This item consists of an interview with Dave Nutter, Manager of the NWT Chamber of Mines by an unidentified female journalist. The original source item is side B of a 120 minute audio cassette. It appears to be the continuation of a discussion at the end of side A of the audio tape. The impact of regulations, regulatory boards, and uncertainty on investment is discussed, primarily in relation to the mining industry and land claims. The interviewer and interviewing also talk about the various mining projects currently in operation, the number of direct and spin-off jobs available, residency of workers, hiring practices for northerners and Indigenous people, training available, and opportunities for women. There is also a short segment contrasting the economic benefits of mining versus oil and gas.
This item consists primarily of a series of interviews with Sharon Firth. The original source item is side A of a 120 minute audio cassette. The interviews discuss her career as a cross-country skier, along with her twin sister Shirley, starting in 1967 and continuing to what was the present day, ca. 1984, after having competed in four Olympic Games, three World Championships, and numerous other races. Sharon talks about specific races and championships, as well as her relationship with Shirley and the competitiveness they shared. She describes her feelings about travelling outside, being interviewed, and the lifestyle change from living in the bush to travelling the world. Sharon also talks about the work, discipline, and sacrifice required to become and remain a champion skier. She describes the impact of long absences from family and having to move to the south to train and grow as a skier. Sharon also talks about the impact of losing her mother in a fire in 1979. Sharon notes that she is pretty proud of herself and of Shirley. There is also a short segment at the beginning of the recording that has Sharon as the interviewer of a male speaker discussing land claims.
This item is the first part of a two-part interview of John Henry (Sonny) Sibbeston, recorded February 18, [1994] on the Hay River Reserve, by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. The interview also includes item CN-77A. John was born at Fort Simpson on April 28 and is 77 years old. His parents were Rosalie Lamalice and Jimmy Sibbeston. His father worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company and the family moved frequently. He did not attend school. John’s first job was fighting fires. He also trapped with his father, was a deckhand on a boat once, worked on highways, and as a game warden for 8 years. Once he received his old age pension, he stopped working. John was married to Rosie Isaac for 36 years before they split up and they have 5 living children. John spends an extended period speaking about alcohol, his struggles with it, and how he had quit drinking 6 years earlier. John has had a stroke. John also speaks about houses, languages, helping elderly people with chores, wages, punishment, Fort Good Hope, an epidemic that occurred when he was a child, and making a dog whip, which he learned from his father and mother. The recording ends abruptly.
This item is an interview of Ernest Paulette, recorded February 16, 1994 in Hay River by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. Ernest Paulette was born October 23, 1920, likely in Fort Fitzgerald. He was raised there by his uncle Johnny Paulette, as his parents has split up and his mother died when he was young. His father's name might have been Graham. Chipewyan was spoken in his home when he was growing up. Ernest shares memories of Fort Fitzgerald, hunting and trapping, and the use of dogs and horses. He was at the residential school in Fort Resolution for two years and provides details about the number of kids, work duties, and diet. After he quit school he worked trapping and unloading boats and barges. He eventually moved to Hay River and got a job with the Town as a labourer. Ernest also answers questions about epidemics and disease, traditional skills, traditional medicine, and entertainment. Many of Ernest's responses are unclear due to background white noise and the speed with which he speaks.
This item is an interview of Annie Beaulieu, recorded February 3, 1994 in Hay River, likely by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. Annie Beaulieu was born April 30, 1934 in Rocher River, the daughter of Judith Cree and Charlie Giroux. She was raised by her stepfather, Francois King. Chipewyan was the language used at her home. Her maternal grandparents were Joseph Cree and Louise Smith. Her paternal grandmother, Anna, lived in Rat River and had a small store. Annie speaks about being raised in the bush, with hunting and trapping to make a living, and chores like getting wood, hauling water, doing laundry, and scrubbing the floor. Annie learned to sew, bead, and embroider from her mother. She started attending school at the age of 14 and reached grade 3. Annie worked for the mission in Fort Resolution for a couple of summers. Annie married Jim Beaulieu, who was from Fort Resolution. Annie speaks about tuberculosis, traditional medicines, Chief Samuel Simon, clothing, and entertainment, including dances and feasts. She mentions that people seem to be drinking alcohol more now. Some of Annie's responses are unclear due to background white noise.
