Alberta History pre 1800 - Jasper Alberta

What can I do in Jasper Alberta?

Jasper Alberta's Historic View

The cultural beginning of Alberta likely begins after the last ice age retreated (15,000-12,000 B.C.).

There is no common agreement about the re-occupation date of Alberta, Canada.

Alberta's Start

The first Albertans were represented in the form of the Algonquian people, who migrated from California to Alberta some time prior to 1450 A.D. but were lost to antiquity.

A brief history of Alberta's occupation follows:

78,000 B.C.

Global cooling resulted in an ice sheet covering most of Alberta about this time. Some contend there were ice free passages during the cooling periods.

50,000 B.C.

Some researcher speculate that America was peopled at this time or earlier but evidence is sparse. It is interesting that during our life time it was thought that people only occupied Alberta from about 8,000 B.C. and now writers are saying 50,000 to 100,000 B.C. might have been their arrival. Often, reality is more bazaar and exciting than scientific speculation of the past or present.

The Blackfoot, Blood and Peigan People of Alberta contain the highest incidents of type 'A' blood in the world. It is noteworthy that Europe is also high in type 'A' blood type. This may suggest these Peoples are the decedents of the same Caucasian People's who migrated to Europe from the Middle East about this time until 25,000 B.C.


40,000 B.C.

Stone choppers and scrapers have been discovered below the glacial deposits in Grimshaw, Bow River and Lethbridge dated to 40,000 - 20,000 B.C. Others challenge this dating.

35,000 B.C.

Genetic research suggests a major migration of peoples into America occurred about this time. It is therefore possible that humanoids existed in Alberta about this time.

30,000 B.C.

A child's skull, found in 1961 near Taber, Alberta, is carbon dated to 30,000 B.C. and is believed to be one of the oldest inhabitants discovered in Alberta. Some contend the dating is in error and is closer to 4,000 B.C. However, other finds include; 23,000 B.C. artifacts found at Crowsnest Pass, 9,000 B.C. artifacts at Vermilion Lakes, 8,000 B.C. artifacts at Lake Minnewanka, 5,000 B.C. artifacts Cypress Hills, and 3,000 B.C. artifacts at Strathcona Alberta. There is much controversy in archeology circles, especially as to the dating of these discoveries. We can conclude that Alberta is first inhabited by peoples some time during the period of 11,000 to 50,000 B.C., either arriving from the North or South depending on which theory prevails. Most evidence suggest they came from the south.

23,000 B.C.

Grizzly bears are in the Edmonton, Alberta area at this time suggesting it was not covered by glaciations as some suggest.

21,000 B.C.

According to long held theory, Alberta is covered with continent sized ice sheets from glaciations. This period is believed to be 25,000 to 21,000 B.C. This however is not supported by facts. Gravel pits near Edmonton reveal that during this time the area is teeming with wildlife. One gravel pit yielded 900 bones, including an extinct giant bear, a North American lion, mastodon, wolves, giant bison, cow sized ground sloth, camels and herds of horses. It is believed the ice age didn't affect this area until after 20,000 B.C., based on the bones. Calgary is believed to be glaciated and preliminary digs below the glacial gravel suggest the presence of man. The evidence of human activity consists of artificially flaked quartzite and hard limy siltstone cobbles found in the upper Bow River near Calgary.

20,000 B.C.

Genetic research suggests a second major migration of peoples into America occurred about this time. There is little doubt that our ancestors were in Alberta within the past 15,000 years.

18,000 B.C.

Evidence discovered west of Calgary (Alberta) at Varsity Estates suggests human occupation dating to this period. Many are skeptical of these findings.

16,000 B.C.

It is believed a period of Global Cooling occurred 18,000 B.C. to 16,000 B.C. causing ice sheets to cover most of Alberta.

13,000 B.C.

Conventional belief is that the ice sheet began retreating from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan between now and about 10,000 B.C. Greenland ice core studies suggests conventional beliefs may not accurately reflect what actually transpired and many have come and gone in relatively short periods of times (maybe ten years, more or less). Others suggest this Global Warming period lasted to about 1 AD when a Global Cooling period set in that lasted until about 1830 as recorded in Alberta.

Genetic research suggests a third major migration of peoples into America occurred about this time

10,000 B.C.

