the Winisk River

Winisk River.
Information
Background
Don. E. Pugh.
April 30. 1971.
Report.
INTRODUCTION.
The Winisk River is the first
major river
coast of Hudson Bay north of Cape Henrietta
250 nile
on the west
Maria.
The river’s
26,000 square miles of muske interlaced
lenwth drains
with shallow
lakes.
eskers and ancient
sand beaches.
to the river
is by air to the Ojibwa village
Access
of Webequle or
to the villap,e of Winisk.
Historically
a variety
Winisk Lake was accessible
of long wilderness
to reach Attawapiskat
canoe routes.
Lake either
Otoskwin fliver to Lake Ozhiski,
by canoe through
The first
by Lake St. Joseph.
step is
the
or from Fort Hope on Fabamet
Lake to Opikeigen, Kenozhe,k Mackawalan and Hail Lake.
Attawapiskat
Lake the canoe routes
through Rowlands,
Mameigwess, Mistassin,
Winisk Lake is also accessible
Rivers.
Zionz.
lies
to Winisk lake
Wapitotem River.
via the Winisk or Attawapiskat
Wunnummin Lake is accessible
Cat,Kinlock
north
from Lake St.
Joseph via
Lakes and the Morris and Pipestone
Lake St. Joseph is accessible
From
Rivers.
from road access at Sioux Lookout
via Lac Seul arid the Root River or the Marchinptbori River.
Hooker and Miniss Lake route.
BACKGROUND.
There is a fundamental
resources
oeist.
to the rivers
Bedrock ceology,
connection
with potential
physiography,
of the land and its
for the wilderness
drainage
patterns,
can
-
--
2.
climate
temperature,
rainfall,
patterns
and soils
determine mineral,
tial
ice conditions
as elements of the physical
awricultural,
forest
and flora and fauna ecological
hinterland
centres
to penetrate,
dams, mining,
now dot rivers
with resources
access
on these rivers
and waterpower poten
complexes.
have invested
locate
Hydra-electric
isolation
environment
The abundance
in turn have determined
and value of’ these resources
to which metropolital
vegetational
and exploit
capital
the degree
in the
these resources.
pulp and paper and lumber camps
in northern Ontario.
is ended.
Wilderness
The difficulties
of
to the Winisk River however combined with a scarcity
of timber and mineral resources
the area enerally
undeveloped
many miles of wilderness
by man.
travel
as a formula for wilderness
and a harsh climate
has left
The river still
through white flecked
offers
rapids
adventure.
GEOLOGICAL HISTORY.
Glaciation
course,
was primarily
responsible
the nature of the landscape
and fauna.
From one million
swept by massive glaciers
The most recent
and the potential
to 10,000 B.C.
the landscape
marks and tail
to the earth’s
terpied the Precambrian Shield.
last advRnce wass South south west as indicated
chatter
occasions.
the Wisconsin advanced and retreated
and grinding
basement complex of rock,
for flora
Hudson’s Bay was
on four widely separated
glaciation,
numerous times scourinu
for the Winisk River’s
sculpturing.
The
by striae,
With the initial
retreat
C
3.
of glaciers
towards the termination
era around 9.000 B.C.
much as it
the Uplands of the Winisk River emerged
is to-day.
dip to northwards.
This area was quite
Flevation
feet above seatevel.
of the Pleistocene
flat
was between 1000 to 1.200
Depressions
in the rock became tilled
with numerous small shallow
ponds and lakes
at times by small streams.
Generally
of glacial
drift
formed the highest
elevations
Upper Winisk the river ran eastward
of zig-zags.
The lake-like
linked
together
however accumulations
the shapes of the lakes and the direction
series
with a slight
like
and defined
of rivers.
the drift
expansions
On the
in a
conformed
remarkable way to the course of moratnic ridges
in a
of drift.
The long narrow bays of the lakes are on the same trends
the drift
ridaes
south west.
that
Drainage was disrupted
Simply collected
melting retreating
till.
What soil developed
reached
formed the basis
was podzolic
latitude
depression
This flowed north
by the
for vegetation
with poor fertility.
52 near the mouth of
the Winisk River vast amounts of water was releasedky
melting.