This item is an interview of John Bouvier, likely recorded in Hay River in early 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. John Bouvier was born October 4, 1918 in Fort Providence. His ancestors came from St. Boniface, Manitoba. John's grandfather came with cattle on scows across Great Slave Lake and settled in Fort Providence on a farm. He also worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. John is the oldest son of George and Veronique Bouvier. His mother was in a convent when his father married her and her family was in the Hay River area. The Bouviers moved to Fort Good Hope for awhile, before returning to Fort Providence. John attended school to Grade 4 and also worked hard helping his mother and doing chores. His father trapped and the family lived off the land. John feels Metis kids should go to school and also learn traditional skills and language from their parents, so it is not lost. John’s first language was French and he also speaks Cree, Slavey, Beaver, Chipewyan, and English. John remembers getting Metis scrip at the age of 7. His grandfather, dad, and uncles all decided to take scrip rather than Treaty. John left home at the age of 26 to make his own living. He went to Yellowknife in 1945 and worked for Giant Mine, then went wood cutting, then back to Fort Providence to his mother, then to fight a fire in Fort Smith. John had tuberculosis and spent three years at the Charles Camsell Hospital in Edmonton. On his return to the NWT, he went on a boat and learned the river. John also worked for the mission for a long time (fishing and on the Mission farm), shoveling snow, trapping, and on the boats, including with ATL. John was married for 25 years before his wife died and they had four children. He now has another female companion. John also speaks about traditional medicine, Treaty days, trapping, death, his Kokum (grandmother), missionaries, chiefs, and entertainment, including dances and games. John frequently contrasts the present day with how things were when he was growing up.
This item includes an interview of Mike Ross, recorded on February 4, 1994 in Hay River by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. Mike Ross was born on September 25, 1925 to parents William Ross and [Madeline] Laboucan. He grew up on his family's farm at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan. His paternal grandparents, Corbat Ross and Virginia Parenteau?, lived a few miles away. Mike had several siblings and the first six of them, including him, did not attend school. After the family moved north in 1949, the younger siblings were able to go to school. He advises children today to attend school and go right to the very top. Mike recalls working hard on the farm, hauling wood and water, hunting, and fishing. His first language was French and he also knows Cree and English. When Mike left home, he worked for farmers and for a cattle operation, then he went to Alberta and worked in sawmills in Edson before returning to Saskatchewan. About six months later, he returned to Alberta and worked for farmers and cutting in the bush, before coming to the Northwest Territories to fish in the 1940s. Mike also worked for YT, NT, Caps Transport, and Highways. Mike was married and had four kids. Mike also speaks about diseases, including his experiences with tuberculosis and liver cirrhosis, traditional medicines, trade and credit, clothing, Indigenous groups around Meadow Lake, his father's experience being at a Mission, and entertainment. Many of Mike's responses are unclear due to background white noise.
This item is an interview of Violet Bouvier, recorded on February 3, 1994 in Hay River likely by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. Violet was born May 17, 1914 in Fort Liard to parents Fred and Marguerite McLeod. Fred worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company and the family moved to Fort Simpson and then to Fort Providence. Violet was the fourth child in a large family. Her chores were inside ones, including laundry, dishes, keeping house, and looking after children. English was the language spoken in her home and she also understands French but only speaks a few words. Violet attended school one year in Hay River, then about 3 years in Fort Providence, attaining Grade 6. When her mother died, she had to stay home and look after the younger kids. Her advice for Metis children now is to stay in school. Violet married and had five children. The interview also briefly covers the topics of epidemics, grandparents, traditional skills, clothing, and entertainment. Background white noise makes it difficult to hear some of Violet’s responses.
This item is the second part of a two-part interview of Sarah Sibbeston, recorded on February 8, 1994 in Hay River likely by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. The interview continues as Sarah describes gradually losing her eyesight in 1926, travels to doctors, and her feelings about what had happened to her. Sarah also discusses some of her family connections. She mentions that did not marry or have children because she had lost her sight. The discussion returns to the topic of school, which Sarah attended for two years. She speaks about rules preventing girls and boys from mixing and not being allowed to speak Slavey. Sarah can speak Slavey and English. Sarah talks about negative impacts on northern society, like idleness and alcohol. She also describes the 1928 flu epidemic, which occurred while she was in Hay River, and an earlier experience with diphtheria while at school. Sarah spends time knitting and crocheting. She also speaks about cleaning, washing clothes, washing dishes, preserving food, and entertainment in the past. Her advice to younger generations is to be honest and kind and to share with those in need.
