Rev. Samuel M. Charles, 1989
Translated from Cree by his granddaughter Jean M. Charles.

"The building of the church had started around 1854 and finished in 1860. It was because of the church that Stanley Mission became a community".

The government rations that were given consisted of flour, sugar, some salt pork occasionally. Times were tough in the old days, as explained by Rev. Charles….

"When people started to get rations they were very small and only the widows and elders got them. They were given a little of only the most necessary supplies. Other than that, the rest of the people were given a small portion of goods on Treaty Day. Otherwise they lived off the land. The people stayed at their traplines year round and only came to Stanley Mission two or three times a year. Only the fur traders and missionaries were left behind. Once the ice was safe to travel on, the fur traders went around from one trapline to another to buy fur and sell supplies".

Rev. Samuel Moses Charles
1915-2000

 

Stay tuned for more oral history from our Elders........

Also........Lots more historic photos coming!