In the stories of the fur trade we were told or read, the women and children are not mentioned much. The fur trade stories are romanticised to be for only rugged lonely trappers and not family men with their families to support and feed.
Where Wabamun Lake creek runs into the North Saskatchewan river there was a trading post built there early in 1808. Wabamun creek enters the North Saskatchewan river straight south on Range road 31 on the north side of the river, about two miles upstream of the genessee bridge.
In 1808 a very prominent person in the North West Company in the Alberta territory, Alexander Henry the Younger, traded for the NWC and lived at Wabamun creek. His men built a fort in 1808 and called it the New White Earth post. Not to be confused with the White Earth Post many miles downstream.
It amazes me that the women and children outnumbered the men living at the trading post/fort on the creek that year. There were 28 men, 35 women and 72 kids living at this post. 135 people to feed. Lots of fish in the river and at nearby lakes and lots of buffalo in the area to keep them fed. Small garden plots too.
Now if you go to Wabamun creek you would be hard pressed to find the post site. Not much water in the creek and the river flat is worked fields. I've looked with no luck. Just another forgotten historic place.
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This country was started by voyagers whose young lives were swept away by the currents of the rivers for ten cents a day... just for the vanity of the European's beaver hats. ~ Red Bullets
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It is when you walk alone in nature that you discover your strengths and weaknesses. ~ Red Bullets
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