Ruperts Land Girls School - Eagle Yearbook (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada)

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Ruperrfs Land College Magazine Last year, however, in celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Hudson's Bay Company, some of these old-time scenes were revived. Indians in war-paint and feathers came down the Red River in fur-laden canoes, attend- ed by the York boats, to trade at Lower Fort Garry and to renew their promises of friendship with the Company. Proud, strong men, remnants of the race which once owned Canada, who can tell their thoughts as they passed landmarks made almost unfamiliar by the white men? 1 4 -, . 4 w Y ,- After drawing their canoes up on the shore, they carried their packs up to the fort on their backs. They seemed to dis- dain the crowds of people who were trying to get a glimpse of them. They left their packs in one of the buildings and went out to a large grassy space around a Hag-pole, from which was flying a Canadian and a Hudson's Bay Company flag. 'Other Indians who had driven up the road in Red River carts, drawn by oxen, met them there. ' Sitting in a ring on the grass they solemnly puffed at the long Peace-Pipe as it was passed around to them. One old 17

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Rupe'rt's Land College Magazine THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY PAGEANT 119202 And in silence all the Warriors Broke the red stone of the quarry, Smoothed and formed it into Peace-Pipes. ' -LongfelloW's Hiawatha. No longer do the Indian chiefs meet around the council fires to smoke the Peace-Pipe of friendship and loyalty. They and their tribes have been driven Westward by the advance of l I i 1 civilization. No more can lumbering Wooden ox-carts be met on the rough prairie roads, as in the old days of our province's history. The herds of shaggy buffalo have passed from the Wide prairies and With these have gone the Wigwams of the Indians. HiaWatha's prediction has been marvelously fulfilled: All the land was full of people, Restless, struggling, toiling, striving. In the Woodlands rang their axes, ' Smoked their towns in all the valleys. ,X 16

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Rupert's Land College Magazine chief there was more than a hundred years old. His face was a study. Pride, contempt, and, above all, secrecy, were shown in his wrinkled cheeks and bright restless eyes. The Indians had their faces painted, red and blue seeming the favourite colors for these decorations. They wore suits of hides, decor- ated with brightly-colored feathers and beads, and soft moccasins. After they had smoked the Peace-Pipe they sang Indian songs in their queer throbbling language, accompanied by the beating of a drum, and in the evening they held a pow-wow in the fort and danced their native dances. Who will preserve these songs from oblivion? Who will transcribe the strange intervals in their primitive musical forms? Who will gather their art treasures into a permanent home, that all this picturesque color and character may not be lost to those who come after? MURIEL CURRY, , Matric. I. ODE T0 MANITOBA By MRS. H. M. SPEECHLY, WINNIPEG Through misty seas, by treacherous lake and stream There sailed, one hundred years ago, a tiny fleet Of boats from Britain-mother of gallant sons Who love the deep. Borne by the northern breeze, They reached the land of their desire-their chief A man, with prophet's vision, who beheld Cities with spires and towers, like battlements In quivering mirage, raised above the plains. Weary of travel, pastures green they found Near river-bank, whereon to make their homes.- Foes here they met, whom valiantly they fought And overcame, they ploughed with pick and spade, Harrowed with garden-rake, they toiled, they prayed, They dreamed of times when these great lonely plains Should hum with life, should throb with industry, When men should think with pride and gratitude Of those, whose hardships founded Rupert's Land. Then fifty years passed by: far-seeing sons Of Britain, east and west, sent out a call To join and form one country-Canada. And thus the growing middle westernland, Henceforward Manitoba called- a name Which means The Mighty Spirit's Voice - Became the heart of what was soon to be Great Britain's most illustrious daughter state. 18