Water
Soil had been
and sand and gravel deposited
glaciers
As the glaciers
east and south
by the glacial
and remained on the land.
removed by glaciation
growth.
bound them --North north
as
into Hudson’s Bay.
by their
With the
of the land caused by the enormous weight of the
ice on the earth’s
from 7.000 to ,000
land gradually
of approximately
crust flooding
B.C.
of the lowland region occurred
The removal of the ice caused the
to rebound to its original
height at the rate
two feet per century.
This process continues
-
ii-.
to-day.
Sand beaches many miles inland
the retreat
are indications
of
of the salt water sea.
Left behind by the seas on the Lowlands was a wide
plain of marine clay, shells,
drift,
and silt
mired with glacial
some one hundred feet thick and broken by low stratified
sand ridges,
terraces and druslina.
The monotonous gentle
decline of the Lowlands extended out under James Bay creating
shoals and tides which in Spring and Neap periods range out
over a distance of two to six miles, revealing when low, a
broad intertidal
silt
zone with a firm, level well rippled sandy
or clay bottom sprinkled
The swift tidal currents
liberally
with glacial
boulders.
have cut the Winiek River mouth
into a funnel shape, while the turbid current of the Winisk
River itself
shallow I.t.t
has created a twenty four mile long ribbon like
delta with a mosaic of elongated islands and a
maze of sand bars
river banks.
*
intricately
intertwined
channels and collapsing
These channels frequently become trickles
in late summer or are severely re8trioted
of water
in width and depth.
The Winisk River is generally shallow, wide and rapid over
its lower course with a depth in many places of only a few
feet of water over the paleozoic limestone ledges.
There is
a tendency for the Winisk to split up into two or more channels
as exemplified by Winiskisie and T-basokwia channels whioh flow
around islands of L8O and 180 square miles respectively.
There are no rapids tttt
on the Winisk until the confluence
of the Winisk with Tabasokwta Channel.
the coastline
itself
is monotonously regular with a tack
5.
of seabeaches
due to the lack of lane waves.
wide intertidal
belt
of brackish water,
between the land and the sea with pools
a few inches deep and two to sixty yards
The area is covered
in diameter with bottoms of slimy mud.
or water carried
by sprizw tides
winds.
Inland
is a belt rarely
reached
Ericactous
peat predominate.
leatherleaf,
firm land.
plants
sheep-laurel
process of converting
marshes
pan-like
and muske and
such as sphagnum, labrador
and are in the slow
thrive
into bogs and eventually
into
Water trapped
boulder clay forms shallow marsh and muskeR
broken by oceasional
gravel
eskers and sand ridges
of the old
Sea.
The Winisk is a young river
geologically
and is gradually
its way through the boulder clays of Pleistocene
to the paleozoic
and mesozoic sediments which lie
The lower Winisk lacks wide valleys.
trench little
flows,
by high tides
The Lowlands are smooth and flat.
by impervious
cutting
by strong northern
The Lowlands is poorly drained
depressions.
Tyrrell
inland
of crecked dry mud bottoms of shallow
consisting
tea.
There is a
Mclnnis notes.
steep like
the stiff
stands
the sides
is restricted
usual network of streams.
walls,
feet,
which
raw and
house foundation,
primarily
Other rivers
flow north and parallel
in which it
for forty
of a newly excavated
hundred yards on each side.
wenerally
tough till
up in nearly vertical
Drainawe into the river
beneath.
Rather it occupies a
wider than the immdediate channel
cut through
deposit
to a few
and tributaries
to the Winisk, without
the
-4
6.
CLIMATE.
The temperature
tong cold winters
beginning
of the Winisk area is continental
and short
Late May is the
cool simmers.
of summer and late September of winter.
and the breakup,
with
With Spring
the Winisk River is in flood some ten
time. its average autumn size.
The powerful destructive
force of the ice going downstream in spring is evident on
th. trees and shoreline along the River. Temperatures during
the Bummer average in the high forties
or low fifties.
At
Wthisk temperatures rise to 600 1. on half the summer days.
Temperature exceeds 90° in about one year in tour.
is frost
in all
months but July.
exceed 30 to eO inches annually.
the rainest
falls
months.
as a drizzle
Precipitation
does not
August and September are
During the height
*S the summer rain
which may last for a day or two at a
Sometimes rain comes at intervals
time.
