Magic meeting with Cree cousins
Discovery of First Nation 'family' is an eye-opener
by Kim Twatt
(From The Orcadian dated September 27, 2001)

Orkney woman, Kim Twatt (or Foden), who works at the Herald Printshop in Kirkwall, recently returned from a trip to Canada, where she was made an honorary Cree by descendants of one of her relatives, at the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan.

The journey began as research into her own ancestry, and the fate of descendants of one Magnus Twatt who, like so many Orcadians, left Orkney’s shores to work for the Hudson’s Bay Company, in 1771. The chance discovery that Magnus died in 1801, leaving a wife and children, probably native Indian, was to lead her halfway across the world in a search – ultimately successful – for his Cree descendants.

However, in making the visit this July, Kim found much more than she expected, and this is her account of the welcome she received. It is also a glimpse into some of the history of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation, which until the 1940s was named the William Twatt Cree First Nation, after Magnus’ grandson – and founder of the tribe – William Twatt.

125 years ago, on August 23-28, 1876, Treaty Six was signed between representatives of the British Crown and the Cree and Saulteaux nations at Fort Pitt and Fort Carlton, Saskatchewan, Canada. The treaty was a solemn agreement between signatories who agreed to be bound by the terms set out in the treaty. The First Nations ancestors signed the treaties to ensure survival as distinct nations with their own heritage, culture and distinct way of life for themselves and their descendants. The treaties are regarded sacred. To achieve these aims for this survival, in the days when buffalo herds were becoming scarce and settlers were making more and more demands on the land, the chiefs signed over 121,000 square miles of land in exchange for a promise of one square mile for each family of five people. They received treaty money of five dollars per capita per year, some farming implements, medicines and an assortment of benefits. Obviously a very one-sided arrangement.

Until a few months ago I knew very little of this.

Research

Readers may remember that I had been researching an ancestor of my own, Magnus Twatt, who had worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company for 30 years until his death in Saskatchewan in 1801. The master of Cumberland House had made an entry in his journal reporting Magnus’s death as follows, at eleven p.m. by the arrival of Magnus Twatt’s two sons and their mother I received the melancholy news . . .

As there were no records of a family in Orkney I believed that, like so many Orcadians working for the company, Magnus would have had a Cree wife and children. Persistently, thoughts of this family came to mind. I drove my husband mad with my futile questions. I was almost pacing the floor at times. One day, surfing the net, I came across the fax number to Sturgeon Lake First Nation office. The name Sturgeon River had cropped up in the journals in association with Magnus’s travels . This was a stab in the dark and the fax was fairly brief. Has anyone ever heard of Magnus Twatt? (One other similar fax was sent to Cumberland House.)

The reply was a stunning and wonderful surprise. “You have found your relations!”

Thus begun an extraordinary journey. The journey to meet my Cree relations, eighth cousins!

The journey had been made possible by my husband who, through kindness and extreme luck, had booked a holiday for us in Saskatchewan! Flights to Saskatoon, a hire car and flight home from Winnipeg would allow me to visit Magnus’s haunts. When he booked this holiday I still did not know about my relations, but he knew I had to get to that part of the world for the sake of peace in the household.

Pure magic

Sturgeon Lake First Nation had put me in touch with Alexander Dietz and his wife, Linda, in Saskatoon. Alexander, a brilliant scholar on the Indian people of Western Canada, works tirelessly for the First Nations. Having Cree relations is by no means rare among us Orcadians, since, in the late 1700s almost three quarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company workforce were Orcadian men, but to be able to find my relations 200 years later was pure magic.

This view of Sturgeon Lake was taken from the site of William Twatt’s house.

The Dietz family invited us to stay with them for a couple of days before travelling on to Sturgeon Lake Reserve. At this stage I was completely naive, knowing nothing of Cree life today, or even 200 years ago. Alexander knew the best way forward was a bit of guidance and then experience. Linda, Alexander and their son, Andrej, took us to Wanuskewin, Saskatoon, an interpretative site which gave us a grounding into the culture and lifestyle of Indians past. We then met Chief Earl Ermine, Jack Long and Craig Bighead from Sturgeon Lake Reserve. Over several cups of coffee they told me a bit about the reserve, its people, and their work and aims today. Craig introduced us to his wife, Shirley, who is Director of Health. We were invited to stay on the reserve and Shirley invited to a lunch at the Health Centre there.

