Flora Beardy is a retired historic park translator from Parks Canada. Ms. Beardy also lived for a time at York Factory. For this book, Ms. Beardy interviewed and recorded a dozen Cree Elders who lived and worked at York Factory and then translated the stories into English. Robert Coutts, who was a historian at Parks Canada for over 30 years wrote the introduction of this book which provided a brief history of The Hudson’s Bay Company and the York Factory as contextual background for the elders’ stories.
Previously I have read a great deal on the North American indigenous peoples starting with my first journey through the South West US many years ago and continuing through subsequent trips in the United States and Canada. The books and articles I read had one thing in common – they were written by non-indigenous sources. This book is totally from the perspective of the Cree who lived and worked at the York Factory.
Reading these stories was like sitting around a campfire while the elders spoke – but instead of legends and myths, these are true accounts of their lives. From the wistful tone of one elder speaking of how the Cree used to live in balance and respect with nature to the somewhat bitter musings that one elder always felt hungry once he had to eat “white man’s food” that was never as satisfying as the food they used to hunt and grow themselves, this book is enthralling.
From the internet- Cree family near the York Factory – painter unknown
Let me share a few stories here, but I strongly recommend that you find a copy of this book and read it through. True slices of life, some full of love, some full of hurt, all of it captivating.
GROWING UP AT THE FACTORY – Catherine Anderson (1908-1990) lived at York Factory when she was young and while in school there learned to read the Cree syllabic bible. She also married at York Factory and had 8 children.. Her recorded reminisces offer a view of growing up at the York Factory as she recounts what she and her friends would do whenever a trading ship arrived at the port. The children would watch as the adults who were unloading the ships managed to pilfer and hide canned goods, meats and other items. Unbeknownst to the adults, the youngsters would pick up a few of the items, take them to the good store and the shopkeeper would actually pay them for what they brought.
EDUCATION – Mary Redhead (1920-2002) was born at the York Factory and was among the first children to be sent away for schooling at a residential school (more on these in a later post) and these children did not return home until they completed their schooling although other children from closer towns were allowed to go home. Mary said the reason given was that York Factory was too far and too remote to get to other than by airplane and that was just too expensive., So the children spent all their time at the school and were often hungry, given only one slice of bread, and even if they were given more than one slice they had to hide the extra or it would be taken away. This treatment was very confusing to Mary Redhead as she said the children worked hard at different jobs – cleaning houses and such, wherever they were sent for a week, so they didn’t deserve to be treated poorly.
RELIGIOUS TEACHING – Abel Chapman (1922-2000) did not go to school – rather his grandfather taught him how to live off the land, hunting and trapping. His grandmother was a storyteller and her grandchildren would sit around her, rapt as she wove tales and legends.
Abel opined that the white man needs to learn the true meaning of the Bible. He says the Creator provided everything on earth – all the people, the land, the water, the animals – to live in balance, have mutual respect, take only what is needed for survival, and protect the rest so that all future generations will enjoy the same bounty. However, he states the white man has done wrong. They have gone above the laws the Creator made, they want to own and control everything, even taking our hunting away. He says: “This is not right, to go against the Creator.”
I agree.
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Dear Flora,
you do not know me jet but please read this message as I am very happy finding you. I ordered your book ‘Voices from the Hudson Bay’ a couple of weeks ago after I contacted your nice about travel to Churchill to find out more about the Cree people.
I came across your name from your nice while enquiring about a tour to Churchill as well as searching for my husband’s ancestor.
Following is a copy of what I wrote:
I am planning a visit to Winnipeg and Churchill for next year September and would like to see some Polar Bears and the Aurora Borealis. I also would like to visit the Wapuska National Park and search for some information about a Cree woman, which was married with my husband’s great great grandfather Donald Sutherland. As far as we know her name was Sally Wapsik or Wapsuk. They had 4 children all born in Manitoba. The last child was born in 1820 at Berens River Division No 19. As far as we know, Sally passed away in 1878 aged 88.
My husband’s great great great grandfather, Donald Sutherland, was working for the Hudson Bay Company from 1795 – 1824 when he met the mother of his children. He was stationed in Albany, York Factory, Red Deers River, Pidgeon River and Berens River. From 1823 to 1824 he resided in Norway House.