There
sky is frequently overcast.
Winds vax
in showers.
The
in directions.
Snowfall
cones in early September but does not remain until November.
VEGETATTON.
Water distribution,
growth.
The intertidal
vegetation
ferns,
soils
and climate
determine vegetation
zone supports a sparse h&tophytic
which gradually
merges with a dense growth of
herbs and abundant marsh grass which covers a wide
strip inland from the Bay.
of dead cattaile,
The area is characterized
by patches
the lack or trees and rotting driftwood
left by Spring tides.
The marshes gradually give way to straggling
bushes such as cranberry, gooseberry, currant and heatherberry
7.
at the outer borders of a black spruce forest.
Three to four
miles
grows along
inland
from the sea a black boreal forest
the Winisk River alluvial
banks and on elevated
esker and sand
ridwes.
Over most of the 4area excess water interferes
aeration
and nitrification
of veetable
matter.
over the mineral
of soil and checks decomposition
A thick spongy spawnum 1aYer
soil.
with
Poor soil
has developed
and the cold climate restricts
tree growth to black spruce and tamarok in a very
stunted
form, seldom over 10 feet with two inch trunks.
Growth is
at a very slow rate for as long as one hundred and
fifty years.
The lowland forest
has a characteristic
appearance.
The long lower branches ppread over the ground cover.
The spagnum floss build up around these lower branches
which take root and grow, producing in time a spearate
tree.
This layerin process continues, gradually
developing into a thick circular cltmp of scrub browth,
the tallest trees in the centre of the clump and the
recent layering growth on the outside giving a roughly
cone-shaped outline,
On the uplands
larch
balsam fir,
white spruce,
and cedar are also located.
Leaves generally
the last week of Nay to the fourth
leaves are formed.
week of June.
daisy,
rose,
and purple vetches.
By 1 July
raspberry,
out in strong
the
blue flag,
pyr9la,
twin
yellow ragwort,
painted
curs
Along the banks of the Winisk River
grass and small bushes thrive as well as the silver
buffle verry.
emerge in
Flowers occur in July and brighten
landscape with b’ooms of bunchberry,
flower,
banksian pine,
The snow-white
contrast
foliage
and
of the former stands
with the dark green leaves and red
berries
of the latter.
berries
ripen in the later
By ugust
redweed is in bloom.
part of July.
and goose berry are two of the first
The
The skunk currant
followed
in August by
a
8.
others such as the bake-apple,
of
the end
September all
bearberry
and raspberries.
By
the leaves have changed.
PAtINA.
Fauna reflect
the habitat.
Such mammals as caribou,
moose and bear are found throuflout
where aquatic
beaver,
vegetation
fisher,
trapped by the
redpoll,
chickadee
muskrat,
and ermine are
arouse,
ruffled
grouse,
Crow aM snow buntinR
the pin tail,
blue winged and teal.
the middle of April.
later.
jay.
of the Winisk
otter,
squirrel
Fowl include
Ducks include
green winged, mallard,
Mink,
marten,
and the ay
appear in summer.
around
thrives.
fox, lynx,
Tnnians.
the length
black,
These arrive
The Canada and blue geese follow
Snow and blue geese thrive
on berries
and wild rice
of the Hudson Ray marsh while ducks and Canada geese land on
the lakes of the Winisk uplands.
After
numbers decrease
migration
Fall.
until
the return
the Spring period
the
of the fowl in the
There is a more abundant bird supply in the autumn
because of the natural
successful
increase in population
completion of nesting.
wrote thnt the northern
so that when they rise
rivers
from the
Indeed early
explorers
"appear white with their
numbers"
they "darken the sky."
FISH.
Yellow perch,
whitefish
and walleye
Winisk flyer
northern
northern
system.
pike, white sucker,
are wide ranging throughout
Except for sturgeon,
pike none of the fish
Perch remain quite
lake
the
lake trout and
grow to a very large size.
small while Ling,
suckers and whitefish
9.
averawe one to three po7nds apiece.
are a little
The larest
walleye
over seven pounds.
ARCHAFOLOGY AND EARLY INHABITA?fl’S.
