Peter Skene Ogden’s Illness
In 1823, Peter Skene Ogden traveled west with John Work to Spokane House. We have been following John Work’s journal in the Two Canoes series: in the last of John…
Read moreBuilding Fort Shepherd
In this April 1856 letter to Angus McDonald of Fort Colvile, James Douglas described the HBC buildings that were to be erected at the new Fort Shepherd, on the Columbia…
Read moreFrom Ile-a-la-Crosse to the Clearwater River
In our dueling journals — that of John Work, 1823, and of Archibald McDonald, 1828 — we have reached the post of Ile-a-la-Crosse, on Lac Ile-a-la-Crosse. As you know by…
Read moreTo Moose Portage, Beaver River
Two groups of canoe-men traveled west from York Factory, on their way to New Caledonia. Both groups have arrived at Ile-a-la Crosse, and their next major hurdle is the Methye…
Read moreTwo Canoes (2) to Ile a la Crosse
In this seventh article of the Two Canoes series, we will follow Archibald McDonald’s journey up the Upper Churchill River to Ile a la Crosse post. This is a long…
Read more