This item includes two interviews likely recorded in early 1994 in Hay River by Margaret Bearard. The interviews are in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. The first interview is of Polly Camsell. Polly was born in 1911 on Herschel Island. Her maiden name was Carter and her father was a member of the RCMP's Lost Patrol. Her mother died at Polly's birth. She had one brother. Polly grew up at the Hay River Mission, attending school until age 17 (Grade 9), when she went to work for the Mission. Polly shares memories of growing up and working at the Mission, entertainment, and the flu epidemic of 1928. Polly married Harry Camsell at the age of 23. They had 11 children and had a happy, loving home. Harry died in 1993 of a stroke and Polly has had a series of heart attacks. She does a lot of knitting and making rag rugs. Her family is very important to her and visit her often. The second section is the first part of a two-part interview of Sarah Sibbeston recorded on February 8, 1994. Sarah was born in Fort Simpson in 1905 to parents Jimmy and Edna Sibbeston. She had several brothers and sisters and her mother died when she was only about five or six years old. Sarah seems to have been a delicate child who was frequently sick. After her mother died, she was looked after by the Anglican Bishop Lucas and his wife for awhile. Then her sister Margaret looked after her at her father's house. After Margaret married Hudson's Bay Company manager Ned Heron, Sarah moved with them to Fort Nelson. Sarah relates several stories of travelling by river from Fort Nelson. She went to school for two years in Hay River. When she was in her late teens, her uncle wanted her to come help, but she became sick with jaundice and was looked after by the wife of the HBC manager, Mrs. McDermott. After her recovery, she stayed on with the McDermotts and moved with them up to Fort Simpson the following year. She stayed with them two years. She lived for awhile in Fort Good Hope, then by 1925 was back in Hay River, then in 1926 her dad was transferred back to Fort Simpson.
The first part of this item is the second part of a two-part interview of Alexis Eugene Lafferty, recorded in Hay River, likely early in 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. The interview also includes item CN-95A. The interview resumes with Alex speaking about respect and an Elderly lady he helped. Alex was married June 2, 1952 to Clara Fabien. They met in Hay River, but her parents (Judith Edjericon and ___ Fabien) were originally from Fort Resolution. Alex admits that he and his wife are no longer together because of his problems with alcohol. He also tells the story of losing his young son Al George Lafferty. The second part of this item is an interview of Florence Larocque, recorded in Hay River, likely early in 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. Florence was born December 23, 1927 in Fort Resolution. She was the oldest of four children of Irene Norn and does not remember her father who left the family. The family was very poor and Florence and her sister Mary were placed in the Convent when she was 8. Florence shares her memories of those years, which she describes as "unpleasant" and "awful". Her mother died shortly after her youngest brother was born. Florence finished Grade 7 before leaving the Convent at the age of 15 in March 1943. She stayed with an uncle and aunt for about a month, then worked for another family until she got sick with appendicitis. She was in the hospital for a month recovering from having her appendix out. She then lived with her great grandparents from Christmas until about April when she started working for Liza Todd. Florence was married August 23, 1945. They lived together for 14 years and had 8 children. Florence also raised her step-son. The family lived for awhile in Yellowknife and Florence recalls it being a "disaster" for her when they moved to Fort Smith. She worked for the hospital there, then moved the family to Fort Resolution. When her husband left her, Florence stayed with [name unintelligible] and had another nine children. Florence also speaks of an epidemic that came through the Mission, sewing, living off the land, traditional medicine, clothing, dances, and Treaty time. The interview concludes with Florence advising young people to show the old people respect and learn from them and reminiscing about the Elders she knew.
This recording includes sides A and B of the tape.