Sturgeon Lake First Nation today has just over 2,000 members. It is located about 30 miles north-west of the city of Prince Albert. The reserve, no.101, consists of about 35 square miles with picturesque Lake Sturgeon running almost its full width. The Band Government consists of a Chief and six Councillors who are elected for a three year term. About half the band members live on the reserve with the other half living mainly in Saskatoon and Prince Albert. Living on the reserve are around 1,400 residents (including spouses of members who are not themselves members). The school, which took 20 years of negotiations before it came to fruition, caters for children from kindergarten to grade 12 (age 5-17) and accommodates 300 students. Other facilities include the Band office, health centre, a healing lodge, Council chambers, child and family services programme office, fire hall, water treatment plant, 205 residences, etc.

Medicine chest

Next morning we set off with the Dietz family for Fort Carlton. During Magnus Twatt’s time there working for the Hudson’s Bay Company the fort had been rebuilt up river. Magnus had helped with its construction. The fort today is in another location so, as a result, we were not looking at the exact buildings he would have seen but the layout and function of the fort were similar. Today visitors can see the array of furs which were traded by the Indians for goods such as Hudson’s Bay blankets, guns and ammunition, traps and supplies. Here, 125 years ago Magnus Twatt’s grandson, Chief of the William Twatt Cree Band representing 20 lodges (tipis), signed Treaty Six. William’s Cree name was Ah-yah-tus-kum-ik-im-am.

Treaty Six included a medicine chest, a unique feature of this treaty, which should equate today to medical health provision. The signing was made after four days of negotiation, deliberation and ceremony.

Armed with the information so far, I set off for Sturgeon Lake with husband, Robert, and 12-year-old son, Alistair.

Rather apprehensively I met Harold Kingfisher, great grandson of William Twatt, my eighth cousin, in Prince Albert. Any concerns were soon dispelled. Harold is a very warm and friendly man who was able to see things from my point of view. I soon felt that I had known him for years. Over the following four days Harold and his sisters, Yvonne and Carole, guided and looked after us. We were not overloaded with information. Our experience among all our new-found relations and friends filled us with information which is only starting to fall into place now we are back in Orkney. I will try to relate some here.

Branded

We turned off the metalled road onto a wide dust track.

“This is Sturgeon Lake Reserve,” Harold announced. We passed the store. The acres of bright, waving rape belong to farmers off the reserve who rent the land. Farming on the reserve became non-viable as authorities branded all First Nation people’s cattle. Branded cattle could not be sold off the reserves until they were three years old.

We were welcomed by Yvonne, her son Todd, wife Kim – and three daughters at the home which had belonged to Hannah, William Twatt’s grand-daughter. She had always told her children they were Scottish. Hannah knew I was coming just before she died. Yvonne presented me with family photos and one of her mother Hannah’s favourite books, Two Spirits Soar, The Art of Allen Sapp, a Cree artist. We ate, outside in the sun, the most enormous steaks I’ve ever seen. Alistair tumbled on a trampoline with his cousins while we tried to catch up with 200 years of family news.

The learning curve was becoming increasingly steep.

Harold took us to the trailer, kindly arranged for us by Shirley Bighead, where we were to stay as guests. We have a caravan but this was nothing like that. This trailer was larger than our house. It was great.

Kim and Alistair enjoy a picnic in the garden with some of their Cree relations.

Next morning I thought we’d have a wee look round before attending the lunch. There was a tap at the door. Three generations of friendly relations greeted me. Help! I couldn’t find a kettle, and did I even have enough food? They now know how completely incompetent their Orkney cousin is. Robert had to do all the catering as I was too gobsmacked to think. Everyone was most interested in our lives in Orkney, and the genealogy. As they rushed off to work, John and Norman Charles and Andy Naytowhow arrived. John Charles, like Harold, is a former Chief of Sturgeon Lake First Nation. He told me of the healing he performs, which at the time did not quite register with me. He was kind enough to show us his peace pipe and explained it had been given to him by an elder. He had felt unworthy and had given it back. This he had done three times before accepting it. He told me of the problems First Nation people face and how this is being addressed.

Harrowing

For many generations children were taken out of the reserves by the Government and forced to attend residential schools. Some of their experiences are harrowing to learn. As a result, as adults, these survivors of the system had no parenting skills leading, in turn, to generations of dysfunctional families with all the related problems. It took strong bonds to endure. Whilst in the schools children were forbidden to use their own languages. They were told their old customs were wicked. They were left with no self esteem.

John handed me his Healing Circle leaflet.

For the past years I’ve been helping people to deal with the negative and continuing influence of their childhood upbringing.

It has come to be called, “Healing One’s Inner Child”.

No one is born with low self esteem and with not liking themselves. We each began to feel that way when we were continually mistreated, abused, hollered at and punished when we were a child.

“. . . For most of us, our childhood was a constant struggle just to survive in fearful surroundings.”