Knife River Silica from the south Missouri River is trading as far north as Jasper and Edmonton, Alberta.

The People of this area have been using Cypress Hills (Alberta/Saskatchewan) as a wintering site from about this time.

9,200 B.C.

The footprints of mammoth, camel, muskoxen and horses are perfectly preserved at St. Mary River (Alberta).

9,000 B.C.

Kananaskis Country west of Calgary, Alberta appears to have been occupied since about this time. Over 100 archaeological sites have been identified.

Clovis man is hunting horses in the St. Mary Reservoir area of Alberta.

8,800 B.C.

Glacial Lake Vermilion (Alberta) was a camping site of Clovis People.

8,500 B.C.

Wyoming obsidian is trading into the Edmonton area. A band of hunters built a hearth beside Vermilion Lake (Alberta). Some suggest this is the oldest site in Alberta. This is highly unlikely as humans have been in the America since earlier than 50,000 B.C. based on the Pedra Furada, Brazil excavations.

The Clovis People lived on the shorelines of the "Water of the Spirits" (Lake Minnewanka, Alberta). The area was abundant in fish and wild life.

8,000 B.C.

On the banks of the Oldman River, near Taber, Alberta that is West of Lethbridge, a Paleolithic hunter butchered a buffalo. Dr. L.A. Bayrick discovers the site. Some believe that glacial ice still covers much of the Edmonton and Calgary area, a period of global cooling. Some ultra conservatives, however, do not believe man has entered North America until about 4,000 B.C. Others suggest 50,000 to 100,000 B.C. is more likely.

Global warming began melting the Antarctic ice sheet at a fairly constant rate of 5cm per year and is expected to be gone by 12,000 A.D. Other studies of Greenland ice sheet suggests global warming and cooling occurs in relatively short time periods of time, like 10 years.

Others suggest a severe drought was extensive throughout Alberta from 8,000 to 6,000 B.C.

7,000 B.C.

Two spearheads are discovered dating to this period at Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump in southern Alberta. There are about 100 buffalo jumps in north America. The use of animal jumps is believed to date back to at least 40,000 B.C.

Near Chin Coulee in southern Alberta, hunters with spears trapped and killed a buffalo herd.

6,000 B.C.

On the top of a high ridge, 500 meters above the Crowsnest Pass, ancient miners hewed out lumps of multicolored Etherington chert. The chert was heat-treated to make it harder and easier to shape into tools. The hunters in Alberta are using dart throwers.

5,000 B.C.

Cypress Hills, believed spared from glacial ice in southern Alberta, is an early stopping place for early hunters. The French fur traders who first came across these un-glaciated Cypress Hills called them Montages de Cypres, meaning Jack Pine Mountains, and the Indians called them Thunder-Breeding Mountains due to the sudden storms generated there. It is believed the climate was more humid for the next 1,000 years.

4,850 B.C.

Mount Mazama (Crater Lake) in Oregon exploded and spread a thick layer of volcanic ash across central and southern Alberta and is used as a marker for dating.

3,200 B.C.

The Oxbow People are believed to have migrated from Saskatchewan to Alberta bringing with them the medicine wheel. It is believed they also introduced the process for making pemmican.

3,000 B.C.



2,500 B.C.

Alberta is considered the core area for Medicine Wheels and likely started about this time. One Medicine Wheel was however located in Wyoming. We tend to underestimate the mobility of our early ancestors.

2,000 B.C.

Aisinai'pi or Writing on Stone Provincial Park, Alberta, on the Milk River, has been in use from this period of time based on artifacts discovered. The actual writing are estimated from 1,500 to 1,700 A.D., although some could date back to 1,000 A.D.

Some suggest wetter, cooler winters resulted in reactivation of mountain glaciers in Alberta.



1,000 B.C.

There is evidence to suggest that Writing-on-Stone (Provincial Park) has been used for sacred writings since this time.

The Alberta People have been trading for copper items from the Great Lakes, stones from Oregon and North Dakota, shells from the Pacific Ocean and shells from the Gulf of Mexico. It is not known if this trade was direct or via other traders.

500

Indians from the Dakota's are hunting bison (buffalo) near Taber, Alberta. Arrow heads discovered are made from Knife River flint.

Archaeologist at Spring Point, Alberta, at a buffalo (bison) jump found knives, spears, arrow points, bone smashers, hide scrapers, drills, awls, pottery and bake ovens.

