September 03, 2010
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Such traders of the West were Patrick Small with a vision of a bright future, endeavored to pursue his luck as trader. He married a Cree woman and they were blessed with two children. The hospitality and acceptance of the community was an added bonus for Patrick Small. The Northwest Company emerged in the northern Saskatchewan. Competition soon arrived in the pursuit of the fur trade. Alexander Mackenzie established another trading center, the XY Company, along with his cousin, Roderick. Life in Ile a la Crosse assumed the peaceful and productive occupation of what the land had to offer. Families grew and marriages occurred between cultures. In the fall of 1790 a party led by Peter Fidler, Malcolm Ross and Philip Tunor arrived at Ile a la Crosse. They had to be aided by Patrick Small for assistance in provisions. They stayed for the winter, building houses in the yard of the trading post. Today, nearly two hundred years later, the Roman Catholic Mission stands on this very ground. Patrick Small spend seven seasons in the past of Ile a la Crosse decided to retire from the fur trade and left. Due to the unacceptance of marriages of Indian women to the whites, Patrick left his wife and two children behind. It was uncommon for women to be abandoned with children even during the very early years. As disease ravaged the nation, many people died of the flu in 1781. There was much dissension among the trading with trade goods being in minimum state of offerings. David Thompson arrived on September 6, 1798 to the new post of the Northwest Company. Not only did the fur trade flourish again but also agriculture became significant for survival. While in Ile a la Crosse, David Thompson married Charlotte Small. The first daughter of the settlement had married, marking an important tradition. On August 23, 1799, William Auld landed in the settlement, a Hudson Bay Company man, establishing a trading house. They did not stay long as they were sought as intruders. In 1809, Peter Fidler arrived with over fifteen men to re-establish the Hudson's Bay Company post. Much opposition arose from the Northwest Company. In the end, with all the turmoil and fighting of the two companies, they merged as one, Revillon Freres. Many of the French and English who sought the riches of the northwest found wives, thus the emergence of the Metis occurred. Voyageurs, traders, trappers and explorers all took wives and opened generations of another heritage. Some of the roots for Ile a la Crosse families were found in the Northwest Company journals of 1804, such as: Charou, Boucher, Paul, Cardinal, Dionne, Bleanger, Gerard, Daigneault, Lariviere, Larocque, Bruce, Desrosiers, Caisse, Raymond, Laliberte, Lemay, Lachance, England, Bouvier, Moreau, Aubin, Carpenter, Desjarlais, Lepine, Piche, Roy, Primeau, Majeau, Laporte, Loyer, Lavallee. September 10, 1846 saw the arrival of Fathers LaFleche and Tache along the docks of the Hudson's Bay Company at Ile a la Crosse. Roderick Mackenzie offered his own buildings to these missionaries. Thus the establishment of Chateau Saint Jean began. As it grew in size work was required by women. The Sisters of Charity arrived, Sisters Agnes, Pepin and Boucher. On October 6, the sisters opened their doors of Saint Bruno with services of medical and school of 25 boarding students. Sister Sara Riel became a member of the mission in 1871 and served the school and hospital until 1883 at the time of her passing. The first Metis to enter the order. The Catholic faith rose and grew in abundance. People travelled many miles to celebrate mass. The sisters left Ile a la Crosse due to unsuitable working conditions of weakened buildings due to floods. In 1911, a newcomer, Father Marius Rossignol arrived in Ile a la Crosse to become pastor for the mission. The Grey nuns returned in 1917 to occupy the posts as medical workers and teachers. However, the convent was destroyed by fire on April 1, 1920. It was rebuilt only to be destroyed by fire again in 1925. It was rebuilt. Today, the growth continues. A school gives memory to Fr. Rossignol, who died in 1961. A hall bears the name of Tache, co-founder of the mission. History survives and will continue to be made. Further history encompassed the Metis leader, Louis Riel. His father, Jean Baptiste Riel, voyageur for the Northwest Company of Quebec and Marguerite Boucher, a young Dene woman of Ile a la Crosse, married. The older generation still partakes in the practice of curing and tanning hides. Many of the younger generation prefer the commercially tanned hides. The lake still serves the people substinence and recreation. It provides the people with income although not solely relied upon. Some trapping is still attempted. The bush or forest also provides a means of livelihood. Much of the shopping for clothing and food is done in Meadow Lake or Prince Albert although essentials can be bought at the local establishments. A courtyard surrounds the RCMP station. Officers maintain law and order. Court services are conducted on a monthly basis. The old Hudson's Bay Company store is now home to a restaurant and poolroom. An old age home provides a quite place for the elders of the village. They keep each other company visiting, playing bingo or cards and other recreational events. A local government building is situated close by. This is where all the decisions of the leaders takes place. As well a community library is situated in this building. A log cabin serves the purpose of the Metis Society. A long building houses the Co-op store. Food, dry goods, and hardware are the main goods of the business. The massive structure of the village is the school, designed by Metis architect, Douglas Cardinal. Pre school to grade twelve education is available. Ile a la Crosse is donned by new homes, cable television, education, church, government, locally controlled education, traditional lifestyles with a special past working towards the future. For a list of businesses in Île-à-la-Crosse, click here. For more information about Île-à-la-Crosse, click here to see the website of the Île-à-la-Crosse school division. | |||||||
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