Pioneer Life in the Early 1900 s

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Lucinda Sullivan
5 years ago
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Nations people. Making a living in the West in those days was quite different from farming or city living in Quebec.

First Nations people were wonderful workers so they were hired out to help open the land.

Pioneer Life in the Early 1900 s Life for the early pioneers was much about survival and the fact that they not only succeeded but thrived, is due in large part to the good rapport they had with the

1 Nations people. Making a living in the West in those days was quite different from farming or city living in Quebec. There was much to be learned about this new way of life in very unfamiliar surroundings. It is from First Nations people that early settlers learned to fish, to hunt, to trap and much more. First Nations people were wonderful workers so they were hired out to help open the land. They would pitch their tent near a farmer s property and then spend the summer cutting down trees and clearing a piece of land for future crop growing. Pioneer Life in the Early 1900 s Life for the early pioneers was much about survival and the fact that they not only succeeded but thrived, is due in large part to the good rapport they had with the First At harvest time the faithful hired hands were again the native people. They would stook the grain after cutting and during threshing they would haul the sheaves of grain to the threshing machine with their hay racks and team of horses. They were part of the family for the time of harvest and their help was much appreciated. Hospitality was another welcome aspect shared with the First Nations people. One particular pioneer, who was a carpenter by trade, went as far as Edmonton to find work. He and one of his older daughters would walk to Edmonton. It goes without saying that it took them a few days to get there. They would stop along the way and stay with First Nations people they had come to know. One story relates that during supper one night the daughter said to her dad in French, Elle est bonne la galette de la madame The lady s biscuits are very good. Many years later the native lady, now living in the Cold Lake lodge, related the story to a granddaughter of the pioneer. It so happened that she knew French and had understood the girl s comment! Many more stories of mutual help and sharing could be related. Indeed much is owed to the First Nations people by the first White settlers, starting with sharing the missionary priest and welcoming the newcomers into the faith community. 1

In 1918 the saw mill produced 140,000 feet of lumber.

The saw mill also provided the lumber for the construction of the second Roman Catholic church built in 1918.

The soil being rich and fertile crops were very good.

2 Cold Lake Development Company Ltd. with Father Délabre as manager, brought the first sawmill in the area into existence in In 1918 the saw mill produced 140,000 feet of lumber. A contract to construct fishing boxes was later given to the company. The saw mill also provided the lumber for the construction of the second Roman Catholic church built in Once settled on their homesteads, people started clearing and breaking the land. The soil being rich and fertile crops were very good. The land was first broken using a one blade plough pulled by oxen or later on by horses. The first threshing was done by hand the grain put on the ground and was beaten using a flail. Later a threshing machine, borrowed from the First Nations and it was entrusted to the Bérubé and Trudel families. It was powered by four oxen harnessed to a wheel which by being rotated turned the strap leading to the threshing machine. Opening land later on with a tractor 2

Balanced nutrition was arrived at by hunting wild game and fishing. Moose and deer roamed in great number but were not always easy to hunt.

Area residents relied on fishing, the crops they harvested, large gardens and hunting to live.

Later this fish, especially the white and the trout, was sold commercially. At the time some of the trout weighed as much as 80 pounds. It was the most common catch at the time. Threshing time!

A jigger was used to string a line under the ice from one hole to another some three hundred yards apart. This line was then attached to the net and it was pulled under the ice.

3 Balanced nutrition was arrived at by hunting wild game and fishing. Moose and deer roamed in great number but were not always easy to hunt. Thick wooded areas provided ideal hiding places for this game making it very difficult for those who hunted them, especially that often the hunters were not familiar with hunting in the first place. Area residents relied on fishing, the crops they harvested, large gardens and hunting to live. To supplement the income fish was peddled by horse team south as far as Kitscoty and Vermilion and east into Saskatchewan. Most of the fishing was done in the winter. Later this fish, especially the white and the trout, was sold commercially. At the time some of the trout weighed as much as 80 pounds. It was the most common catch at the time. Threshing time! Stooking grain cut with a binder Fishing nets were made of linen and cotton and had to be repaired often. A jigger was used to string a line under the ice from one hole to another some three hundred yards apart. This line was then attached to the net and it was pulled under the ice. Nets were then attached at both ends to pegs driven in the ice. The nets were left overnight and the next day the fisherman would pull them out, clear them of the fish that had become trapped in the nets and then the nets were re-set for another catch. For many years fishing was the main winter industry for the area. Ice fishing on Cold Lake Fishing in later years Trapping for furs was done by many also, mostly by men who had no families. For the First Nations people this was their livelihood, as well as making clothes from the hides of many animals. The sale of moccasins to the white people was very popular, too. Trapping in the early years was very popular in the Beaver Crossing area, near the river. The animals trapped were the fox, lynx, otter, martin, 3

muskrat, weasel, mink, wolves, and beaver. Coyotes and squirrel were also plentiful but in those days their fur was of very little worth. The sale of other furs was of great value.

Later horses replaced the oxen and this was a lot faster. In the winter time dog trains were used by many. The first automobile purchased arrived in the area in 1915.

4 muskrat, weasel, mink, wolves, and beaver. Coyotes and squirrel were also plentiful but in those days their fur was of very little worth. The sale of other furs was of great value. Trapping was done much as it still is today except that snares and jump traps were allowed. Going to Church In the early days the means of transport was mostly with oxen and wagon. Later horses replaced the oxen and this was a lot faster. In the winter time dog trains were used by many. The first automobile purchased arrived in the area in Only the privileged could afford such a luxury! To those of us reading about the life of our ancestors, life in those days may appear harsh, cruel even, but these folks were very courageous and did what they needed to survive. In spite of the difficulties encountered each day they found ways of getting enjoyment out of life. On Sunday they gathered in each others homes and made music, played cards or just talked about events of the past week. There was a great deal of neighbourly exchange of labor, someone needed help with a particular chore, and neighbors lent a hand. This was eventually paid back in the same manner. Life was different then, but no less worthwhile! So to our treasured pioneers we say, thank you for teaching us that hardship can be overcome. May we always have the courage to follow in your footprints! 4

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Wisconsin s Fur Trade Impact Definition: Impact on Native people Impact on Environment Impact on Economy

Wisconsin s Fur Trade Impact Definition: Important early business involving Native people trading beaver, mink, and otter pelts to European traders for blankets, brass cooking pots, metal axes, woolen