1190

The glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, Banff, Alberta advanced from 1190 to 1250.

1280

The glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, Banff, Alberta advanced from 1280 to 1340.

1450

Algonquian speaking peoples arrived some time before this. They spread across Canada from Alberta to the Atlantic ocean. They evolved into the Blackfoot, Cree, Ojibwa, Micmac, Sauk, Gros Ventre, etc., to name a few.

1600

The bow and arrow began to replace the spear in Alberta. This also marked the appearance of teepee rings, stone cairns, buffalo effigies, medicine wheels, rib stones, pictographs and petrography. The Neutral Hills north of Concert, Alberta contains effigies of bison, turtles, and snakes.

1630

It is believed the Blackfoot brought the first horse into Alberta about this time.

1654

Some suggest the following people reside in Alberta at this time: Atspu, Beeny, Feather, Grizzly Going and Pimotewiw Sisip.

1680

A severe drought occurred in southern Alberta that lasted 40 years (1680-1720) according to tree ring analysis.

Others suggest the coldest periods of the Little Ice Age (1550-1850) are 1550-1620, 1680-1700.

1690

The glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, Banff, Alberta advanced in the 1690's.

1700

The glaciers in the Rocky Mountains, Banff, Alberta advanced in the early 1700's.

The Beaver People arrived from north of Peace River to other side of the Saskatchewan River, from the future site of Fort Edmonton. The area became known as Beaver Hills and later Strathcona before being absorbed into Edmonton city.

1704

Some suggest the following people are in Alberta about this time: Apikuni, Api Kutenai and Sky Red..

1715

The Cree told Knight, of the Hudson Bay Company, of the existence of Lake Athabasca and the Great Athabasca River. Captain Swan, the Cree explorer, explored Alberta for the Hudson Bay Company and discovered the Athabasca Tar Sands. He brought back a sample of the brimstone oil to York Factory. He made peace with the Beaver Natives in the Athabasca Valley. The Beaver Natives at this time occupied the area between Edmonton and Peace River. To the east, west, and north are the Chippewa, Slave and Sekani people. The Sarcee occupied the Athabasca and upper North Saskatchewan River. The Blood, Piegan and Blackfoot occupied the prairies south of the North Saskatchewan River. The foothills dominated by the Kootenay and to the southwest the Shoshoni (Snake). The Cree is entering Alberta from the northeast and the Assiniboine and Gros-Ventre from the southeast.

1720

The Alberta drought of 1680-1720 ended this decade according to three ring analysis.

1730

The Blackfoot acquired the horse. They referred to time before this as the dog-days. Saukamappe, a Cree living with the Piegan, reported seeing a horse between Eagle Hills, south of Battleford, and Red Deer River. He also reported the Piegan had acquired guns from the Cree in trade.

1743

Some claim La Verendrye junior sighted the Stony (Rocky) Mountains January 1, 1743, but supporting evidence is scant. Others claim he may have reached the tip of the Province of Alberta this year. It is believed that the French Metis or Coureurs de Bois are wintering on the Saskatchewan River this season.

1745

The Hudson Bay Company reported that French Traders from Montreal are on the Saskatchewan River, intercepting the Bays trade. This is according to reports from the Cree and Assiniboine.

1747

(I)-Anthony Henday, HBC man (1750-62) claimed to have wintered near Three Hills in central Alberta south of Edmonton. Does this refer to his alleged 1754 trip?



1749

A number of Montreal men have been wintering with the Indians on the Saskatchewan River over the past few years, but their names are unknown. The Indians said the river started in the shining mountains. Based on this information, this year it is reported De Niverville searched for the sources of the Saskatchewan River toward the Rocky Mountains.

Pierre Gautier Chevalier de la Verendrye (Verandrye) returned from the extreme West and donated a slave, Jean Francois Regis, born 1743 (age 6 years), to the Jesuit Mission at Michillimakinac ,who baptised him April 6, 1750.



1750

Some claim that Fort La Jonquiere (Calgary) is established by the Metis and abandoned about 1759-1760. Trade goods from the Gulf of Mexico, in the form of masks, are discovered in Southern Alberta, some 2,000 miles from their source.

Peonon Point, on the Saskatchewan River, is a French house.



