Buffalo Spirit

  

My Grandmother is in front, 1st on the left. Taken in LaLoche.

Pelagie Fontaine was born in Fort McMurray to Baptiste Fontaine and Rosalie Janvier.

When she was very young the Fontaine’s travelled east by Canoe to Methye Portage at LaLoche in what was then the North West Territories, now Saskatchewan.  Her father Baptiste had been born in Northern Alberta to Paul Fontaine and Julie Sylvestre. 

Paul was born in the Red River settlement to Jean Baptiste Fontaine and Isabelle Rivard.   Paul, his brother Jerome, and son Baptiste all worked for the Hudson’s Bay company at one time or another, also moving about northern Alberta & Saskatchewan as trappers and free traders. 

Most of the other children of Jean Baptiste and Isabelle remained in the Red River area, though one brother to Paul, Moise took treaty near what is now Winnipeg.  Moise is the Great Grandfather of current Assembly of First Nations Grand Chief, Phil Fontaine.

Grandma McDonald’s mom was Rosalie Janvier, daughter of Paschal Janvier and Francois LeMaigre.  The Janviers originated around Fort McMurray area, and the family travelled back and forth across what is now the Saskatchewan Alberta border in the north.

Grandma was only 14 when a marriage was arranged to Kenneth McDonald who was quite a few years her senior.  Kenneth worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company, as did his father, Ewan McDonald, and an uncle, Archibald McDonald. They had both come over from Scotland, and Archibald was the last HBC Factor in Canada stationed at Fort Qu’Apelle.

Kenneth McDonald, and my Grandma on the left at the time of their wedding.

Kenneth’s mother was Eliza Hunter Murray, daughter of Alexander Hunter Murray, who designed the stone gate at Fort Garry, while he was Chief Factor there.  Eliza was born at Fort Yukon which Alexander established for the HBC.  Alexander was an artist, and many of his drawings are in the HBC archives.  Kenneth’s brothers and sisters had scrip as did Eliza Hunter Murray. 

Kenneth & Blanche McDonald were one of the original settlers in the Northern community of Buffalo Narrows in North Western Saskatchewan.  My mom was born in LaLoche, but grew up in Buffalo.  When my mom was 7 years old Grandpa died of a heart attach, leaving “Mrs McDonald” to raise Alice, Mabel, Gertie, Florence, (my mom) and Norman on her own.

My mom front left, my Auntie Alice and Uncle Norman

My Grandmother passed away on March 31 1998, the day before her 91st birthday.  I grew up in Prince Albert Saskatchewan but have many memories of time spent each summer in Buffalo Narrows.  

I have posted page called a Tribute to Grandma, a poem-story. (on the right under pages) It was written in 1994 and this is the first time I will be publishing it.  She never did see it, because she was a pretty humble person but I wish I would have shared it with her so she new how much she meant to me.   I think, my Pride in being Metis started with my Grandma.