Since the entry of man over the Bering Straits
around 10.000 before Present,
bores!
forest
area is lacking
gathering and
Early archaeology for the Winisk River
although Nclnnis
arrowheads in 1909.
lincaastic
have adapted to the
by means of a normadlc hunting,
culture.
fishing
Indians
did locate
some flint
It is probable that the Algonkian
ori%rinally came from Alaska around
stock
and expanded to include
represented
the most archaic
Alponkian.
It is from them that
woodchuck has originated.
or nearest
Ecoloical
developed
t0 the oriwinal
factors
and harsh long winters
food supplies
supply.
The Wintek area is unsuitable
there was no food surplus
was therefore
In the
It is probable
normadic,
that
limited
f or agriculture
to establish
widely
the Indians
lakes during the summer months,
to oose
and
villages.
scattered,
inhabited
food
and
square
the inland
in order to fish and travelled
hunt in the Hudson Bay swamps in the Spring and Fall.
Fnm%ly orwanization
wood hunters.
existed
proto-
including
probably did not exceed one person for every 35 *flfl
miles.
and
the word Winisk meaninR
cyclical
Population
700 B.C.
all of Northern Ontario.trfl
Winisk area the Swampy Cree or Muskegon dialect
consequently
sometime
was in extended
It is doubtful
before the white man.
Band organization
that
families
focused
band hunting
around
territories
Exogamy and polyamy were practiced.
was weak with stress
on the Individual.
Expl
10.
oitative
activity
included
fishing
with spears,
gill
nets of
reeds and stake fish weirs.
Berries
Rathered
Trapping with Sampson post
during the summer.
deadralls
and snares
caught mink, martin,
punting was with flint
wag boiled,
broiled
and vegetables
tipped
were
hare and beaver.
arrows and wooden bows.
or dried.
Containers
Food
were of birch
bark heated with hot stones.
Technology included
and bone blades,
spruce and willow or babiche
line
wooden awls,
and bone scrapters.
Stone axes,
and arrows were the principal
flint
wooden clubs and bows
weapons.
The birch bark canoe,
snowshoe and toboggan provided means of transportation.
Housing took the form of birch bark or hide tepees.
included
beaver skin toggLes.
leggiij
and soft
Dress
soled mocassins.
The body was greased with sturgeon oil for protection
from
the myriad mosquitos
stone
of the swampy lowlands.
beads and claws were worn for decoration.
at an early ae
of ceremony.
and the Cree culture
Travel
patterns
Quills,
"hild
wenerally
included
bearing was
lacked forms
seasonal dtsperflon
into the woods in winter and summer reaj’ouping alonz the
upper inland
lakes.
Cree disposition
beliefs
was friendly
type activities
and wood natured.
were in Manito, the Great Spirit
evil spirit.
spirit
Recreation
Cannibalism was believed
and the offender was punished
EUROflAN EXPLORATION.
were lacking.
Religious
and Windigo the
cause by
with death.
the evil
/4.
LL.
The Winisk River is unusual
a terra
incownita
In the sense that
a relatively
until
Hudson Bay Company had established
Rupert Wnx. and Moose Rivers
of explorers
including
late date.
it remained
Although the
at the mouths of the
posts
by 1670, and although
a series
lienry Hudson. Buttom, Thomas James
and Captain Luke Foxe had explored the western coast of
Hudson By,
the Winisk Xtiver was overlooked.
and Captain Fore navigated
fliver and Cape Henrietta
century
although
Maria and described
Its
generally
Howerer there was no allusion
Consequently
maps of the 17th and 18th
the showed James and Hudson Bay and the
Moose and Albany River systems,
was tqye of S. Bellin’s
Ocean Septentrional
James
along the coast between the Severn
low shore and shallow water.
to the Winisk River.
captain
ne1ected
the Winisk.
Map of 1766 --carte
which did not indicate
This
Reduite de 1’
the Wirsisk River
but did show the route to Severn from the Albany River.
Similarly
in 1793 Robert de Vaugandy on a map of Canada,
Loutsana and Etats-Unis,
neglected
the Winisk.
1815 on a Carte de l’Amerique Septentrionale
shown.
Arrowsmith in 188
grapher
to indicate
this
the position
as Pepesquew Lake.
the Winisk was not
seems to have been the first
map the River was called
appeared
Even in
of the Winisk River.
carto
On
the Weenisk, while Winisk Lake
Fort Wapicopa Lake. Paint Lake.
