Tape Transcripts on Elder Ronnie Sheshamush
Whapmagoostui First Nation Member
Transcriber: Mary Shem
March 15, 2006

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Another interesting note I found by listening to other elders is when the Crees used to fight with the post traders and with the Inuit. One story tells us of what happened when the Inuit took over the post at Little Whale River, I spoke of that earlier, and I believe you heard that?! One Inuk told me that the stones are still visible at Little Whale River when troubled times existed there; they are remnants of one’s past. People fought with one another when food was scarce. They say that is how the fight got started at Little Whale River because the Inuit did not have anything to trade but insisted that they have food supplies.

In terms of Great Whale River, that was over 100 years ago when they settled here. I recall one trader who spoke Cree like any other Cree and knew the territory like us. He took care of the GW post. He was known as (wamistiigoosish), little Whiteman in literal translation. He and his people brought the church to Whapmagoostui from Little Whale River.

He kept the finest furs, fox, wolf, marten, mink and otter and of course beaver. They say he was the richest man in the territory. He also knew of the bible and spoke English very well. He was also a good hunter. He was like a walking encyclopedia. He also had an instrument which he would play, sometimes he would play but with much coaxing. We’d ask him to play but he would reply “no, the etos will hear…” I guess he was afraid of Etos listening to his playing.

Earlier I spoke of the fur trader giving whiskey in exchange for furs and that was when fights would erupt due to drinking incidents. In some cases they replaced tea with whiskey.

Our ancestors used to tell stories of the Little Whale River community. One time, they spoke of a ship that could not enter the river because of its shallowness. There are two islands near the mouth of the river, since the ship could not sail, the goods were left at the islands and they were being ferried out to the mainland. However an accident occurred, the delegation sank, and everyone was dead when they finally found the ferry.

An elder had spoke of why that happened because of one’s carelessness to the spirits. The captain of the whaling ship had killed too many whales at one point and certain rituals were not followed therefore that is why this incident occurred. Everything runs in a cyclical process, certain things have to be done so certain things could occur. They say that the captain had foreseen his destiny and he foretold what would happen because the animal spirits were not satisfied with his doing. Although he was a very good man, he had to leave so soon. That is one way of nature taking its course.

When they started giving food rations out, they gave out flour on Fridays, which is why it is called Flour-day or handing out food days on Saturdays. Madinwachisikaow is Saturday in Cree. Then rations stopped at one time. They did not give out rations for some reasons maybe because they were instructed to or because there was no food left anywhere.

Next