"The sites of old posts are to be found all over this region; but
Chipewyan in the beginning of the last century was the great supply and
trading-post of the North-West Company.The site was well chosen, being
sheltered from storms from the lake side by a great bulwark of wooded and
rocky islands. The largest is Potato Island, just opposite, its outliers
being the Calf and English Islands - the Lapeta, Echeranaway and
Theyaodene of the Chipewyans; the Petac, Moostoos and Akayasoo of the
Crees.
Fort Chipewyan stands upon a rising ground fronting a sort of bay
formed by these islands, and at the time of our visit consisted of a
trading-store, several large warehouses and the master's residence,
etc., all of solid timber, erected in the days of Chief-factor MacFarlane,
who ruled here for many years." [continue]
Reprinted from Through the Mackenzie Basin: An Account of
the Signing of Treaty No. 8 and the Scrip Commission, 1899 by Charles
Mair. |