Jasper Alberta Index
Alberta Basic History
1858
Francois Bruno Metis b-1858 Alberta married about 1886 Alberta Florence, Metis, b-1854, Alberta living Whitford, Alberta 1901.
Narcisse Blandion, Metis, b-1858 St. Albert (Alberta), died September 1870, daughter Antoine Blandion, b-1833 and Marie Surprenant, Metis, b-1840.
Joseph Nooskeyah or Brilliant, b-1858, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta) son Joseph Nooskeyah or Brilliant and Madeleine Surprenant; married 1875, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta), Elizabeth Collins, Metis, born May 1858, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta) daughter Kenawatsaquay Collins a native and Emma Carter.
John Calahaisen alias Wa-bee, b-1858, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta) son William Calahaisen and Sophie Auger; married November 1876, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta), Josephine Auger, born November 1858, Trout Lake (Alberta) daughter Baptiste Auger and Adelaide Letendre.
Basile Cardinal, b-1830 Beaver River, son Jacques Cardinal, b-1798 Moose Mountain (Saskatchewan) and Josephte Tcikak, b-1780; married 1858, Lac La Biche, Isabelle Capot-Vert, b-1829, Athabasca District, N.W. daughter Masko-meh Capot-Vert a Native and Isabelle Cardinal.
Joseph Cardinal, Metis b-1858, Alberta married about 1881 Alberta Elizabeth Metis b-1860 Alberta, living Lac La Biche, Alberta 1901.
Elyia Conrad, b-1858 Red River, living Medicine Hat 1891.
Philippe Corlgraf, Metis, b-1858 Alberta living Rose Ridge, Alberta 1901.
Lac Ste Anne, Alberta, birth Edward Delorme, Metis son Pierre Lemay Delorme, Metis b-1838 and Marguerite Callion L'Iroquoise b-1841.
Antoine Desjarlais, Metis b-1858 Alberta married about 1881 Alberta Margaret Metis b-1868 Alberta, living Lac La Biche, Alberta 1901.
Joseph Desjarlais, Metis b-1858 Alberta married about 1886, Alberta Maria Metis b-1874 Alberta living Lac La Biche, Alberta 1901.
Marguerite Desjarlais (Moyen), Metis, b-1858, Battle River Settlement, (Alberta) daughter Joseph Moret aka Pamotayaasip Cree Friday and Marguerite, b-1810, Lac La Biche; married 1877 (Saskatchewan), Francois Whitford, Metis, born March 15, 1860 son William Francois Whitford, Metis, b-1830 Red River and Louise Desjarlais, Metis, b-1839 Red River.
At Hay Lakes was a band of Freemen (Metis) including old Gabriel Dumont, who it was said crossed the Rocky Mountains often. He could speak French but preferred Cree.
Mary Favel, b-1858, Fort Edmonton daughter Thomas Favel and Josephte; married Cornelious LeBlanc Sr. b-1850 Fort Edmonton.
George Gagnon b-1833 Quebec married about 1869 N.W.T. Nancy Cunningham, Metis b-1858 N.W.T. daughter Johny Cunningham, Metis and Rosalin L'Hyroudelle, Metis; living St. Albert, Alberta 1901.
Joseph Gray, Metis b-1858 Alberta married about 1885 Alberta Josette Metis b-1868 Alberta living St. Pierre, Alberta 1901.
Pierre Hamelin, Metis, b-1858, Lesser Slave Lake, (Alberta) died before 1901, son Pierre (Pierriche) Hamelin, Metis, and Marie Anne Macomtehouayo Courteoreille, b-1832; married 1878, Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta), Josephine Andrews, born September, 1863, Lesser Slave Lake (Albverta) daughter Baptiste Andrews and Catherine Gladu.
Hall and Hodgson of Mankato, Minnesota were in Fort Edmonton this year.
William Houle, b-1858, St. Albert son Charles Houle, b-1828, Red River and Esther Bruneau, b-1840; married 1878, Fort Chipewyan, Marie Cecile Bruneau-Beulieu, b-1852, Fond du Lac, Athabasca, daughter Gregoire Bruneau-Beaulieu and Josephine Piche.
