Tag Archives: History

New History Talks: Queer History in Alberta

Understanding the past can help us understand the present. Join Tom, our resident historical storyteller, in unearthed stories of queer pioneers! Stories of same sex relationships, stories of gender-bending and gender-challenging, and even a few stories of Depression era movies and books available in Alberta with strong queer themes. QUEER PIONEEERS Stories of Sex, Gender,Continue reading “New History Talks: Queer History in Alberta”

Clio’s Armada: In the News

The town of Port Glasgow is embarking on a second replica of their claim to fame: the first commercially successful steamship. Built in 1812, Henry Bell’s Comet began taking passengers and changed the world of powered ships. For me, part of the interesting story here is that the new replica is not built to beContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: In the News”

Clio’s Armada: In the News

John MacFarlane and the Nauticapedia site were both a great help and inspiration for me when I started the Clio’s Armada project to study heritage boatbuilding projects. I’m very glad to hear that he and the BC Maritime Museum (who are also lovely people and very supportive) have taken steps to protect and continue theContinue reading “Clio’s Armada: In the News”

Dearest Mother: Appendix 3 – Mrs. Scheer and the Browns.

Eliza becomes involved in a marital dispute between the famous “Kootenai” Brown and his wife Cheepaythaquakasoon (Isabella). This was always one of my Dad’s favourite stories. The following comes from Marie Rose (Delorme) Smith’s “Eight Years on the Plains: Installment XI” in Canadian Cattlemen October 1949. Marie Rose was a Métis plainswoman from the DelormeContinue reading “Dearest Mother: Appendix 3 – Mrs. Scheer and the Browns.”

Dearest Mother: Appendix 2 – Laurence Long’s Account of Eliza Desmarais.

An account of Eliza’s colourful life by her grandson. The following comes from Eliza’s grandson Laurence Long, recounted in Fort Macleod: Our Colorful Past, published 1977. Eliza Demerais [sic] was born and educated in Westbourne, Manitoba in 1862. She married Michael Scheer in Carrot River and resided in Prince Albert until 1884, at which timeContinue reading “Dearest Mother: Appendix 2 – Laurence Long’s Account of Eliza Desmarais.”

Dearest Mother: Appendix 1 – A “Royal” name for the Desmarais.

Eliza’s grandfather chooses a grander name than his brothers. The following comes from the Memoirs of George Sanderson. Sanderson was an anglophone Métis born in Athabasca Landing to a mixed-blood family and grew up in Portage La Prairie. He was involved tangentially in the 1870 resistance in Red River. His autobiography provides a wonderful accountContinue reading “Dearest Mother: Appendix 1 – A “Royal” name for the Desmarais.”

Dearest Mother Pt 8: Cards from Friends

Postcards to a Métis Matriarch In 2024, my father shared with me some postcards he had kept. They were passed down by his great-grandmother, Eliza Scheer (nee Desmarais) a Métis midwife who ran a boarding house in Fort MacLeod in the early decades of the 20th century. Most, but not all, were from her sonContinue reading “Dearest Mother Pt 8: Cards from Friends”

Dearest Mother Pt 7: Cards from Family

Postcards to a Métis Matriarch In 2024, my father shared with me some postcards he had kept. They were passed down by his great-grandmother, Eliza Scheer (nee Desmarais) a Métis midwife who ran a boarding house in Fort MacLeod in the early decades of the 20th century. Most, but not all, were from her sonContinue reading “Dearest Mother Pt 7: Cards from Family”