|
Old Fort Rae |
|
|
Through the late 18th century and the first half of the 19th century, the Dogrib
were one of the only Dene groups without easy access to a fur trade post within
their own territory (with the brief exception of a North West Company post, which
existed for a few years in the early 1800s). As such, they travelled as far away
as Fort Simpson (a two to three week trek) to trade for goods. Old Fort Providence
had been built on Great Slave Lake in the late 18th century, but a period of hostilities
with the Yellowknives kept most Dogrib away. It was closed in 1821. In 1852, the
Hudson's Bay Co. established Fort Rae at Mountain Island on the North Arm of Great
Slave Lake. New Fort Rae was built in 1893 when, according to Dogrib oral history,
Ewaingho 
(father of future Dogrib Chief Monphwi )
convinced the "free-trader" firm of Hislop & Nagle to build a post on Marian Lake.
In the very early 1900s, the Catholic mission and the HBC post moved to the new
site as well.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
| Old Fort Rae (NWT Archives/N-1979-073-0536) | |
 |
| New Fort Rae (NWT Archives/N-1979-073-0540) | |
|