James Inkster, Metis b-1858 N.W.T., living Fort Edmonton 1891.
(I)-George Kennedy b-1851 Scotland married about 1881 N.W.T. Moriah Metis b-1858 N.W.T., living in Fort Edmonton 1891.
(I)-John Lenny b-1847 Scotland married about 1884 Alberta Lucille, Metis b-1858 Alberta living White Whale Lake, Alberta 1901.
Martin Loguier, Metis b-1858 Alberta son Louis Loguier b-1832 and Angele b-1839 living White Whale Lake 1901.
John Loronda, Metis b-1858 N.W.T. married about 1887 N.W.T. Mary Metis b-1866 N.W.T. living Battle River, Alberta 1891.
Elizabeth McKinnon b-1858 Red River, living Calgary, Alberta 1891.
Madeline McLean, Metis b-1858 Alberta married about 1877 Alberta living Rabbit Hill, Alberta 1901.
John McNeill b-1858 Red River, engineer, married about 1881 Margaret b-1863 Red River, four children are recorded, John E. b-1882 Red River, Mary b-1885 Red River, Joseph b-1886 Red River, Sarah b-1889 N.W.T., all living Morley, Alberta 1891.
Philomine Nault, Metis b-1858 Alberta living Rose Ridge, Alberta 1901. Possible daughter Alexia Nault (1822-1867) married 1845 Fort Edmonton Angelique Brabant b-1828.
Henri Paquette, b-1858, Fort Edmonton (Alberta) son Henri Paquette and Catherine Collins (or Richard); married 1876, Calgary (Alberta), Maria Boucher, Metis, b-1859, St. Albert daughter Pierre Boucher and Marie Amable (Montagnais) Bruneau, b-1828.
Theodore Savard, Metis b-1858 Alberta, married about 1886 likely Alberta, Emerance Metis b-1869 Athabasca, living Egg Lake, Alberta 1901.
James Whitford, Metis b-1858 Assinaboia married about 1890 Alberta Mary Metis b-1874 Alberta, living Mountain Mill, Alberta 1901.
(I)- John Palliser reported that Father Albert Lacombe was considering building a mission for the Blackfoot either on the northeaster corner of Buffalo Lake (near Buffalo Boss Hill) or at the mouth of the lake's flow, Trail Creek.
The Palliser expedition broke into two groups one headed by (I)- John Palliser (1817-1887) and the other by Lieutenant Balkiston over the appointment of Dr. Hector as second in command. Balkiston departed with 10 horses, an Indian guide and three men to discover two passages leading to the Kootenays. The Balkiston expedition filed a separate report to London claiming the discovery of two passes through the Rockies.
Those absent on the Prairies were 15. There were 19 women and 48 children to total 109. This makes no mention of the number of women and children out on the hunt, nor those not directly associated with the HBC. One report suggests on a trip to Devils Lake (Lac Ste Anne) from Fort Edmonton. They met 200 Metis being led by old Gabriel Dumont who had crossed the Rocky Mountains often. He spoke French but preferred Cree. See October 20 below. It is noteworthy that John W. Jones, the record keeper of the Faribault Expedition, in October of this year estimated the population of Fort Edmonton as 150 people, of which 40 to 50 are men. He further made note that outside Fort Edmonton existed a suburbs of freemen (Metis). This is not a reference to the Devils Lake Metis Settlement.
It is reported that Lac Ste Anne (Devils Lake) had forty-one houses and the Metis talk French, Cree and dress in European fashion.
February 6: The eighteen hunters returned with forty sleighs to Edmonton House. Nancy Cunningham is born May 27, 1858, Fort Edmonton daughter Johny Cunningham, a Metis, and Rosalin L'Hyroudelle also a Metis. Nancy would marry 1875 St. Albert a George Gagnon.
April 22: Fort Edmonton (Alberta) birth, Isaie Beaudry, d-1864.
