July 29, 2010
 |
Work Centre |
|
Funding |
|
Job Forecasts |
|
Northern Labour Market |
|
Career Resources |
|
Career Offices |
|
Education and Training |
|
Photo Gallery |
 |
Communities Page |
|
Business Directory |
|
Home |
Significant human occupation began in the middle of the 19th century with the arrival of the Rocky or Woods Cree to the Montreal Lake region from Grand Rapids at the northwest end of Lake Winnipeg. According to oral tradition, James bird, his wife, two sons and a nephew followed an old fur trade route that took them northwestward along the Churchill River to Stanley Mission, across Lac La Ronge, and south towards Montreal Lake. In 1820, the Hudson's Bay Company ordered the abandonment of its post at Lac La Ronge to help restore the environment. To survive, the Indians were forced to move into areas like the Montreal Lake region where fur and game animals were still relatively abundant. Prior to 1889, the Woodland Cree did not live year round at one place but instead followed a seasonal pattern of movement that took them to camping spots at Candle Lake, Bittern Lake, Red Deer, Waskesiu Lake, and the north and south ends of Montreal Lake. Trapping areas were organized by individual extended families who established themselves at the various lakes. There were three families that lived at Montreal Lake for any length of time prior to the creation of the reserve. Among these were the William Henderson family, the Thomas Bell family and several families related to James Bird. The abundance of fish and game around Red Deer Lake, however, led James Bird and a small group to take up residence in the first narrows area of that lake. The Narrows soon became a main meeting place for the Cree Indians of the region. These Indians consisted of two groups that eventually became the Montreal Lake Band and the Sturgeon Lake Band, whose trapping territory was to the south of the Narrows. During the winter months, trails were the most efficient ravel routes in the Montreal Lake region. Spring travel over Montreal Lake was difficult because the lake is quite shallow and the ice tends to break up earlier. The Indians traditionally traveled by dog sled in the winter and by canoe in the summer. Montreal Lake became a freighting depot with Prince Albert, Lac La Ronge and other points north. Up until the 1920's all freighting in and out of Montreal Lake was done by teams of horses in the summer and winter. Canoes and York boats were also used in the summer months. Often six or seven teams were seem coming and going each day, occasionally up to 15 teams were reported. Destinations included Big River and Stanley Mission. Airplanes started arriving at Montreal Lake by the end of the 1920's. In 1929, the planes carried forestry officials and fire rangers. In May of 1937 road construction began between Waskesiu and Montreal Lake. Tourists began flowing into Montreal Lake in significant numbers. In the summer of 1398 a survey project began for the highway to Lac La Ronge. Initially, twenty-five to thirty Indians were employed on the project, felling trees to clear the way for the highway. In August 21st Brooks Construction was hired to clear stumps with caterpillar tractors, working well into the late fall. As the highway work intensified less and less members of the Montreal Lake Indian Band were hired on the project. The highway to Lac La Ronge via Montreal Lake was not completed until 1946. The highway had a significant impact on Montreal Lake During the Treaty negotiations of 1889, the Cree stated they were anxious to have a school on their reserve. In the spring of 1891 a log school was constructed on the Montreal Lake Reserve. Source: The Montreal Lake Region: It's History and Geography For a list of businesses in Montreal Lake, click here. For the Environment Canada weather forecast for Montreal Lake, click here. | |||||||
| Todays Picture |
|
Todays
Quote
Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not. -George Bernard Shaw |
| Keewatin Career Development Corporation © 2003 |
Comments and Questions career@kcdc.ca
|