September 03, 2010
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By the mid 1790's the Dene established the southern boundaries of their territory along the Churchill River, Peter Pond Lake and the Clearwater River. Trading was done at Ile a la Crosse although they seldom remained for long periods of time. During the 18th and 19th centuries, a number of trading posts were established by Lake La Loche by the tow rivals, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company. These posts served as fur trade outlets and supply or provisional depots. The twelve mile long portage La Loche or Methye Portage was heavily travelled for over a century by fur traders and explorers crossing the two great waterways. The missionaries followed the traders and by 1895 were permanently settled in West La Loche. The Catholic mission has played a strong role in the community, providing religion, education and health care to the people. Many of the names of La Loche families are derived from French backgrounds. Following the establishment of the Roman Catholic Mission large migrations of Dene people occurred to larger fixed settlements. West La Loche was the largest settlement with as many as thirty houses present. After the fire of the Hudson's Bay Company store in 1937 which was never rebuilt, families moved across the lake to the present site of La Loche. A new store and school were established in the present townsite in 1940 and a convent and hospital constructed in 1943. It was not until 1962-63 an all weather road from the South connected La Loche and yet not until 1974 dial telephone services were available. A new provincial school opened in 1963. Later there would be two schools, an elementary school, Ducharme Elementary School, and a secondary high school, Dene High School to accommodate increasingly high enrolments. These schools have now joined to form the La Loche Community School with two campuses. An RCMP detachment was established in 1967. Government services such as housing, roads, electricity, sewer and water have greatly intensified since 1972 when the Department of Northern Saskatchewan was formed. Located over 400 miles north of Saskatoon, La Loche is the most northern and largest of communities along highway 155 on the West side. Approximately 75 air miles to the West lies Fort McMurray, Alberta. The north some 130 air miles is the Key Lake uranium minesite. The population of La Loche has been increasingly in size since the late seventies and eighties. There are scenic routes around the area of lakes and rivers. With a combination of treaty and non-Treaty Indians residing in the village. The village is government by a local community authority serving to pass bylaws and control services and programs. Modern services of sewer and water, television, telephone enables the community of technological advances and conveniences. The arrival of the fur trade had a dramatic impact. La Loche was a favored geographic location because of its strategic location as a gateway to the Athabascan region, a region rich in natural resources. Peter Pond's arrival in 1778 paved the way for other fur traders. The first missionary, Abbe Thibault arrived in 1845. The fur trade brought with it, devastating consequences for the traditional social and economic practices of the Dene. Self sufficiency was transformed into dependency and an artificial economy based primarily on welfare was created. The population of the village and the vicinity adjacent to the village is estimated to be about 2,300. In addition, there are some 450 members of the Clearwater River Dene Nation who live on a reserve immediately adjacent to the village. An estimated 200 Dene Nation members live in the village itself. Many federal and provincial government departments maintain offices in La Loche. There is adequate sewer and water facilities, grocery, confectionery and Northern Stores. Also there is a liquor store, policing services, post office, an adult training center and a community rink. There is a local hospital, the La Loche Health Centre. The community has two local doctors serving on a rotating basis. La Loche is accessible by an all-weather provincial highway which runs northwest from Meadow Lake through Ile a la Crosse and Buffalo Narrows. There are no scheduled air services although charter companies fly into La Loche. The nearest bank is Buffalo Narrows. La Ronge and Meadow Lake provide weekly newspaper services of interest and newsworthy events. For a list of businesses in La Loche, click here. | |||||||
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