I hope you can help with planning my visit to Manitoba and find out more about Sally. I know it is a long long time ago but maybe you have some records about the Cree people from this time in the 1800th.
However, I also would like to be a tourist and see some Polar Bears and the Northern Lights. I am planning to arrive from Australia, where we live, in Toronto to see the Niagara Falls. From there I might take a plane to Winnipeg and spend few days there. I am thinking to take the train from Winnipeg to Churchill and will do the sightseeing and hopefully find out something about Sally, daughter of ‘White Baer’.
But now I am thanking you for your time and looking forward hearing from you, especially about the Cree People.
Warm regards
Inge Gajczak (allso my facebook name)
I am the 5th Great Grandaughter of Whitebear…he was the Chief of Cumberland house…his name was John Turner 1780. Did you ever come to Canada to meet the people that are related to this family. My Grandfather replaced John Sutherland in York Factory and Married Catherine; the daughter of Chief Mackagonne…. let me know if you came to Canada and how your trip was
Thank you for your letter and your personal history . I visited the Churchill area of Canada in July of 2019 and was totally fascinated about the origins of the town, the wildlife and more – it was a grand experience, – Cindy
Good Day Cindy,
I too visit Winnipeg and Churchill area in 2023 to find out more about a Cree woman called Sally Wapisk or Wapusk. She is the Great great great grandmother of my partner. Are you related to some of the Turner, Sutherland or Wapusk people? Where do you live? We live in Queensland, Australia.
Would love to hear from you again.
Good Day Cheryl Anne,
it is so wonderful to hear from you. My partner Ian is also a great great (don’t know how many great) son of White Bear. We have lots of information about his family history especially Donald Sutherland. Through this search we found a cousin searching her family history and found out that she and my partner have the same great great great parents, Donald Sutherland and Sally Wapisk.
In July 2023 I visited Winnipeg and Churchill to find out more about Sally, but there is absolutely nothing about her.
I meet wonderful people helping the search for Sally but nothing.
I went to St Peters in Selkirk and the person responsible for the yard, Wendy, was very helpful. She even found out the White Baer was buried there but no grave to be seen. She said that a fire destroyed all the wooden crosses and therefore are not many left.
I also went to St John Cathedral and hopped to find something about the family, but nothing. All I found is a grave of John Sutherland but we don’t know if he comes from Ian’s family. His grave stone says: John Sutherland, a native if Sutherland Shire, Scottland died Jan 29, 1863 aged 102. He definitely had a great age!
I went through HBC records in the Winnipeg Library, nothing!
So, your John Turner married Catherine. Is her second name Anderson? My partners second name is also Anderson, that would be something interesting. I know there is a Catherine Anderson somewhere in the line and I remember the name John Turner coming up but, unfortunately, I forgot which line it was.
Well, this found cousin, Pam Jarret wrote a book (They Travelled Far) about her family history which involves Donald Sutherland, Philip Turnor (Turner), his wife Elizabeth Wapusk and their son John, your John Turner.
I have an updated research for her book which starts with Philp Turner as the 1st Generation, going to the 2nd Generation John Turnor (your John), followed by our Sally Wapusk 3rd Generation and her children Jane, Sinclair, Willian and Isabella as the 4th Generation. If you like, I can email a copy of this update.
Following is some information we have about Sally and Donald Sutherland:
Donald from Scotland worked for the Hudson Bay Company from 14 May 1795 to 10 September 1824 (?). He married Sally Wapisk/White Bear, a Swampy Cree Indian.
He worked and lived with Sally near York Factory, Beren’s River and Norway House.
They had four children:
Sinclair Sutherland was born around 1815
Jane Sutherland came along around 1816 and married James Grant
William Sutherland was born on August 26,1819 and married Catherine Anderson
finally, Isabella Sutherland came along on Jan 24, 1820 and married John Macdonald Weir.
At one stage, all 4 children returned to Scotland with Donald. However, Sinclair came back to Mum in Manitoba, Jane stayed in Scotland as a nurse while Isabella and William immigrated to Australia where they are buried. We found William’s grave in Inglewood, close by where we live now and Isabella’s grave in Augathella close by where we lived earlier. Her grave is the oldest there. That are very interesting facts, aren’t they?
It seems that Sally moved with her family White Bear (father) and her son Sinclair south to the Swampy Village Petersfield, which was near the St. Peter’s parish in Winnipeg. We believe they are buried there.
