South Peace Historical Society

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  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

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02-025: Discoveries of the Monkman Pass

By Dorthea Calverley
Until 1982 the discovery of the Monkman Pass was usually credited in publications to a Metis, Alex Monkman. The original settlers at Kelly Lake have always disputed this view and their claim has now been recognized in the publication, The Monkman Pass and Trail: a Brief History by Mike Robinson and Dave Hocking [Petro-Canada Coal Division, P.O. Box 2844, Calgary, Alta, page 22.]

In 1922 Mr. Gerry S. Andrews became the first school teacher in the Kelly Lake settlement. The settlement was first established by two Metis families about the year 1900 with the first to arrive and start trapping being St. Pierre Gauthier. The Kelly Lake people alleged as early as 1923 that Gauthier “led” Alex Monkman to the Pass, although William Calliou and John Belcourt “were knowledgeable about the area in the early 1900’s, and may have actually been the first to penetrate the pass”.

St. Pierre Gauthier’s part in locating the pass has been recognized by the Provincial Surveys and Mapping Branch who named a 7100 foot mountain peak in his honour.

« 02-024: Alexander Monkman – Miner, Trader, Trapper, Cattleman, Agriculturist & Pathfinder

02-026: Gardens in the Fur Trade Days? »

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