The support group is based on the following

1. Taking responsibility to change ourselves and no-one else.

2. We are all of equal value and worth.

3. Non judgement of self and others.

4. Forgiveness of self and others.

5. To keep in confidence and never to share outside the group.

6. To come to unconditional love of self and others.

Unconditional love of self is a most powerful healing force. Until we learn to have self esteem and to like ourselves, we are ill-equipped to help another to do the same.

“. . . People must forgive their past and let it go . . .”

John placed his peace pipe carefully back in its box along with a stone brought by us from Magnus Twatt’s ruined farmhouse in Orkney and left. I have so many questions to ask.

Time to leave for lunch at the Health Centre. Robert, Alistair and I were not to sit at the back, Orkney fashion. No, this lunch was for us!

Star blanket

After a welcoming banquet, Chief Earl Ermine wraps Kim in a traditional Star Blanket – an honour normally reserved for elders.

Lots of people and lovely food, and bannock! Some bannock deep fried. Excellent. Shirley and her staff at the Health Centre, our hosts, had provided this splendid meal.

Chief Earl Ermine introduced us and welcomed us to stay at the reserve. He invited us to wander round the reserve and enjoy its beauty. He told everyone why we were there and where we came from. We were presented with a copy of The Treaties of Canada with The Indians, Alexander Morris’s fascinating account. At the signing of the treaties each Chief had been presented with a medal showing the Queen’s Commissioner shaking the hand of a chief. Robert, Ali and I each received beautiful, intricately beaded versions of this.

Chief Ermine placed a quilted, traditional star blanket round my shoulders. We, Robert, Ali and myself, were made Honorary Members of Sturgeon Lake First Nation, a huge surprise and honour. As if this was not enough generosity, someone suggested we had to be given our Treaty Money. Poor Chief Ermine and his Councillors then had to get out their wallets and find $5 for each of us. The afternoon was truly unbelievable.

By way of blowing my own trumpet here, I believe this honour has not been bestowed on anyone for many years. Jack Long recalled hearing that 30 or 40 years ago, former Prime Minister of Canada, John Diefenbaker, was made an Honorary Chief of the Band, complete with headress and everything. After the PM was made Honorary Chief, he gained the name nation-wide of “Dief the Chief”. (Diefenbaker was from Prince Albert and to this day there is a baseball team in the city called “Dief’s Chiefs”.)

Robert had brought along an Orkney flag which he presented and in return we were given Sturgeon Lake First Nation flag which flies proudly outside our house on special occasions.

Buffalo herd

Harold had Saturday mapped out and the learning curve would become almost vertical. We visited the graves of many of our relatives but most poignant was the site of William Twatt‘s final resting place. For months I had dreamed of somehow discovering how Magnus’ children had grown up, their descendants lifestyles and culture. Here I was, in this beautiful setting among all the people who were so kind to me. I am so extremely fortunate.

The traditional Star Blanket is unfurled by Kim and her cousins, ex-chief, Harold Kingfisher and his sisters Yvonne and Carole.

It was Alistair’s turn to ride a buffalo, or so Harold announced. So we drove into prairie land to seek out the reserve’s buffalo herd. They were a healthy looking herd of over 100 animals. Harold made sure none of us got too close. The land they were roaming was the old Treaty site where families would gather annually to receive their $5 from the Government.

Towards the south-west end of Sturgeon Lake is Amisk Adventures, an eco-tourism business leased by the Band this summer, on an annual basis, to Audrey Kingfisher. Several members of her family were busy there during our visit. Walleye, northern pike, whitefish, perch and even sturgeon can be found in the lake.

Canoes, boats and motors are available for hire but Dalton Kingfisher offered to take us on the lake, right round it in fact. He pointed out wildlife, beaver dens, the best fishing spots, his own quiet thinking place on the shore of the lake. Close by, the spot William would have come to below his home. Dalton explained that in those days the reserve was mainly thick with conifers. However, in the early 1900s a Canadian logging company cut down vast areas of these trees. Dalton graphically described the lake filled with logs ready to be floated down river. In July, 2001 Sturgeon Lake First Nation received the final settlement of a specific claim dating back to 1906 when timber revenue rights had been taken away from the First Nation. Beyond the narrows, at the other end of the lake, is an area of land which the reserve lost in what seems, in my unqualified view, to have been a rather dubious deal. The aim is to regain this land, and I wish them every success.

Relations

Alistair had a go at fishing while Dalton spoke of his wish, some day, to catch one of the whitefish in the lake. Within moments we heard an eagle cry above and almost simultaneously, two pelicans took off ahead of us. One dropped a fish which Dalton wasted no time in scooping up into the boat. It was a 4.5lb whitefish! Dalton steadied his nerves with a cigarette as we watched the eagle soar over the trees. Will it all prove to be a sign of good fortune for the Kingfisher family in their new adventure at Amisk? I hope so. We thanked Dalton for this amazing tour, which he admitted was the first of his planned Heritage Tours. Brilliant stuff, Dalton. Maybe a little less powerful action next time.