Beaver House Lake and King Pisher Lake also appeared.
name winisk Lake was officially
adopted
nemes board on 8 May, 1916 in preference
Yet the Winisk River was undoubtedly
The
by the Geographic
to Wabikiwei or Duck Lake.
known to the
12.
Europeans
before it was described
French originally
called
by Cartographers.
the River --Riviere
of the Hudson Bny Company indicate
were three posts on the River.
The
Maricourt.
Maps
at one time there
that
Beaver Lake House on Beaver
Lake. Fort Weenisk on Winisk Lake and Fort Wapikopa at the headwaters
of the Winisk River.
ablished
Rnd
all
during
The latter
the competition
three were of short
with the North West Company
duration.
1here are no recnnds
in the Hudson’s Bay Archives on their
There is however an interestin
attempt
existence.
description
of an
to found a post in 1834 which was abandoned& after
The leader
year.
two posts were est
who reported
of the expedition
was George I Baruston
to Chief Trader Corrigal
at Albany Post.
With
two other Europeans and one Indian boy, Baruston prepared
York boat at Albany which was loaded with forty
trading
goods and supplies.
one
a
pieces of
On
Each weighed 100 pounds.
July 22, 1833 he set off down the Albar.y River and along the
to the mouth of the Attawapiskat
James Bay coastline
Ducks were purchased
all
coastal
tide retreats
its
travel
from Indians
along the way.
the tide created
As with
difficulties.
Since the
some four miles out leaving muddy tidal
is necessary
for the canoeist
out and paddle all night
until
either
to follow
the night
in the boat.
flats
the tide
the tide comes back in, or
tø allow the bont to be grounded on the tidal
sleep
River.
flats
and to
Wn July 23 the boat was grounded
one half mile from shore and three miles from the woods.
July 28 the York boat had reached the very flat
section
By
of the
13.
coast north of’ Albany.
Baruston
Tho- fully two miles
the Coast t here is
extent that we could
time of lowest ebb.
encircling the dark
As with most travellers,
night.
erpressed
from the high water mark, yet
so flat and the shoals of such
scarcely discry the sea at the
It appears only like a white thread
Island of Agousiska.
Baruston decided
Even in the most dreary situation
perceived.
indistinct
The vast expanse of sea,
coastline
deeply impressed
his amazement that:
profiled
to travel
all
some beauty may be
gentle wind and the low
by the sbtttng
sun must have
the Orkney seamen.
The glimmering shoals of twilight were replaced by
the play of the silvery moonbeams on the rippling
waves. A southerly breeze filled our sail and the Crew
pulled cheerfully along till the morning light.
Our
Indian guides in their canoes kept a little
ahead and
we followed them at times by the view at times by the
call until we entered the safety of the stream of the
lowasby.
On July 31 the expedition
outlet
of the Attawapaskat
much difficulty
portaging
paddled up the Sowasby to the main
River.
By the 23 August after
the York boats around rapids,
portages and laying log rollers
to roll
the botts
over,
cutting
the
men arrived at the Old House of Attawapiskat Post.
The journey
had been an arduous one.
Baruston
"the
Attawapiskat
in common seasons
River itself
later
even four men will
have difficulty
or canoe in thirty
days from Albany."
places,
rollers,
wrote that
is so low that
to work up a loaded barge
There were twenty carrying
four of which had to be cut to pass the boats on
one beinz through two and a halt
miles of swamp.
Baruston recommended that
in the future
boats should
flat
with two feet
in keel and two
bottomed as possible
feet in rake.
be as
‘U.
At Attawapiskat
Lake they obtained an Indian to guide
them to Awbickoobaw Lake.
This trip was through new country.
Itjhe country beyond where we now are,"
With fall
never been travelled."
Baruston wrote,
approaching
and the country
as well as the low water of the late season,
unfamiliar
Baruston was worried
about travelling
26 AuRust he reached
the Great Fork of the .Attawapiskat
further.
"iver where onebranch called Kiuoutchiewan
route
"has
On
or Long Circuit
led to the Albany and thea other led north.
