W.B. Cameron Papers - Articles Relating to William McKay.

This file consists of 7 items, including a newspaper article and typed copies of stories told by or about William McKay. The file also contains second and third copies of some of these items. Item titles are: I. When Baptiste's Rations Were Stopped; II. Sitting On The Tent, Saulteau (5p); III. William McKay and the Chippeweyans (10p); IV. Shoonias, Diplomat (8p); V. The Cat (9p); VI. How a Cree Indian Family Name (Ahenakew) was Founded (2p); Handwritten annotations by Cameron.

Historical note:

In 1927, the University of Saskatchewan hired William Bleasdell Cameron to gather interesting material dealing with the early days of settlement from the old-timers. Cameron's chief interest, since he was a former servant of the Hudson's Bay Company, was in the Metis and Native people. Much of his information came from other former servants of the Company. William McKay, son of John R. McKay, was born in 1819 at the Hudson's Bay Post at Beaver Creek (now in Manitoba), when half of the whole business of trading in the famous Swan River country was done under this famous factor. This post was situated in the valley of the Assiniboine near the mouth of Beaver Creek, and was about 400 yards east of the site on which Fort Ellice was established in the autumn of 1831. William was apprenticed to a trader by the Hudson's Bay Company, and rose by sheer merit to chief trader in 1866. He served at Fort Ellice until 1870 when he was put in charge of the Swan River District. In 1872, having been promoted to factor, he was transferred to the charge of the troublesome post of Fort Pitt in the Edmonton District where he remained until his death in 1884. The hereditary family mantle of the Bear Skins descended on him and he enjoyed great prestige among the tribes. He was described by some of the noblemen with whom he came :n contact in connection with the great company, as being one of "Nature's Noblemen".