Some summer we hope to return to Amisk for a holiday in one of the chalets or tipis, and enjoy some more of Florence’s home-made soup and bannocks, or Lyle’s hot-dogs at the kiosk.

Back at the trailer a young lady asked us round to the White Buffalo Treatment Lodge for tea. There, children with various addiction problems are helped. Sturgeon Lake First Nation play host to the lodge.

That evening we were joined by many of my relations, including around 12 children who asked many questions about Orkney. There was an interest in our wildlife, Orkney’s young folk and the things they get up to, and Orkney in general. We sat outside until the sun set on another big day.

Robert Ermine had had a vision. He saw tipis with an elder in each. He saw children from the community listening and learning from the elders stories, legends and songs. And so the Sacred Circle Camp was born. By the shore of Lake Sturgeon there are at least six tipis with one large one where circles and ceremonies are held. During the summer local children use this day camp to enjoy singing, drumming, dancing, spirituality, storytelling. They learn respect for themselves and others, skills they will take into their futures as good citizens. They are taught in traditional First Nations way. Their Silent Area is just that. Simply the gentle swaying of the surrounding tall trees. Comfortable log benches form a circle here on a soft carpet of pine needles. In the camp the children have a small theatre in a natural outdoor amphitheatre, also a traditional sweat lodge. Robert Ermine says it is hard to teach everything you want to teach in seven weeks. But, if they learn to respect themselves then they may learn to respect others. Since the camp opened, three years ago, there has been a marked difference in the children’s behaviour generally. He is grateful, he says, to be given the opportunity to share the things the elders have passed down.

Healing project

As we left, a bus load of happy children arrived. They called for Alistair to play with them, but we had to leave.

Alistair had spent hours playing with the children in the lake at Amisk. Very noticeable had been the way in which so many children, of all ages, had played so easily together. There never were any tense or nasty moments. Just good fun. Alistair, too, had just been part of it all.

Our time at Sturgeon Lake was coming to an end and I was only beginning to understand some of the customs and traditions of our cousins, the First Nations people of Canada. I believe many of us could learn and gain much from them. I look at many things from a slightly different angle now.

Among the happiness, I had been given some grim accounts of experiences in the residential schools. None of it was told with any grudge, in anger, or even with an eye for sympathy. The resulting legacy of problems, for several generations, from the suppressive and often cruel education is being well addressed.

During our visit, The Prince Albert Grand Council Aboriginal Healing Project opened its office to offer counselling and support services to both former First Nations residential school students and their families. Present at the opening was Chief Earl Ermine. While an employee of the Grand Council, he had helped develop, and obtain funding for, this healing programme designed by First Nations people. He said: “The residential school had a negative impact both in our community and in urban centres.” Chief Ermine had spent six years as a student in residential school. “As you pass by the school, the memories stick with you.” The memories persist despite the school’s recent destruction by fire.

We had to leave. Harold took me on a drive right round the reserve. He pointed out the spot where he remembered the trader stopping when he came to trade for furs. We drove through land once wooded, land which at one time was farmed, and land sadly no longer part of the reserve but, hopefully, may be once again. Such a beautiful place with so many stories to tell. I wish everyone there all the best.

Modern society

I would like, finally, to add some reminders sent to me by a friend in Canada. Media folk seem to have a knack of embellishing the facts for their own reasons, which I assume include sensationalisation so that publications will sell well. When it comes to Indian matters a lot of writers seem stuck in the late 19th century since Hollywood has sensationalised that period for so many years. Some people seem to have problems grasping the idea that there is now a modern society of well educated Indians who are running their own programmes and getting along quite well in today’s world. Like any other society each person is different from the next and it is not proper to generalise about Indians than it is to generalise about any other group. Each person is an individual and lives their life the way they see fit. Some prefer participating in cultural activities and others do not. Some prefer following a more traditional lifestyle and others prefer a more modern lifestyle. Some prefer traditional beliefs and others are very involved in Christian religion.

This all makes clear sense to me now, but it was difficult to work out myself while I was there. I too, had tended to put everyone into a neat little box.

The learning curve is flattening out a bit now, but I will continue to keep close contact with the people at Sturgeon Lake, and keep on learning even now the journey is over.

My own personal wishes are that some day us Orcadians can welcome some of our First Nations cousins to see our wonderful islands, and share our heritage. There’s much to exchange. From Canada, storytelling, singing, drumming and dancing (pretty powerful and highly visible stuff) with a group offering to come over some day to give us a sample.

Meanwhile, I’ve started saving. The Sturgeon Lake First Nation Council Chamber lacks an Orkney chair!