May 27: Fort Edmonton (Alberta), birth, Nancy Cunningham daughter John Cunningham, Metis n-1815 Red River des Metis and Rosalie L'Hyrondelle born January 5, 1829 Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta); married January 7, 1875, George Gagnon, a white man, born April 28, 1833, Quebec.
June: John Sullivan a senior member of the Palliser Expedition wrote: The Cree reported the peace with the Blackfoot had been violated, and that a very large war-party of Blackfoot was on the road to the Cree Country. The Crees are invariably the first offenders, and, comparatively speaking, the Blackfoot exercise great forbearance towards them in return. This is interesting given this was supposed to be a Cree report?
June: Lieutenant Blakiston, a member of the Palliser Expedition wrote: They (Indians) are aware that the buffalo are rapidly decreasing, and foresee that their descendants will have to take some other way of living than the lazy yet not luxurious mode followed at present. Year by year they see the animals decrease, and although they consider that they will last their time, and that by them they will be able to keep themselves in tobacco, ammunition, and other requisites, and have an occasional drinking bout, yet they knew too well, as one man expressed himself to me, "If this continues our children cannot live."
(I)- John Palliser (1817-1887) returned from Montreal to Fort Edmonton (Alberta).
July 26: Big Lake aka St. Albert, (Alberta), marriage, Peter Ward, Metis, b-1840, Fort Edmonton, son, George Ward, b-1810 and Bethsey Turcotte; married, Rosalie Bisson, b-1843, Slave Lake, daughter, Jean Baptiste Bisson and Rosalie Simon.
August: The British Government declared Vancouver Island a colony and appointed James Douglas as its first governor.
August 20: Blakiston crossed the Kootenay Pass east to west, two weeks before the Pallester Expedition crossed west to east. It is noteworthy that the pass has so much use that the Kutenai Indians maintained the path well. When Blakiston was credited with being the first to discover the Kootenay Pass, he said discovery is subjective, the deer made the first trails, the elk followed the deer, the buffalo followed the elk, the Indians followed the buffalo, the trappers followed the Indians and then the army officers came along and discovered the pass. It is noteworthy that the army officer is being led by an Indian, Metis or Trader who had been there before, likely many times. Blakiston was amused.
September: Dr. James Hector of the Palliser Expedition set out to explore the Kicking Horse Vallry and was kicked by one of his own horses, thereby giving rise to the place's name- Kicking Horse Pass a.k.a. Kootenay Pass, B.C.
October 17: The Faribault Gold seeking Party numbered 13 men including John W. Jones, Brewster and Gibson of Fort Pitt. These are the first reported gold-seekers to pass through Fort Edmonton. John W. Jones noted that William J. Christie b-1825, son of Alexander Christie of Fort Edmonton, is a braggadacio (non-gentleman).
October 18: John Palliser, Dr Hector and Blakiston are at Fort Edmonton and advise John W. Jones and the Faribault Expedition not to proceed this late in the year across the mountains. Jones considered the Palliser Party as three cowards.
October 19: John W. Jones wrote that they encountered quite a camp of Freeman on the west end of Fort Edmonton. These half-breeds are not employed by the Hudson Bay Company. This would be the Devils Lake Metis Settlement later named Lac Ste Anne. It was here they acquired Rossette as a guide who agreed to take them to the Kootenay Pass. It is noteworthy that the Kootenay Pass was well known for many years and the Minnesota Faribault Expedition had selected this route before starting.
October 20: The Faribault Expedition, as recorded by John W. Jones, meets a part of Halfbreeds (Metis) and Blackfoot who have just crossed the Kootenay Pass through four feet of snow. They were on their way to Fort Edmonton to trade. They informed Jones that the Blackfoot and the United States are at war. Johns decided that the Kananaskis Pass might be safer. It was, however, easier to masquerade as English.
December 21: Fort Edmonton, marriage Pierre Beauchamp Jr., b-1837 son Pierre Beauchamp Sr., b-1812 and Marie Morin (Morib), b-1810; married Nancy Ward, Metis, b-1844, daughter George Ward, Metis b-1810 and Bethsay (Bethsey) Turcotte.