1751

A French expedition reached the Stony Mountains (Rocky Mountains) and established a temporary Fort at Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches. Later they established Fort Le Jonquiere at the junction of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers. By 1753 the French had establish Fort Saint Louis, north of Kinistino, Saskatchewan. Another version of the same story is as follows: Boucher de Niverville sent off two men in two canoes to ascend the Paskoyac (Saskatchewan) as far as the Rocky Mountains, where they made a good fort May 29, 1751, named Fort La Jonquiere. They also made a considerable store of provisions, expecting the arrival of De Niverville, who is to follow in a month, but did not arrive due to illness. In November, Legardeur de Saint Pierre arrived Fort La Jonquiere and reported that De Niverville had arrived. This second account is based on the memoir of Saint Pierre, found in the report of the Canadian Archives of 1886. Others contend Boucher de Niverville sent 10 Frenchmen (Metis?) to establish Fort La Jonquire on the Bow River near Calgary, Alberta. In the course of 1751 Boucher de Niverville sent ten Frenchmen from that post at the forks of the Saskatchewan up the river, who erected a fort (La Jonquière) on the Bow River, where Calgary now stands

May 29: The Chevalier Jacques Repentigny LeGardeur of Saint-Pierre (1701-1755), originally commander of Fort Michilimackinac, dispatched a party on ten men in two canoes this spring (May 29) to build a trading post near the forks of the Saskatchewan that they called Fort La Jonquiere (Nipawin, Saskatchewan). LeGardeur is actually stationed at Fort La Reine (Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) from 1750 to 1752. Some contend this fort is built near Calgary, Alberta and was abandoned in 1759. This story suggests a party of ten Frenchmen were dispatched by Boucher de Nioerville (Niverville), Lieutenant under command of Jacques LeGardeur of Saint Pierre (1701-1755), to established Post La Jonquiere, on the Saskatchewan River, near the mountains. Bishop Emile Tardiff, in his writings, supports the story that De Niverville built Fort La Jonquieret at or near Calgary. These stories, or expeditions, were fueled on the 1745 reports from the Cree who said the Poskoyac River (Saskatchewan) started in the very lofty mountains and over the mountains a great lake exists in which the water is undrinkable.

1753

The Hind Post is established on the Hind or Wabish River (Red Deer River)

1754

The Metis are reported trading to the upper reaches of the Saskatchewan River. The Cree report 30 Canadians in 7 canoe are intercepting furs of the Assiniboine River in Saskatchewan/Manitoba.

Elizabeth Grouard claimed February 14, 1754 to be a Cree from the Grouard Band of Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta) to have married this year Henry Newhall (Newell) but others dispute this claim. However if true, Henry Newell likely visited Lesser Slave Lake (Alberta) pre 1754.

On June 24 Anthony Henley attached himself to a departing Cree party who are going to the land of the Blackfoot below the great Stony Mountains. It is important to understand that there are four differing journals of the 1754-1755 Henley trip. Much of this trip is open to question. Anthony Henday married a Cree Girl named Enteiskwew.

Some suggest the follow people are in Alberta this year: Asis Atik, Leader French, Anthony Henday, Kokamanakiwiw. Wapi Kona, Tete La Grosse, Beouf Le Petit, Wapenesew and Piyew Wapi.

Attickasish, a Cree Merchant, agreed to take Anthony Henday, HBC man (1750-62) into Alberta, September 11, 1754. Anthony Henday, HBC man (1750-62) traded a gun for a horse from the Assiniboine. They traveled to the foothills of Alberta and visited the Blackfoot south of the Red Deer River where two hundred tents cover over three-quarters of a mile. The chief's tent could hold fifty people. The Blackfoot referred to Anthony Henday, HBC man (1750-62) as a very white man, clearly indicating that he was not the first European they had known. The Ojibwa and French Metis from Fort La Pointe (Wisconsin) explored and traded this region during their past forty years of trading. Anthony Henday requests the Blackfoot trade with the Hudson Bay Company. The Indians turned down the request as they are trading with the French. Anthony Henday then traveled to the mouth of the Sturgeon River, a favorite French location, then on to the French Fort St. Louis in Saskatchewan. It is suggested Anthony Henday (HBC service 1750-1762) first encountered the horse at Buffer Lake, Saskatchewan and bought his first horse at Sounding Creek, Alberta. It is highly questionable if he even made this journey. See the Metis section for a more complete account of the forgery surrounding this alleged expedition.