This item is the first part of a two-part interview of Alexis Eugene Lafferty, recorded in Hay River, likely early in 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. The interview also includes item CN-95B. Alex is originally from the Fort Resolution area, but has lived in Hay River for 14 years. Alex was born in Sulfur Bay in 1929 to Napoleon Lafferty and Catherine Beaulieu. Napoleon was from Fort Norman, the son of Alexis Lafferty (Sr.) and __ McIver. The family moved to Fort Simpson and when he was old enough, Napoleon started working on the boats. He met Catherine in Fort Resolution, where they pulled the boats out. The couple returned to Fort Simpson after they were married and stayed there about eight years before moving back to Fort Resolution. Napoleon died at the age of 98. Catherine was the daughter of Pierre Beaulieu and Bella Sanderson. Napoleon and Catherine had 11 children. Alex grew up at the family's cabin at Hook Lake. His father was a trapper who worked for the mission in the summer. At the age of 9, Alex was put in the Convent to go to school. It was difficult for him and he wanted to be in the bush. From the age of 11 to 20, Alex stayed in the bush with his dad, then he went out on his own. He took his first job in 1946, as a bull cook, after the spring hunt at Trout Rock. He continued to trap and during the 1970s, also did commercial fishing in the summer. He moved from Fort Resolution to Hay River because Fort Resolution was getting pretty wild. Alex grew up speaking Chipewyan and French, and also speaks English and Slavey, and understands Tlicho. Alex also speaks about chores, being Metis, trapping areas, death and aging, disease, stories regarding the 1928 flu epidemic, traditional skills like tanning hides, traditional medicine, respect for Elders, religion, Metis clothing, praying and the routine at the Residential School in Fort Resolution, and entertainment including making bows and arrows and calling square dances. The recording ends abruptly.
This recording includes sides A and B of the tape.
This item includes two interviews recorded February 8, 1994 in Hay River by Margaret Bearard. The interviews are in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. The first interview is of Bessie Beaulieu. She was born in 1923 in Fort Vermilion(?). Her mother's name was Sophie and her parents spoke Slavey. She attended public school until grade 4, when she had to quit. She later worked in a kitchen washing dishes. She married Julian Beaulieu, losing her Treaty status. The couple had 17 children. Mrs. Beaulieu used to do traditional things including sewing and beadwork, but has since had a stroke. She also speaks about things done for entertainment, including games and dances. There is a lot of background noise and Mrs. Beaulieu’s responses are very hard to hear, although the questions are clear. The second interview is of George Calliou. George was born in Gage, Alberta in 1931 to John Calliou and Millie Martenu. His sister Jean was born 6 years later. His father left the family when he was young and he grew up in the home of his grandmother Nancy Martenu, on a small reserve north of Gage. George recalls that his grandmother had "medicine" and relates one incident where she healed a young girl. The family was poor and George recalls having a garden, hunting with his .22 and a shotgun, and hauling water. He walked 2½ miles to school each day to complete Grade 8. George then went to work for famers in the area, picking roots and helping with threshing in the fall. When his grandmother died, George, Jean, and Millie had to move off the reserve to Fairview, as they did not have Treaty status. George took any work he could get, until 1952, when he was hired by the power company. While the family was living in Fairview, his mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis and taken to the hospital in Edmonton. She returned, healthy, nine months later. George took correspondence courses in diesel and electricity to train for his work. In 1959, George was transferred to Hay River. He retired from Northland Utilities in 1986 with 35 years of service. George never married. George relates some other memories to do with entertainment, smoking, and fitting in with white people.
This item includes two interviews recorded in February 7, 1994 in Hay River by Margaret Bearard. The interviews are in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. The first interview is of Hazel Steiner. She is 67 years old and was born in Hay River to parents Jack and Nancy Cameron. Hazel attended school to Grade 2. She learned Slavey as well as English while growing up. Her family lived of the land with her father spending time in the bush in the Cameron Hills area, while the family stayed in town. Entertainment included guitar and fiddle dances and games and outdoor play for children. Hazel married Rudy Steiner, who was working in Hay River, and had three girls. She used to practice traditional skills taught by her mother. The second interview is of Henry Norn. He is 81 years old and was born in Hay River to parents Charlie and Zulie Norn. His grandparents included __ Lamalice and William Unka from Fort Resolution. Henry attended school until about Grade 5, although he preferred to work. He used to speak Slavey but now speaks only English. His father knew five languages and worked as an interpreter before he died. The family lived partially off the land. Henry spent some time as a deckhand on the boats and eventually became a painter and carpenter. He also did hunting and trapping, but has stopped since he had a stroke. Henry never married.
