Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Duncan Tustawits

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Duncan Tustawits, Tastatoots, Testawich

PRMA 76.689.39 - Photograph taken 100 miles north of Peace River Crossing (no date available): Duncan Testawits on dog sled with Dr. Bayfield in foreground.

Duncan Tustawits, first Headman of the Duncan’s Band was one of the signatories of the second signing of Treaty 8, witnessed by North West Mounted Police Sgt. K.F. Anderson. Duncan signed on behalf of the Cree population of the Peace River Crossing district, July 1, 1899. He was a capable ambassador of his people, speaking Cree, Beaver, French, English and Chippewa.

The Duncan’s Band in 1899 had 46 members. By 1900, it had grown to 67 members. Today the Duncan’s Reserve population is 101





The 1918 flu epidemic took many lives, though no figures are known, including all but two sons and one daughter of the 18 children of he and his wife. Duncan also succumbed to influenza in 1918 at the approximate age of 70.



The well-respected band Headman farmed on River Lot 1 at the western end of the Shaftesbury Trail and was a familiar figure in the White Swan and Griffith Creek Districts. He was reputed to have been a good farmer and a supporter of education. To the latter end, his children attended school the Anglican Christ Church Mission on Shaftesbury Trail.




His farming enterprise included a large herd of horses, which is said to have supplied the equine needs of many area settlers.



The Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre invites readers to provide it with any more information or photographs you may have of Duncan Testawits and his family. The Museum may be reached at (780) 624-4261 and e-mail: museum@peaceriver.net



Source: Brick’s Hill, Berwyn and Beyond, a history of Berwyn and District; On the North Trail, the Treaty 8 Diary of O.C. Edwards

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - The St. Germains

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Joseph Simon St.Germain and Charles St. Germain

PRMA 75.655.001 - (L) Joseph (Joe) and (r) Charles (Charlie). Date and place of photograph unknown.

Joseph [1874 – 1959] and Charles St. Germain [1874 – 1958], twin sons of Charles and Angelique (Lafournaise) St. Germain, settled with their family along Shaftesbury Trail on River Lot 39 in 1894.

Charles Sr. was among the last of the buffalo hunters whose expeditions took him into Montana and Minnesota. He was also reported to have been quite a rum-runner in his time.
The St. Germain family raised livestock, crops and a huge garden. The farm was a well-known Stopping Place for weary travellers.
The tradition of hosting a mocchigan – food, good fellowship, music and dancing – provided ample opportunities for Charles and his brother to learn to play musical instruments.

Joseph

Joseph, known by some as “Little Smilin’ Joe” because of his easy-going manner and kind disposition, married Elizabeth Louise McKenzie, daughter of Alex McKenzie at the St. Augustine Mission Chapel in 1903.
In the winter months of 1907 to 1910, Joseph hauled freight for Revillion Freres, but eventually he and Elizabeth settled in West Peace on their land grant property.
The Joseph St. Germains had eight children. Only four lived to adulthood – Edmond, Thomas, Philomene Riley and Ruth Gardner
Joseph was a fine fiddler and played for many dances and parties in the Shaftesbury and Strong Creek districts.

Charles

Charles married Maria McAllister in 1895. They had 15 children of which nine lived to adulthood.
Charles, known for his log-building skills, built the church at Dunvegan, as well as the surrounding buildings. The family farmed in the area later known as St. Germain Lakes in the Chinook Valley area and Shaftesbury.

Source: I Remember, Peace River and Adjacent Districts – 1800s-1913 (Part 1); Peace River Remembers; Caron Riley

Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace - Angelique IsKwesis

For those of you who missed out on our wonderful articles published in the Record Gazette, they will be re-posted here for your enjoyment. We will be posting one every day this week:

The "Aboriginal Pioneers of the Peace" is a feature written by Beth Wilkins, Curatorial Assistant and Researcher, in conjunction with the Museum's Treaty 8 Exhibit on display until the end of August. The articles have also been published on the Community Page of the Peace River Record-Gazette.

Angelique IsKwesis (Chickalee) – “A Real Friend”

PRMA 73.531.071

Chickalee was familiar to the people of Peace River. This short, determined Beaver Indian woman was often seen walking along Peace River streets wearing a long black dress, tied at the waist by a cord, a black hat and moccasins. She was in town on her way to purchase her meagre supplies from J.D. Levesque’s store. After her purchases and talking to J.D., who spoke Cree, one would see her sitting in front of his store smoking a pipe.

She was a mysterious soul, who suffered ridicule and harassment. With all of the disrespect shown her, she also commanded the friendship of others. “I forget how you say ‘real friend’ in Cree, but Chickalee did have a lot of them in the Peace River Country,” says columnist R.C. Colmer in an April 1984 newspaper article.

Angelique (Chickalee) was Number 28 to accept Treaty (8) with the Peace River Crossing Band in July 1899. There is speculation regarding the origin of the name Chickalee – some say it is a derivative of Pi-chickleese – good-natured – jolly, while others suggest it means “tiny one”.

Regardless, she was a woman of character.

She was married twice – first to Guillaume Bell in the mid-1800s – then, as his widow, married Jean Baptiste (Johnny) LePretre, July 5, 1914, at St. Augustine Mission, Shaftesbury Trail, about which there was a recollection of an auspicious occasion at which people from all over came by various means of transportation. There was even a gun salute and “much merry-making.”
Johnny died in 1923.

Chickalee, as far as is known bore only one child – Louise in 1893 – the first student to attend St. Augustine Mission School.