1755

Some historians contend Anthony Henday wintered 1754 and 1755 in the Blindman River Valley Northwest of Lacombe, (Alberta). These are the same folks who claim a 1747, Three Hills, (Alberta) is a wintering site. Some contend Anthony Henday encountered the Asinepoet Nation using horses as pack animals on the South Saskatchewan River. Some believe Henday camped at Birch Hills this year at the mouth of the Sturgeon River in what is now called Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta). Birch Hills aka Fort Saskatchewan (Alberta) is a traditional manufacturing site for canoes. The mouth of the Sturgeon River that flows into the North Saskatchewan River provided a plentiful supply of raw materials and a good flat location for canoe building. This would be the future site of Fort Augustus of the North West Company.

1759

Anthony Henday HBC man (1750-62) and Joseph Smith wintered near Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches and returned the following year with sixty-one canoe loads of furs. The Metis at this time abandoned Fort La Jonquiere (Calgary).

1763

The Metis established posts far up the Saskatchewan River, had seen the Stony Mountains and were aware of the Oregon River. It is noteworthy that the Metis reached the Stony Mountains (Rockies) some two decades before Daniel Boone pushed the American frontier west to Kentucky.

1766

The Metis trader, (III)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte Sr. (1723-1803), from Sault Ste Marie, who was the only one who held his fort during the Pontiac war, Alexander Henry (1739-1824), the elder, James Finlay, and Peter Pond (1740-1807) went into the Saskatchewan and Athabasca country to establish contact with the Chipewyan, Red Knives, Dog Rib, Caribous and Stone people. They participated in opening up a trading territory to Athabasca country that covered a territory equivalent to Western Europe and is the most lucrative fur farm in America. From a European perspective it was a no mans land waiting for the taking.

Isaac Batt d-1791 is claimed to have wintered 1766/1767 Alberta. He was a free trader but worked for the HBC (1754-1775).

1767

(IV)-Joseph Barthelemi Blondeau (1743-1790) of Michillimahnac is reported on the Assiniboine River this year. He would spend the next twenty years exploring and working the North West Territories.

William Pink is likely the first European to visit the St. Paul des Metis area of Alberta during a buffalo hunt.

1768

Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, Metis (1768-1828) aka (Jacco, Jaccot, Jacko, Joeko and Jacquot) is born at Fort Finlay on the south bank of the South Saskatchewan River about 50 miles from the forks, son James Finlay and Chippewa Woman. James Finlay is the chief factor of Fort Finley, N.W.C..

William Pink of the Hudson Bay Company is claimed to have wintered near Fort Edmonton.

1770

Buffalohead (Pierre or Paul) St. Germain, a Metis guide, is working the Athabasca Region this decade.

Some believe the Iroquois, and Iroquois Metis, free traders are working Alberta at this time or earlier.



1771

Henry Pressick wintered with the Blackfoot in southern Alberta. (I)-Samuel Hearne (1745-1792) and his band of Chipewyan, led by Matonabbee, is recorded at Athabasca Lake in north eastern Alberta and north western Saskatchewan. It is believed Hearne and company visited Athupusco or Etcharrottine Lake aka Great Slave Lake this year. It is also believed that (I)-Samuel Hearne (1745-1792) visited Lesser Slave Lake des Metis this year.

It is noteworthy that the Metis and Coureur de Bois at lesser Slave Lake carried on aggressive farming operations as well as trading for furs. The also settled, Lac La Biche, Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement 50 km SW Lac La Biche, Sturgeon Lake, 24 km N.W. Grande Prairie, Bear Lake, 22 km from Grande Prairie, Saskatoon Lake 24 km N.W. Grande Prairie and Flying Shot Lake, just west of Grande Prairie. Some were established at this time or earlier, while others are established over the next thirty years. Some do not consider these Metis Settlements until occupied on a continuous basis.

Thomas Cory of Montreal did so well with his Saskatchewan River trade that within two trading seasons he could retire

.

1772

Le Doyen Beaulieu, the Metis, is born the son Francois Beaulieu and a Montagnais mother and he spent most of his life around Lesser Slave Lake. His Father journeyed to the Pacific in 1793 with (I)-Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820).