This item is an interview of Archie Todd, likely recorded in Hay River on February 19, 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. Archie Todd was born born August 8, 1932 at Fort Resolution. He was the oldest child of Norman Oscar Todd and Eliza Todd. Norman's father was John Todd from Lacombe, Alberta. Archie did not marry and had no children. Archie recalls living at Rat River and Rocher River. His father was a trapper and the family lived in a log cabin built by his father and uncle. His mother used to make most of their clothing and the family lived off the land. Archie's chores included hauling wood and water. He recalls some of the people and places of the area. He attended the residential school at Fort Resolution from about age 5 or 6. Archie shares memories of his time there, especially related to summer and winter activities, food, clothing, chores, segregation from girls, and hygiene. Archie recalls having whooping cough and measles while living in the Convent and spending about 18 months in the hospital there. He attended school to Grade 6 before his family moved to Yellowknife in 1946-47 and his father got a job at Negus Mine. The family lived at Negus and Archie had to go 2-3 miles for school, where he was sent back to Grade 4. In 1948, Archie became ill and lost his hair. He went to live with an aunt in Calgary, then his uncle got a job in Turner Valley, so Archie attended school in Black Diamond. Archie's first job was on the Expeditor. Then he moved to Yellowknife and worked as a diamond driller. He also worked at Pine Point and in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Archie's first language was likely English, but he also used to be fluent in French and Chipewyan. His advice to young people is not to quit school. Background white noise makes some responses unclear.
This item is an interview of James Sanderson, recorded February 19, 1994 in Hay River, by an unidentified female interviewer. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 60 minute audio cassette. James Sanderson was born July 17, 1929 in Fort Chipewyan. His father, Henry Sanderson was from Fort McMurray. His mother may have been named Margaret Rutherford from Mukluk? James spoke Cree growing up and is self-taught to grade 4. James was married to Irene Laco___ and had four boys and four girls. The couple later split up. James answers questions about his grandparents, growing up, chores, trapping, work, epidemics and disease, living off the land, missionaries, and entertainment. Many of James’ responses are unclear due to a large amount of background white noise.
This item is an interview of Beatrice Morin and Jeanette St. Arnault, recorded in Hay River, likely in early 1994, by an unidentified female interviewer. The interview is in English. The original source item is side B of a 90 minute audio cassette. Beatrice (age 71) and Jeanne (age 69) are sisters. Both were born in Fort Vermilion to parents Vitaline LaFleur and Harry Clarke. Their mother’s parents were Pauline Mercredi and Joe LaFleur and their father’s parents were Liza Lizotte and Gus Clarke. Harry was a Hudson’s Bay Company manager and fur buyer and the family lived in Fort Vermilion, Red River, Key River, and Meander River. The children went to the Convent in Fort Vermilion for school. Beatrice and Jeanette recall memories of the residential school, including food, accommodations, rules, and chores. They quit school at Grade 7 and Grade 8. Their first language was French and they also have some understanding of Cree. Beatrice started off her working career looking after her grandparents, then other relatives, and another elderly couple. By this time she was married to Frank Lizotte. They were together for five years and had three children together. Beatrice moved with the children to Hay River in 1949 and got a job washing dishes and waiting tables. She had another six children in Hay River. Jeanette worked at the Bishop’s House in McLennan, then at the co-op slipper factory in Grouard, then as a cook at a hotel in Faust, then at a cookhouse, then at a café in Hay River. She met her husband in Grouard and the couple had four children. Beatrice and Jeanette recall a bad flu that occurred when Bea was 14 or 15 years old. They also discuss the diphtheria outbreak in 1929; some of their relatives were involved in getting the vaccine. The women also talk about skills learned from their mother and traditional medicines. Beatrice speaks about getting medicines from a medicine man in Alberta. They also discuss leaders, special clothing, and entertainment. The interview concludes with Beatrice and Jeanette giving advice to the younger generation to talk and listen to their parents, visit their grandparents more, and continue their education.
This item is an interview of Pat LaFleur, recorded in Hay River, likely early in 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 90 minute audio cassette. Pat is 70 years old and was born in Fort Vermilion in 1922 to parents Auguste (Augie) LaFleur and Flora Chalifoux. Pat had several siblings and children of his own. Pat grew up on a quarter section of land with cattle and horses, living in a log house and speaking Cree. His father was a trapper. Pat attended school for about 2 years when he was 12 and lived at the Mission in Fort Vermilion for part of that time. He quit school to come home and help his mother. Pat left Fort Vermilion in 1945 and worked for two years for the railroad in summer and at a sawmill skidding logs in the winter. He also spent some years trapping. In 1947, he spent a fall as a thresher, then came to Hay River, where he got a job at Menzies Fishing packing fish. Pat later worked on the survey for the highway to the border and in 1948, he started driving truck and later also worked as a cat skinner and grader operator. Pat recalls diseases affecting his family, including smallpox, from which his father died, and tuberculosis. When questioned about traditional medicines, Pat mentions that he uses rat root. Pat describes his time at the Mission in Fort Vermilion, speaking of topics including food, segregation of boys and girls, chores, hygiene, punishment, languages, and entertainment. Pat speaks of his enjoyment of dancing and how people used to go visiting on Sundays. He expresses disappointment in how young people today use their time. The interview concludes with a couple of stories and discussion of prices and how to keep meat from spoiling. Background white noise makes it difficult to hear some of Pat's responses.