Angelique (Chickalee) IsKwesis Bell Le Pretre died at Hotel Dieu Hospital, Whitelaw, Dec. 23, 1958 – age 108. She rests in Peace River’s Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Sources: Peace River Remembers; Caron Riley; Record-Gazette

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

Have you ever wondered what that fine looking fort-type building across the Heart River was?

Well, wonder no more thanks to the Museum's helpful and handsome new sign!

A special thanks must go out to the kind folks at Public Works who did such a top notch job on hanging our illustrious new signage.

"What's Your Story?"

We're proud to announce the winner of our 2nd Annual Historical Digital Photography Contest: Six-year-old Sasha Marceau!



Sasha is pictured here with our judges Jason Smirl (local photographer) and Beth Wilkins (Researcher and photographer) and with our contest producer Ken Staicesku (co-owner of family owned Foto Source).

The theme of this year's contest was "What's Your Story?" and challenged the young photographers to explore their family history and the history surrounding them in the Peace Region.

The winning photograph:

Who Sat There? by Sasha Marceau

The judges were impressed with Sasha's composition skills and the haunting human element of the lone chair sitting empty by the abandoned building near Mairie Reine.

Sasha is the winner of a $100 gift certificate for Foto Source in the Riverdrive Mall, Peace River.

The winning photo and those of the other talented entrants are on display now at the Peace River Museum. Check out these talented young photographers and their unique vision of our community's history.

Our Visit to Lac Cardinal!

This week some of our staff members went on a field trip to the Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum (just outside of Grimshaw) to discover some of the adventures available in our own backyard.


Lac Cardinal's Pioneer Village Museum is truly one of the Peace Country's hidden treasures. It is a unique opportunity to wander down a Main Street and Farm of a typical small town in the 1920's - 1940's.


There really is no better way to experience the Peace Region's history than to walk through the Pioneer Village.


All of the buildings, businesses and homes are open for visitors to walk through and are brimming with interesting artifacts, antiques and curios from the past. The General Store is stocked with every odd and end that the enterprising pioneer would ever need.


Buildings like the bakery, Strong Creek Hall, MD Office, and Post Office are full of period detail. When you step inside charming Hassell School (above) you can almost see the students pledging their allegiance to Queen and country.


The former Worsley Catholic Church even has a working church bell with a wonderful sound.


This is the Old Cook Shack which functioned as cook's quarters and a kitchen and a mess hall for the threshing crews - all in this tiny little trailer!


There are plenty of opportunities to interact with artifacts, including this stereoscope (a retro Victorian 3D picture device).


Some historical gas prices (56 cents a gallon!).


This blacksmith's shop has a collection of hand crafted tools donated by a local blacksmith who created every one of his tools for each job that he performed.


The Museum is built and maintained by a passionate group of volunteers. We would like to thank our informative and entertaining guide, Selma (the Pioneer Village's Collection Manager) who is standing on the left with our Archivist, Wendy.


Admission to the Pioneer Village is free (Although donations are appreciated). Its location next to Queen Elizabeth Park makes it an ideal place to spend an afternoon of exploration during this coming long weekend.

The Museum is open 11 - 5 p.m until mid-September.

For more information, call the Pioneer Museum at 332-2030.

Membership Drive 2008

Our 2008 Membership Drive began this August and has already met with an enthusiastic response!

A membership to the Peace River Museum entitles the bearer to free admission throughout the year, invitations to opening receptions and special events, a subscription to the Museum's newsletter and the satisfaction of helping to ensure the preservation of Peace River's history for future generations.

Bessie (a porcelain cow creamer hailing from Scotland, c. 1911) models with the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre's 2008 Membership Card.

There are three different types of memberships for Bessie (and others) to choose from:

Individual Membership - $8
Family Membership (For 1-2 Adults and their children) - $15
Grand Family Membership (For 1-2 Adults and their grandchildren) - $15

Memberships can be purchased at the Museum with cheque or cash or at the Town Office with a debit card.

Membership are available year round and make a wonderful gift for the historically inclined individual or family.

Thank You to the Peace River Heritage Run

Photo by Beth Wilkins

A special thanks to the participants and volunteers of this year's Peace River Heritage Run who helped raise $1000 for the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre on their annual run which took place this July 15th.

Lynn Page-Scott at the Finish Line Photo by Beth Wilkins

More than 75 runners and walkers participated in a 5 km or 10 km run. There were two school as well as business relay teams. The first place runner in the 10 km event was Andrea Taylor, with a time of 43 minutes 40 second. Nathan Fyfe won the 5 km run in an impressive 18 minutes and 48 seconds.

Cara Gangnon in the lead Photo by Beth Wilkins

The Peace River Museum and Archives deeply appreciates the efforts and continued support of the Peace River Running Club. Year after year, their runners and volunteers have transformed the Heritage Run into a much anticipated event in Peace River and a joy for all participants.

We look forward to next year's run!

Superb Heritage Day at the Museum

Glorious summer weather, entertaining guides and adventurous walkers all helped to make the Museum's Heritage Day Celebrations a marked success.

An excellent turnout of curious ramblers were treated to fact and folklore provided by our fantastic guides: Beth, Laura and Adele. Each brought the river, hills and downtown of Peace River to life, much to the delight of our intrepid visitors.

A special congratulations to the lucky winner of our draw, Debora Reath, who was the recipient of an adventure backpack supplied by the staff of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

After this week's positive results, the Museum is considering offering more guided walking tours throughout the year and possibly publishing brochures to conduct your own self-guided walking tours through Peace River. Let us know what you think at Museum@peaceriver.net or in the comments field.

And a big thanks to all our Walkers and Talkers!