Ten canoes departed from Montreal under permit for Francois Le Blanc, born 1712, also known as (Franceway, Saswee and Shish),a voyager of Michillimahnac, who is in the Northwest. (IV)-Joseph Barthelemi Blondeau (1743-1790) of Michillimahnac, with forty canoes, began working the North West Territories. This year he is reported on the Red Dear River. William Bruce, an independent trader, is also on the river having fled Basquia, Mississippi, after killing an Indian.



1773

A travel permit is issued to Maurice Blondeau and 22 men. Blondeau is up the Saskatchewan River. (IV)-Joseph Barthelemi Blondeau (1743-1790), of Michillimahnac, is on the Red Deer River.

(IV)-Joseph Barthelemi Blondeau (1743-1790), of Michillimahnac, is reported to have worked the Saskatchewan River this year. Charles Paterson (d-1788) of the Michilimackinac Company stayed on the Saskatchewan.

Charles Bruce is reported at Red Deer River. Bruce is from the Mississippi where he killed an Indian and had to depart that region. William Bruce and four men are at Pasquia on the Saskatchewan River.

Francois Le Blanc, born 1712, also known as (Franceway, Saswee and Shish) voyager of Michillimahnac, dispatched 15 canoes among the various routes to pursue Indians on their way to York Factory. (I)-William Pink of York Factory has spent the last 7 years attempting to direct trade from the Peddlers to the Hudson Bay Company, especially on the Saskatchewan. Matthew Cocking, the bigamist (d-1799), returned to York Factory having for the past two years traveled the Blackfoot Territory. He would spend the next two years on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. He said he finds himself practically defenseless against the Peddlers. Those Montrealers are monopolizing the fur trade on the Saskatchewan River. He had to travel to Eagle Hills, south of Battleford.

May 11: (I)-Alexander MacKenzie (1764-1820) encountered a band of Beaver Indians near the site of the future Fort Dunvegan site.



1775

Charles Patterson (d-1788) is trading and wintering out of the Assiniboine with Alexander Henry and Holmes. The native traders told Henry of the Peace River.

Travel passport is issued to James McGill (1744-1813), (I)-Benjamin Frobisher (1742-1787), his brothers, and (III)-Maurice Regis Blondeau (b-1706) for 12 canoe and 78 men for Grand Portage and beyond. Alexander Henry (1739-1824), the elder, reported that 4 different interests on the Saskatchewan joined forces this year. Peter Pond (1740-1807) entered the North West with the backing of Simon McTavish (1750-1804), who would engineer the formation of the North West Company.

Some sixty canoes a year are going West from Lake Superior and these probably excluded many free traders. Peter Pond (1740-1807), who is born Melford, Connecticut, left the Mississippi fur trade after killing a fellow in a duel and with two canoes and seven men went to Saskatchewan River near Prince Albert (Saskatchewan). On the way he teamed up with (III)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte Sr. (1723-1803), (I)-Thomas Frobisher (1744-1788), (I)-Joseph Frobisher (1740-1810), William Paterson and (I)-Alexander Henry (1739-1824), the elder, making a company of one hundred and thirty men in thirty canoes. The permit dated April 10 lists a Michel Cadot likely (III)-Michel Cadotte (1729-1784) and Francois Giroux among the crew. The group had bought sufficient wild rice in Red River to last until they reached the Saskatchewan. (I)-Alexander Henry (1739-1824) the elder wrote that without the wild rice obtained at the Lake of the Woods, the voyage beyond the Saskatchewan River would have been impossible to complete. He had purchased 100 bushels of rice from the previous year's crop from an Ojibwa village of only 100 people at the Lake of the Woods. He also noted 50 lodges of Ojibwa at Rainy Lake. This is interesting in that most traders believed the woods Indians didn't store their harvests. They also processed and stored fish and fish oil. (III)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte Sr. (1723-1803) separated at the forks and he went to Fort des Prairies (Edmonton, Alberta) in October.