Long circuit
route
had been frequently
The
used by the Hudson
Bay Company to bring loaded York Boats from Martin Fells
Attawapiskat
Lake.
This route
ran from Cape Hope to Opikeigen,
Rail
as Mclnn&s map of 1903 indicates,
Kenozhe. Machawaian, Mariitush,
and Wintawanan Lakes to Marten Drinking River and Lanadowne
House. On the 27th August they reached
Partridge
and on the 7th Sept began up the Pipe River.
September it was detided
This Lake Baruston
Crop Lake
On the 11th
to winter on Awbickoobow or Willow Lake.1
believed
to be Badger Lake of the Severn
District
and was a three day walk from Attawapiskat
Lake.
suitable
location
to
winter
was hunted for and it wag decided
on a bay on the north
Hudson By post.
I.
to
A
side within a mile of an Old
The old post had been established
by Cairn
These names are unfamilar.
A check with Geog. Names Board
might reveal their present names.
It is probable that the
route followed Mclntis route of 1903 north from Attawapiskat
Lake over the height of land to Mistassin Lake, the Wapitoton
to Winisk Lake.
15.
who used to go there when an outpost was kept at Trout Lake.
Baruston picked a site with a one hundred yard bank with a steep
approach backed by the dark green and yellows
spruce
intermingled
it was possible
thelocation
its
with birch,
southeast
many little
aspen and balsan Fir.
changing itahue
throughout
Baruston was impressed
view almost approaches
picturesque
the waters.
and wrote:
for the foliage
of green and the yellow touches
this dreary
From
to look down the open lake to
end and see studded
islands.
èf larch and
country serve to brighten
tithe
is
of autumn
and enrich
the scene."
Fortunately
some twenty Indians
with portaging
assistiang
oning to the Europeans all
near their
camp.
and by pointing
rabbit
fish
out and then aband-.
the best fishing
locations
Indeed "many of them have left Severn
merely because they were told
establishment
aided the Europeans by
on their
that there was to be a trading
grounds."
snares were constructed.
Gill nets were set and
Three thousand
five
hundred
were caught for the winter but these were of "very
inferior
quality
and at a considerable
By October 2U the lake was frozen.
hurridly
distance
"ork waspushed forward
on Fort Concord as the house was
November the walls were up and the ro4
only remained the chimney to be built
a pole floor
to be set
in to render
from the house."
named and by 23
constructed.
There
from rocks and clay and
the place habitable.
The time was none too soon for the Europeans were living
fashion
Indian
in a Bark tent which they found "very uncomfortable
Lodgings.
16.
Still
in the tent
some acerbity
that
without exception
complained with
on the 21 Dec. aruston
bark tents were "the coldest
that
I know of in this
lodging
very cold country.
For warmth the snow house of the Erquimaux would be infinitely
preferable."
The cold was particularly
did not drink.
surprise
because Baruston’s
sense of humour that
community this
and may consider
oureselves
"1 believe we are
day in the Hon. Co. Territories
as a Branch of the Temperance Society."
By January bed places were established
and the Europeans made themselves
On the 12 th of Jan.
diet
Fish from the
of flour and oatmeal.
the winter packet of letters
by the Indians
overland
With the coming of Spring in April
amost gone.
in the new post
comfortable.
nets and meat complemented the daily
was forwarded
men
On the 1st of Jan. Baruston noted with some
and a subtle
the soberist
felt
and journals
to Martin Falls.
the supply of fish was
The Europeans welcomed the return
of the Blue
Geese and ducks which provided a fresh source and new variety
in food.
In his report
flth
Baruston was
on the district
the country and its returns.
who wintered
"you will
both on account
to be always very unwilling
of the severe
poverty of living
affore’ded
He warned that
at Fort Concord and whose contract
find
trial
at the place.’
Attawapiskat
to forward to it
...
fish,
supplies."
dissatisfied
those men
had expired
to cone back
in getting
"such abundance of excellent
unnecessary
&
in
the
Lake itself
that
it would be
Consequently
17.
Baruston favoured a post on AttawapSokat
to Winisk since
expensive
by two men and a
it could be maintained
boy from Martins Falls
settlement
ake in preference
"*nswering in most aspects
a more
In addition
on the Winisk."
he complained:
The Domains watered by the Weenish River are upon the
whole as poor as any I have witnissed within the pmpass
of the Honourable Company’s Territories.