Cheryl Anne, I hope I was not too detailed and bored you. Well, it would be nice if we keep in contact and maybe you have some information about your ancestor. We might finally find something to resolve the mystery about Sally.
Is your last name Turner or even Sutherland? There are many Sutherlands from the White Bear Mop in New Zealand.
We live in Queensland, Australia and where do you live?
I am looking forward hearing from you.
Warm regards
Inge
I am not part of Fist Nations Peoples – my background is European. I am a photographer who enjoys traveling the world and learning about other cultures and particularly enjoy taking photos of wildlife. I have visited Australia too in the past and reside in the United States. – Cindy
Okay, I am a photographer as well and like you, travelling the world. Keep safe
Inge
Hi Cindy, how can I reply to Cheryl Anne?
I only have the email address that she use to comment below – so other than suggesting you use that email and write directly to her (not on this website) introduce yourself and say you saw her comments here – I have no other way to reach out to her. Let me know if that works. Cindy
Good Day Cheryl Anne,
it is so wonderful to hear from you. My partner Ian is also a great great (don’t know how many great) son of White Bear. We have lots of information about his family history especially Donald Sutherland. Through this search we found a cousin searching her family history and found out that she and my partner have the same great great great parents, Donald Sutherland and Sally Wapisk.
In July 2023 I visited Winnipeg and Churchill to find out more about Sally, but there is absolutely nothing about her.
I meet wonderful people helping the search for Sally but nothing.
I went to St Peters in Selkirk and the person responsible for the yard, Wendy, was very helpful. She even found out the White Baer was buried there but no grave to be seen. She said that a fire destroyed all the wooden crosses and therefore are not many left.
I also went to St John Cathedral and hopped to find something about the family, but nothing. All I found is a grave of John Sutherland but we don’t know if he comes from Ian’s family. His grave stone says: John Sutherland, a native if Sutherland Shire, Scottland died Jan 29, 1863 aged 102. He definitely had a great age!
I went through HBC records in the Winnipeg Library, nothing!
So, your John Turner married Catherine. Is her second name Anderson? My partners second name is also Anderson, that would be something interesting. I know there is a Catherine Anderson somewhere in the line and I remember the name John Turner coming up but, unfortunately, I forgot which line it was.
Well, this found cousin, Pam Jarret wrote a book (They Travelled Far) about her family history which involves Donald Sutherland, Philip Turnor (Turner), his wife Elizabeth Wapusk and their son John, your John Turner.
I have an updated research for her book which starts with Philp Turner as the 1st Generation, going to the 2nd Generation John Turnor (your John), followed by our Sally Wapusk 3rd Generation and her children Jane, Sinclair, Willian and Isabella as the 4th Generation. If you like, I can email a copy of this update.
Following is some information we have about Sally and Donald Sutherland:
Donald from Scotland worked for the Hudson Bay Company from 14 May 1795 to 10 September 1824 (?). He married Sally Wapisk/White Bear, a Swampy Cree Indian.
He worked and lived with Sally near York Factory, Beren’s River and Norway House.
They had four children:
Sinclair Sutherland was born around 1815
Jane Sutherland came along around 1816 and married James Grant
William Sutherland was born on August 26,1819 and married Catherine Anderson
finally, Isabella Sutherland came along on Jan 24, 1820 and married John Macdonald Weir.
At one stage, all 4 children returned to Scotland with Donald. However, Sinclair came back to Mum in Manitoba, Jane stayed in Scotland as a nurse while Isabella and William immigrated to Australia where they are buried. We found William’s grave in Inglewood, close by where we live now and Isabella’s grave in Augathella close by where we lived earlier. Her grave is the oldest there. That are very interesting facts, aren’t they?
It seems that Sally moved with her family White Bear (father) and her son Sinclair south to the Swampy Village Petersfield, which was near the St. Peter’s parish in Winnipeg. We believe they are buried there.
Cheryl Anne, I hope I was not too detailed and bored you. Well, it would be nice if we keep in contact and maybe you have some information about your ancestor. We might finally find something to resolve the mystery about Sally.
Is your last name Turner or even Sutherland? There are many Sutherlands from the White Bear Mop in New Zealand.
We live in Queensland, Australia and where do you live?
I am looking forward hearing from you.
Warm regards
Inge