Charles Paterson (d-1788) of the Michilimackinac Company, (IV)-Joseph Barthelemi Blondeau (1743-1790) of Michillimahnac, William Holmes, Peter Pangman (1744-1819), the German some say Dutch and many other employees occupies Fort La Corne (Fort des Prairies) and are working the Saskatchewan. Franceway on the Saskatchewan acquires two Blackfoot women slaves whom he takes to Montreal and sells. He also took out 170 bundle fur of 90 pounds each. (I)-Robert Longmoor of Hudson Bay Company is robbed of his trade goods and roughly handled by Indian's who accompanied him. He is abandoned without provisions on the trail to Cumberland House.

April 10: A permit is issued to Alexander Henry (1739-1824) and (III)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte Sr. (1723-1803) for 4 canoes to Sault Ste Marie and Grand Portage and included a crew of 31 men. Included in the crew is Michel Cadott, a possible relative of (III)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte Sr. (1723-1803), a Francois Giroux. This historic voyage covered Lake of the Woods, Winnipeg River, Lake Winnipeg, and the Saskatchewan. They encountered Peter Pond (1740-1807) and the Frobisher brothers (I)-Joseph and (I)-Thomas. Some of the party reached the Rockies. It is noteworthy that they had to pay a toll on Rainy River to the Ojibwa who possessed the ability to stop all trade to the interior. The Ojibwa have villages at Lac La Croix, Rainy Lake and Rainy River.

St. Jean LaVigne - Pierre LaVigne - Jacques Primake - Michel Cadott -Lafrance Laborde - Francois Valtige - Joseph Montmmois - Pierre Camsse - Pierre Gouiltan - Nicolas Demars - Louis Lapointe - Charles Boulteau - Albert Donaus - Francois Demit - Fabien Robert - Louis La Poretin - Etisne La Carter - Michel Content - Jacques La Gameya - Joseph Potorin - Joseph Gaul - Pierre Pilette - Charles Deneau - - Emett - Charles Nutier - Joseph Denieu - Faweaiger - Joseph Maloux - Francois Giroux.

1776

James Deering and William Pink wintered in Alberta and Peter Pond (1739/40-1807), in 1778, would order the building a trading post forty miles up the Athabasca from its mouth.

Laurent Leroux, b-1759 Quebec, died 1854 and Cuthbert Grant, founders of competing trading posts at Fort Resolution visited the Great Slave Lake.

Peter Pangman (1744-1819), a Dutchman, some say German, married at Fort of the Prairies (Alberta) on the Saskatchewan a Cree Indian girl.

(I)-Thomas Frobisher (1744-1788) was wintering at Ile a la Crosse this year. Both Frobisher and Peter Pond (1740-1807) pushed into the Athabasca. (I)-Joseph Frobisher (1740-1810) returned from the Saskatchewan to Grande Portage leaving their merchandise in the field and in the care of (I)-Thomas Frobisher (1744-1788).

(III)-Jean Baptiste Cadotte Sr. (1723-1803) went up the Saskatchewan with four canoes.

Fort Sturgeon also called the Lower Settlement and later called Fort Saskatchewan contained Booty Graves, Charles McCormick, William Bruse, Peter Pond, (1740-1807), Peter Pangeman (1744-1819), Nicholes, Mature (Montour) Bartw, and (IV)-Joseph Barthelemi Blondeau (1743-1790). Joseph Frobisher (1740-1810) had departed for supplies. Three peddlers working out of Fort Sturgeon are killed by the Indians because of bad treatment at the fort. Fort Sturgeon or more correctly Sturgeon Creek Post aka Fort Saskatchewan was down river from Fort Edmonton.



1778

North Saskatchewan River, birth, Bastonnais Pangman, Metis son Peter Pangman (1744-1819) and Cree woman

Seven free-trading partners including Alexander Henry Sr. (1739-1824) and (I)-Thomas Frobisher (1744-1788), at the mouth of the Sturgeon River, pooled their resources and agreed to hire Boston born Peter Pond (1739/40-1807), who was an officer of General Amhurst and who stormed Montreal in 1760), to trade the Athabasca. With four canoes, he would be one of the first French to report on the Athabasca oil sands. He wintered at Pine Lake. On this trip, that lasted until 1779, Peter Pond (1740-1807) virtually traded the shirt off his back and collected so many fine black beaver skins that he had to leave half his load behind. Later, Peter Pond (1739/40-1807) also produced the first known map of Alberta, scrawled in a Quebec bar while soliciting investment capital. It was obvious he collected information from the natives rather than had any first hand knowledge.