The streams
afford but few fish which are of very inferior quality.
Game is rare tt in the forest.
Venison not even to
be heard of, less seen, and the fur bearing animals
with the exception of Otters are now nearly extirpated.
Beaver were numerous towards Trout Lake. but martin had
been killed
by repeated
not a trace
of them behind.’1
forest
and disease
fires
The natives
"leaving
too were indolent
and did not catch many furs.
On Lands thus wasted
to follow the chase.
*
the Natives finds no encourainent
Having procured a Blanket, an
axe and a Hook he becomes forthwith miserably independent.
Day after day finds him seated at a hole in the Ice.
anpling for Pike to the full gratification
of all that
is indolent in his disposition,
but in perfect mockery
of the Traders’ wishes, such employment preventinw
him from following tø other pursuits, which would be
much more advantageous for the concern.
Otter which were common were of little
low European price.
value because of the
Were the Otter skins to rise
to a
high price in the English market the Winisk business
be luertative,
in continuing
one thousand
but until
the post.
pounds.
that time,
Baruston saw little
Such a return was profitat
establishment."
poin
His furs for the year amounted to
post but could only with difficulty
of a lare
would
"sustain
Nevertheless
for a small
the Expenses
portages
had been
cleared so that there was no obstacle worth mentioning for
a small
party to make its
way In.
"Once there every assistance
.
-4
18.
be overjoyed
to
From a map drawn by & Baruston which sh4’ed bearings
to
wAdl be rendered
it by the Natives who will
see the whites again upon their land."
Martins Falls,
Attawapiskat,
it was apparent
iiarin4s
should
that Winisk interfered
If Winidwas
Falls.
Winisk, Trout Lake and Severn,
be riroped down to
with the trade of
continued Martins
‘9kMr.
Albany post
FMlls post
in turn should
move to the mouth of the Capia6o River while Long Lake House
should be nt
abandoned.
The occupation
of Capisco would
Rain the trnde of the Fquam River while Cape Henrietta
Maria Indians would trade at Winisk.
Baruston himself
recommended that the Winisk Post should be remo$ved to Indian
Head Lake a ten
from Seven.
day walk from ‘artin’s
In actual
Falls and 15 days
fact the Winisk Post was simply abandoned.
Bibliography.
Primary Sources.
The fludson By Archives.
Winisk Post.
Report on the Distroct. Reel 111783. Section
Weenisk Correspondence. Reel lM25l. Section
Winisk Post Journal. Section B2314/a/l.
Published
B23/e/l
B234/b/l
sources.
Beals. Ed. Science History and Hudson’s Bay. Vol.
Ottawa: Queen’s Printer. 1968.
I. & II.
Hood, Peter J. Earth Science Symposium on Hudson Bay. Ottawa,
Queen’s Printer. Feb., 1968.
"Report on a Part of the North West
?lclnriis, William.
Territories
of Canada Drained by the Winisk and Attawapiskat
Rivers." Geological Surevy of Canada. 1909. p. 22ff.
Morris.
Forests.
Indian Treaties
Department of Lands and
of Ontario.
Norris, A. W., Sandford, B. V., Bell, Re P. Bib]iography on
Ont. Dept. of flues. aper 67-60.
the Hudson Bny Lowlands.
Pound, Jack. --in charge-of historical
Department of Lands and _orests.
naps, Cartography
Prest, V. K. "eoloRy of the Wunnummin Lake Area.
Department of Mines. Vol. 49, Part 8.
section.
Ontario
Culture Change Among the Swampy Cree Indians.
Trudeau. Jean.
Catholic University of America. 1966.
PhD Thesis.
Files.
Geographic Names Board.
Parks CRnoe Route Files.
Parks Interpretation
Files.
Intertviews.
Philip
Thurston.
Operation Winisk. Dept.
Ron. Sage. Operation Winisk. Dept.
Dr. Satterl
y. Dept.
of Mines. Local 1827.
of Mines.
Local 7047.
of Mines. Local 1324.
£ check with Dr. Ed. Rogers, who was absent at time.
Also Dr. Ayres. Operation Winisk. Boom 2321. Phone 1546.