December 25: Captain (I)-John Palliser (1817-1887) a rascally Irishman and Protestant, shows his true colors with the following accounts of his contact with the missionaries at Fort Edmonton;
"While we were at Edmonton, we were frequently visited by the French priests of the Catholic mission at Lake St. Ann's. Mons. La Combe, the head of the order, was a most excellent benevolent gentleman, possessing many estimable qualities most valuable in a missionary. He spoke Cree well, and had obtained a good deal of influence, not so much, however, among the Indians as among the Half-breeds. Mr. Rundle, who must have been a very able and influential man, is spoken of among them with reverence and enthusiasm to this day. Mr. Woolsey also, the present missionary, is a most excellent benevolent person"
1859
Rosa Archange Belcourt, Metis, b-1859, Lac Ste Anne (Alberta), daughter Joseph Belcourt, born November 28, 1823 and Madeleine Sapin dit Campion, Metis; married 1872, St. Albert (Alberta), John Roger Berard, b-1852 Red River (Manitoba) son Pierre Berard, b-1817 and Louise Moreau boen 1815/20, Fort Edmonton (Alberta).
Felix Blandion, b-1859, St. Albert (Alberta) son Antoine Blandion and Marie Desjarlais; married 1873 fort Edmonton, Anne Whitford, born February 15, 1863 Red River.
Maria Boucher, Metis, b-1859, St. Albert (Alberta) daughter Pierre Boucher and Marie Amable (Montagnais); married 1876 Calgary (Alberta), Henri Paquette Jr., b-1858, Fort Edmonton (Alberta) son Henri Sr. Paquette and Catherine Collins (or Richard).
Joseph Brewster b-1859 Scotland married to Angelique Metis b-1856 Alberta, living Lac Ste Anne, Alberta 1901.
Isabelle Cardinal, Metis, b-1859, White Fish Lake daughter St Luc Cardinal, Metis, b-1836 and Marguerite Desjarlais b-1839.
Joseph Cardinal, Metis b-1859 Alberta married about 1881 Alberta Machille Metis b-1864 Alberta living Lakeview eastern Alberta 1891.
Oliver Cardinal, b-1859, Buck Lake (Alberta) son Jean Baptiste Laventure Cardinal, b-1830 and Josephte Peis-Check dit Gladu Chalifoux b-1830 Grouard (Alberta); married 1876, Lac La Biche (Alberta) Adelaide Sa-po-ki-si-key-pewo, b-1857, Wabascow Lake, (Alberta) daughter Kesiadokisiquaypoyo and Therese Sakipok.
St. Luc Cardinal, Metis, b-1859, Lac La Biche (Alberta), son, Joseph dit Mustatip Cardinal, b-1838, Devil's Lake (Lac Ste Anne, Alberta) and Marie Neyomonpekinam, a Cree; married Julie Kesiapokisiquaypoyo, b-1869, Pelican Lake (Saskatchewan).
Celestin (Celestan) Gladu, Metis, b-1859 Lac Ste Anne (Alberta) son Joseph Gladu and Emma Amable Belcourt, b-1835; married 1879, Lac Ste Anne (Alberta), Marguerite Callio, Metis, b-1856 Lac Ste Anne (Alberta), daughter, Thomas Karaconti Callihoo, Metis, (1830-1874) and Mary Findley, b-1827 Jasper House (Alberta).
Cyrile Belcour, Metis b-1859 Alberta son Cecile Belcour b-1830 Alberta, living Lac Ste Anne 1901.
Louison Thomas Cardinal b-1859, Athabasca River, married 1884, Fort St. John, Charlotte Taskawitch, b-1864, Dunvegan, Athabasca.
Pierre Desjarlais, Metis b-1859 Alberta married about 1880 Alberta Catherine Metis b-1862 Alberta. Living Lac La Biche, Alberta 1901.
Flora Gardner, Metis b-1859 Athabasca, living Lac La Biche, Alberta 1901.