The following known traders are on the Saskatchewan River: Blondeau with 6 canoes, McCormick of Ireland with 6 canoes, Gibush (Waden) with 3 canoes, Peter Pangman (1744-1819) a German, some say Dutch, with 5 canoes, Graves of Britain with 5 canoes, Homes of Ireland and Robert Grant of North Briton with 5 canoes between them. This represents some 120-150 men, women, and children.

Laurent Leroux, b-1759 Quebec, died 1854 and Cuthbert Grant, built competing trading posts at Fort Resolution on the south shore of the Great Slave Lake.

Peter Pond (1740-1807) established a trading post on the Athabasca River.

1779

A party of Ojibwa are trading at Sturgeon River and Hudson House on the north Saskatchewan River near what was later Fort Carlton. The Ojibwa of Berens River claimed their ancestors lived west of Lake Winnipeg in the 1770's.

Peter Pond (1740-1807) and six men built a fort at Eagle Hills near Battle River and (I)-William Tomison in the field (1760-1811), an Orkney who replaced (I)-Samuel Hearne (1745-1792), sent (I)-Robert Longmoor up-river, twelve days paddle, against the current to build Hudson House above the Canadians. The H.B.C. were immediately joined by two sets of Canadian traders. (I)-William Tomison in the field (1760-1811), an Orkney that had arrived too late in the season and had to accept a poor unfinished house on loan from Peter Pangman (1744-1819) and the German or Dutch, who then continued to intercept all Native trade. The Indians were determined to direct the buffalo from Hudson House region. They reasoned the English would be unable to procure their own rations and they would acquire all the goods at famine prices. The Cree and Assiniboine set fire to the plains but they drove the buffalo so far a field that they entered into starvation and had to beg the forts for food. Or so reported (I)-Robert Longmoor. William Holmes, with eighteen men, was more blatant and used threat of force to ensure no natives traded with (I)-Robert Longmoor of Hudson Bay Company. It is noteworthy that (I)-Robert Longmoor married an Indian woman. (I)-William Tomison in the field (1760-1811), an Orkney, had instructions from London to build more trading posts. He built his own house called Cumberland House, a thirty-seven by twenty-seven foot structure, including a garden of turnips and radishes.

Peter Pond (1740-1807) grew potatoes and other vegetables at Pond's Fort, 30 miles up the Athabasca River from Lake Athabasca. Excluding unrecorded Metis efforts, this is believed the earliest effort of agriculture in Alberta.

Francois Xavier Finlay (1779-1859), Metis, is born Alberta, brother Jacques Raphael (Jacko & Jocko) Finlay, Metis (1768-1828) son James Finlay and Chippewa Woman



1780

Michael Calihoo, a Metis, two hundred and fifty Iroquois and Metis from Montreal, at the request of some merchants, traveled to the Rocky Mountains to trap and trade furs. Some crossed the mountains, many married native women and some settled near Edmonton (Lac St. Anne alias Devil Lake) including Michael Calihoo's Group.

When Peter Pond (1740-1807), of the General Store Company of Michilimakinac, returned to Athabasca to his winter hut, it still contained over one hundred and forty packs of fur. Not fully appreciating the basic honesty of the Natives he recorded his surprise that they are still intact .

Some contend Rocky Mountain House, aka Poste de la Montagne de Roches, is home to three French trading posts and ten shacks of free traders. Alec Kneau and Alphonse Bouchet are believed among the free traders.

The Pedlars aka Canadians have established fur trading posts on the Athabasca, Slave and Peace Rivers.



1781

Peter Pond named Great Slave Lake after the Awonak or Slave People, so named by the Cree who considered them a servile people.

A smallpox epidemic, from last year, spread as far north as Saskatchewan River system and this year reached the Athabasca region and the Barren Ground, where ninety percent of the Chipewyan in the Barren Ground died.

1782

Joseph Desjarlais, Metis, son Joseph Desjarlais, b-1754, Quebec and Okemakwe; married 1820 Josephte Suzette Cardinal, Metis, b-1800, Lac La Biche daughter Joseph Cardinal, b-1756, Quebec and Lizerre Maskegan a Native.

October: Louis Kwarakwentha Callihoo L'Iroquoise, born October 17, 1782 Quebec and Marie Tekanise Patenaude. They are in Peace River in 1834.

Jasper Alberta's History