This item is an interview of Margaret Morin, recorded in Hay River, likely in early 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side B of a 60 minute audio cassette. Margaret Morin was born in Green Lake, northern Saskatchewan on October 1, 1927 to parents Gilbert Roy and Flora Sinclair. She was 66 at the time of the interview. There were 15 children in Margaret's family and the family lived on a farm. Her father worked in the winter hauling freight with horses and sleigh and in the summer on a boat. The family spoke Cree at home and her parents also spoke French. Her brothers hunted and her mother and the girls in the family prepared moosehides. Margaret attended school to Grade 3, when she had to quit to care for her sister who was ill with tuberculosis and had five small children. Margaret began working at the age of nineteen in a shelter for children, with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law. She worked there for seven years in the laundry and cleaning up the office. Margaret speaks about measles and tuberculosis being diseases that affected her family and community. She does some sewing, including beadwork and embroidery, which she learned from her mother. There is also brief discussion about traditional medicine, clothing, religion, and dances. Margaret met and married her husband, Alphonse Morin, in Green Lake. The family moved to Hay River in 1953 when Alphonse came up to fish. Alphonse and Margaret had three children.
This recording includes sides A and B of the tape.
This item is an interview of Leonard Cardinal, recorded in Hay River, likely in early 1994 by Margaret Bearard. The interview is in English. The original source item is side A of a 60 minute audio cassette. Leonard Cardinal was born in Fort Chipewyan in March 1928 and will be 66 years old in March. His father was Magloire Cardinal and his mother was Nellie Loutitt, the daughter of Hannah McSwain and George Loutitt. He had two brothers and three sisters. Leonard was married to Yvonne Cardinal for about 33 years and had eight children. They had been separated for about 12 years at the time of the interview. After his mother's death in 1935, Leonard was raised by his uncle and aunt (his mother's sister). His chores included caring for dogs and chickens. Leonard attended school in Fort Chipewyan at the Anglican school and the Catholic Convent mission school up to Grade 8. He was raised in the Anglican church. Leonard left home at about 15 years old. His first job was in 1943, when the US Army came north. He worked as a dockhand for NTCL, unloading barges and loading trucks in Fort Fitzgerald. He later came to the Great Slave Lake area, fished for a number of years and had various jobs around Hay River, including in service garages, trucking, taxis, and as a school bus driver. In 1970 he was given the opportunity to take a boom of timbers to Inuvik with his tugboat for NCPC. He picked up the boom and a river pilot, Jonas Lafferty, in Fort Simpson and got as far as Tsiigehtchic before the river froze. Leonard spent the next six years in Inuvik, doing barging, timber cutting, pile cutting, and trucking with the oil companies operating in the area. After the Berger Inquiry halted pipeline plans, Leonard left Inuvik in April 1978 and moved to Grande Prairie, where he operated an oilfield servicing company. When the bust came, he started trucking on the Dempster Highway for a short time, but it wasn't profitable. He returned to Inuvik and went back to the small tug and marine service he had retained there. He also went into the taxi business with Delta Taxi and had a service station. Leonard sold out and left Inuvik in 1989, with the aim of retiring, but went into the tour boat business with the Arctic Star. After doing a couple of runs on the Mackenzie River and a summer season in Yellowknife, he moved operations to Hay River and also got back into commercial fishing. At the time of the interview he was fishing in the summer and running a couple of camps in the winter. He had recently suffered a stroke but was recovering well. Leonard mentions learning hunting skills from his uncle, which he still enjoys. His uncle and aunt lived off the land hunting and trapping, ran a small general store and bought furs, and had a boat and barge. Leonard's father trapped out of Fort Chipewyan in the Birch River Mountain area, Wood Buffalo National Park, and into the Northwest Territories. Leonard speaks briefly of the fancy clothes Metis people used to wear for celebrations and the way the dressed their dogs up too. He mentions some ways people entertained themselves in the past and games kids used to play. The interview concludes with Leonard advising young people to learn to be good workers, get themselves a job, and stay away from alcohol and drugs.
This recording includes sides A and B of the tape.