Celestin Gladu, Metis b-1859 Lac Ste Anne (Alberta) son Joseph Gladu and Emma Amable Belcourt, b-1835; married 1879 Lac Ste Anne (Alberta), Marguerite Callo, Metis b-1856 Lac Ste Anne (Alberta), daughter Thomas Kara conti Callihoo (1830-1874) and Mary Findlay, b-1827, Jasper House (Alberta), living Lac Ste Anne 1901.
Willington Lee, Metis b-1859 U.S.A. married about 1881 Alberta Christine Metis b-1856 Alberta, living Lac Ste Anne 1901.
Nancy L'Hirondelle, Metis b-1859 Athabasca married 1875 Alberta living Lac Ste Anne, Alberta 1901.
Alexander Logan b-1859 Red River married about 1882 Alberta Annie Metis b-1862 Alberta, living Popular Lake, Alberta 1901.
John McLeod b-1859 Red River married about 1890 Alberta Flora B. Metis b-1864 Alberta living Strathcona, (Alberta), 1901.
Lac Ste Anne, birth Edouard Nault, b-1859, son, Alexis Nault (1822-1867) married Fort Edmonton Angelique Brabant, b-1828; married 1892 Henriette Gauthier, b-1875 Fort Edmonton (Alberta) son Charles Gauthier, a white man and Peggy Andrews..
Adelaide Nipissing (or Shawan), b-1859 between Calgary and Edmonton daughter Thomas Shawn Nepissing, b-1818 and Rosaire Gladu; married 1877 Louis Pelletier or Campbell, d-1882
Michel Normand and his wife, nee Rose Plante arrived Lac Ste Anne.
Louis Rushell, Metis born 1859, Alberta son Angelie Rushell b-1830 Alberta; married about 1881 Alberta most likely Trail Creek to Julie Metis b-1865 Alberta, living Trail Creek, Alberta 1901.
Adelaide Shawan Nipissing, b-1859 between Calgary and Edmonton, (Alberta) daughter Thomas Shawan Nepissing, b-1818 and Rosaire Gladu; married 1st 1877 Louis Pelletier or Campbell, d-1882; married 2nd 1884 Peace River (Alberta), Norbert Wanut, Metis, b-1866, Jasper House (Alberta),
Benjamin Wishart b-1859 Red River, living Southern Alberta 1891.
George Wishart b-1859 Red River, a farmer, living Gleichen, Alberta 1891.
Father Remas and three Gray Nuns (Sisters of Charity) arrived Fort Edmonton then went on to Lac Ste. Anne. Sister Marie-Jacques Alphonse (1836-1879) is one of the group. She arrived at Saint Boniface in1844. Also Sister Zoe Leblanc-Emery is one of the three. Mrs. Robert Campbell also arrived and continued to Fort Chipewyan that spring. Some contend these were the only all white women in Alberta at this time.
The Earl of Southesk spent seven months traveling the territories including spending much time traveling the Rocky Mountains from Jasper house to Bow river Fort where they met a St. Paul group composed of Colville, Dickman, Reid and Hind who were heading for the Columbia River area. They also met some advance members of the Palliser party who were on their way to the Pacific. The Earl ran buffalo on the plains and strove hard to bag a grizzly.
A young Chipewyan, the son of Chief Bear Foot, called on the people of Ile a La Crosse to abandon Roman Catholic practices. He beat up the future Bishop Vital Grandin (1929-1902) and threatened future violence. This likely firmly establishes the Bishops future hatred of the Indians and Metis. The son of Bear Foot believed "eternal life was from the earth and sun".
January: Rev. A. Cowley visited a band of Stony Indians between the Ghost and Bow Rivers. He recorded the band size as 83 adults and 134 children.
(I)-John Palliser (1817-1887) wrote February 1859:
"There are several kinds of employees of the Hudson Bay Company, now diminishing very much throughout these portions of their district, viz., -- the old Canadian voyageur, a hardy, Jovial, respectful, and well-conducted man; also the old hands which used to be engaged from the Orkney Islands and other parts of Scotland; their places are now fast supplied by lazy French Half-breeds from Lack St. Ann's, who, if they are desired to work or ordered to do anything they dislike, may go away as soon as they have received their advances, and join the Indians out on the prairies."
