HISTORY OF ALBERTA

A Homesteader Family Perspective

This is a continuation of the Metis Nation History.
It is one view of the mixing pot for my Metis, Indian and European cultures.
The quest for my Garneau family roots began in 1953 in Alberta, Canada.
Our multicultural family is shaped by those who went before us so a brief pre-history is included.

01/30/2007  

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The Garneau family trek into Alberta is dated between 1871 - 1875.

The actual arrival of Lawrence Garneau (1840-1921) into the Fort Edmonton, North West Territories area, is shrouded in mystery. It is known he sold his homestead at Red River, District of Manitoba in 1870 to avoid losing it to claim jumpers. He attended a baptism November 1, 1870 in Red River. We know he was in the Fort Edmonton area, North West Territories in summer of 1874. To complicate matters he was in the process of changing religions from Anglican, at Red River, to Roman Catholic in Fort Edmonton. It is highly likely he spent this missing period (1871-1874) on the prairies involved in the buffalo hunt and freighting from Fort Edmonton to Red River, then on to Saint Paul, Minnesota, wintering at various Metis towns. It is equally possible they wintered near Fort Edmonton or Devils Lake (Lac St. Anne), or more likely Trail Creek des Metis. He was a free trader and not in the employ of the Hudson Bay Company.  He was known to freight to the Peace River region.

The Garneau District of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is named after my great grandfather, Lawrence Garneau.  A number of attempts have been made to erase his contribution to the history of Edmonton.

Lawrence Garneau was caught up in the Dakota Resistance Movement of 1861-1863, and the Louis Riel Resistance Movement of 1869-1870.  He was involved in a Vigilance Committee to stop illegal squatters, namely Joe Bannerman M.P., the not so Honorable Minister of the Interior (1882-1883).   He was almost hung in Fort Edmonton during the second Riel Resistance Movement (1885), and was involved in the defense of St. Paul de Metis, Alberta from the Roman Catholic Church infamous Father Therien claim jumping of (1908).  He considered the grand buffalo hunts of the Prairies as the highlight of his life.
 

Do I Hafta?  by Richard Freeman

You don't have to journey into your past,
but if you do have a great day!

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