Photograph provided by Liz Burke |
|
|
Fred met his wife Madeline [Nidele] Needlay at Fontas. They were married and lived at Snake River for a number of years and then moved to Fontas. The only time they went to the Old Fort was to get supplies. In 1962 they were told to move to a reserve at Mile 295. It was decision they had to make. They chose to move having thirteen children. At the time of moving Fred's house was not ready to move into, the family lived in a tent until it was finished.
|
To provide for their children Fred hunted and trapped. He worked for Forestry, fighting fires and for the Airport, slashing. When he hunted, most of the time, he was successful and would share with the community.
When he trapped, the distance from his trap line to the reserve was far. He usually travelled by dog sled. He enjoyed this activity, except the when it was really cold. The furs he got were sold to the Hudson Bay Company or to fur buyers.
|
Fred taught most of his sons to hunt and trap. He taught them to set snares, skin animals, make animal stretchers, rafts, canoes and wooden boats, and to cook and prepare food. Madeline tanned moose hide and made beautiful beaded footwear, jackets, mitts and other beautiful art work which was sometimes sold to the Hudson Bay Company and later the Friendship Centre.
|
|
|
Larry and Fred rafting -photograph provided by Liz Burke
|
Madeline taught her daughters to sew. They could cut out a pattern for footwear, pants, shirts and other clothing. Beading was most important. She taught them to make beaded slippers, mukluks and mitts. She also taught them how to scrape the hair and the flesh off the hide of animals. She was very strict with her children. Madeline died March 24, 1984.
Fred talked about his past. He remembered the horse team which travelled from village to village selling supplies. He talked about family members and where they are buried (Snake River, Fontas and Old Fort). When the Army was building the highway there were a lot people living in Steamboat.
Once Fred was flown to Crooked Lake and placed in a hospital for two weeks. There was a large airport and an Army base there. He also recalled a time when Madeline, Celine and himself went into Muskwa Cafe. None of them knew how to speak English. After several attempts of getting something to eat they were given some tea and biscuits. Each time the waiter came to their table Celine would ask for tea in her Slavey language. The waiter did not understand her. He remembered going in hungry and leaving hungry. When telling this story to his daughter, Fred laughed and laughed throughout.
When Fred had some free time he would sing some native songs. He either sat in his room or on the living room couch tapping his right hand against his left, almost as though he was drumming. He was also known to play the fiddle with his friends. One of his friends was Michelle Parson who was famous for playing the fiddle. They played tunes when a gang of them got together. They played cards (poker games), hand games and had a great time at tea dances. Fred died February 28,1997.
Fred and Madeline's children include:
