniface, Manitoba. She joined the Grey Nuns as a novice in 1865 and in 1868 became the first Métis Grey Nun from Red River. She could speak English, French, Cree and Michif and in 1871  was sent to Île-à-la-Crosse where her father Jean-Louis Riel was born. She served in the school and the hospital of the mission until her death of tuberculosis December 27, 1883. She took the name Sister Marguerite-Marie in 1872 and is buried under that name at the cemetery in Île-à-la-Crosse. Her headstone in French reads: Ici Repose Rév. Soeur Marguerite Marie (Riel) Decédée 27 Decembre, 1883, Agée 34 ans, R.I.P.  She and her brother Louis Riel wrote to each other while she was alive and letters remain describing their relationship and her life in Île-à-la-Crosse." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sara_Riel

Ile a la Crosse is built on a peninsula (aerial view) 

Flight from Île-à-la-Crosse 1885

Stories from the North-West Rebellion 

April 1885
In a few months the waterways of  northern  Saskatchewan would be ice free and York boat brigades would again travel to supply the Hudson's Bay Company posts of the Athabasca and Mackenzie River Districts located north of the Methye Portage. It was spring and some swift moving rivers like the Beaver River were relatively free of ice. Open water was beginning to show along some lakes. In the last week of April 1885 rumours of war reached the isolated village of Ile a la Crosse. The village had a population of about 300 people. Most were descendants of French Metis from Red River.

Ile a la Crosse 

Ile a la Crosse was the birthplace of Louis Riel Sr. (the father of Louis Riel) in 1817.  Sara Riel the sister of Louis Riel died in Ile a la Crosse in 1883. She was 34 years old.