It is noteworthy that all of Pallisler's Red River men, belong to the Church of England, showing his bigotry and disrespect of other religions.
February: Big Lake aka St. Albert, birth Felix Blandion, son Antoine Blandion Sr. and Marie Desjarlais; married 1873 St. Albert, Anne Whitford, born Fenruary 15, 1836 daughter Francois Whitford Sr. b-1835 and Jane Anderson, b-1845.
February: Birth Adelaide Nipissing or Shawan, born between Fort Edmonton and Fort Calgary (Alberta) daughter Thomas Shawan Nepissing, b-1818 and Rosaire Gladu; married 1817, Louis Pelletier or Campbell, d-1882; 2nd marriage 1884 Peace River (Alberta) Norbert Wanut, b-1866, Jasper House (Alberta) son Simon Wanut and Marie Anne Karaconti L'Iroquoise, b-1822/26 Rocky Mountain House (Alberta)
February 17: Mountain House, birth, Harriet Gladstone, daughter William J. Shanks Gladstone, b-1824, Quebec and Harriet LeBlanc b-1835, Fort Edmonton (Alberta): 1st married Basile Larance, b-1860 Red River; 2nd married 1881, James Hennifik; 3rd married 1884, James Bowes; 4th married 1885 unknown..
April 8: C.A. Loveland, a Scandinavian arrived Fort Edmonton to buy supplies but only had United States money. Chief Factor Christie refused to honor his money and put him to work, at a shilling a day, to build a Catholic Church within the palisades for Father Lacombe. He completed the church on December 24, 1859 and it was named St. Joachim.
(I)-John Palliser (1817-1887) wrote May 1859 to Governor Simpson showing his true colors:
"Poor Christie (William J. Christie b-1825 Chief Trader Fort Edmonton) is terribly annoyed with these Lake St. Annes rascals, they really are a rotten set. I fear the Popish Priests you are nursing so carefully in this country will be a thorn in your side by and bye. The Stoneys are wretchedly off, the priests are playing the duce with them they seem to do nothing but pray, sing hymns and starve. The 'Cardinal' came down on them the other day, and divorced about 50 of their wives. All the priests of all denominations dine with us. It is great fun to see the black looks of the hostile divines, I understand that sometimes hostilities have proceeded further than mere looks."
It is noteworthy that Christie Chief Factor a Protestant (as was most of his servants) ordered the building of a Catholic Church within the palisades of Fort Edmonton where as the Protestant's used a room in the Big House. This doesn't support Pallisler's report of the situation.
Palliser journeyed from Fort Edmonton to Cypress Hills and called them "a perfect oasis in the desert".
August: Lord Southesk, a Briton, visited Lac Ste Anne and praised Peres Lacombe and Le Frain as agreeable men and perfect gentlemen.
August 6: Rocky Mountain House (Alberta), birth Maria Moriah Brazeau, Metis, daughter Joseph Edward Brazeau and Marguerite Brabant alias Salois, Metis, b-1815, Fort Edmonton, (Alberta); married 1881, Fort Edmonton, Josue Pascal McGillis, born March 15, 1856, son, Cuthbert McGillis (1822-1906) Marguerite Delorme, b-1824 Red River.
September 24: The Sisters of Charity, Sister Emery, the superior, Sister Lamy and Sister Marie Alphonse arrive Lac Ste Anne. Sister Lamy recorded her first impressions: After a hearty meal, Father Lacombe invited us to visit his house. It is rather small, at the most only twenty feet long and fifteen feet wide. It is sealed with mud and covered with bark. The house is divided into two rooms and a living room. The furniture consists of a chair, two stools, a table, a sofa that is used as a bed at night, a stove and a desk. The chapel is also very poor. The sanctuary lamp being made of wood, trimmed with pieces of tin and colored bird's eggs. We visited the good Indians and the Christian Metis. The richer families brought us some pounded meat.