Pioneers and Prominent People of Saskatchewan

 

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The first meeting of this Council was held on March 8th, 1873, and represents the first organized effort to make and administer laws for that vast area of which our Province forms a part.

 

It is interesting at this point to note incidentally the pioneer conditions of the times, as revealed in the circumstance that, in order to attend this meeting of the Council Mr. Christie travelled two thousand miles by dog train from Fort Simpson. We are told that his Half-breed driver walked the entire distance on snowshoes, often, for days at a-time, "making track" ahead of the dogs.

 

 

Of still greater interest is Mr. Christie's report to the Council of the civilizing influences at work among the Indian and Half-breed people at the far-away posts of the North. At Fort Simpson a Mr. Reeve acted in the dual capacity of school teacher and minister of the Anglican Church. It is a matter of history that during the years that have since passed, this reverend gentleman by what he has accomplished in the north lands has made for himself a most distinguished record in the service of the Church to which he belongs. This parson-teacher, of Fort Simpson in 1872, is none other than the Right Reverend W. D. Reeve, Assistant Bishop of Toronto. Mr. Christie further reports~ that similar activities were being prosecuted at Providence and at Isle a la Crosse, under the direction of Sisters of Charity. He told the Council of his extreme satisfaction with the excellent progress made by the Indian and Half-breed children at these two schools.

 

 

A striking confirmation of tills report was given sixteen years later, in 1899, by the Reverend T. W. Ferrier now Principal of the Indian Industrial School at Brandon, who was greatly impressed with the results being accomplished and with the thoroughness of the work being done at Isle a la Grosse. Mr. Ferrier, in that year, before taking charge of the Brandon institution, made a tour of inspection of Indian schools, for his own enlightenment and guidance.

 

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Pioneers and Prominent People of Saskatchewan