HISTORY

Beginning with surveying and engineering studies in 1928, the Island Falls power development was established within the traditional hunting territory of Cree families whose homelands had been along the Churchill River for centuries. During construction in 1929-30, these First Nations people, and others, were drawn to the employment opportunities at Island Falls. Thus the “sister community” of Sandy Bay came into being near the site of Sturgeon House, once occupied by early fur traders between 1799 and 1801.

The Churchill River Power Company was supported in the beginning and throughout its existence by these First Nations people. Initially, Company surveyors made use of the natives geographical knowledge. During the construction period, the Cree labour pool supplemented the imported white crews.  Afterwards, the day to day operation of the Camp depended on a relatively large number of Sandy Bay men kept on the CRP payroll. Their contribution ranged from tasks required to keep the Camp functioning, such as garbage collection and road maintenance, to the skilled trades: plumbing, carpentry and mechanics. As the following pictures show, First Nations men worked side by side with the whites, laying the plumbing, framing the buildings, driving the trucks, painting the houses and running the boats.

These photographs are selected mainly from the Northern Lights Magazine articles found elsewhere on this site. Can anyone provide us with names of unidentified people?

Please send us more photos!

The Camp's Sandy Bay work crew in 1954. L. to R.: Back row, Leonard Ray, Magloire Nateweyes, Peter Ballantyne, Ernie Ray, Etienne McDonald, Moise Bear Jr., John Merasty. Middle row, Paul Caribou, Moise Bear Sr., Isaac Bear, Herb Peterson, Marcel Bear. Front row, Jean Marie Bear (standing), Gabriel Morin, Edward Bear, Tom Merasty, Charlie Charlotte, John Dorion, Frank Ray, Joe Morin, David Merasty, Phillip McCallum (standing).

An early photo of Dan Merasty, who was considered to be an old-timer by the time he worked on the 6th unit in 1947.

Magloire Nateweyes, expert canoe man, hunter and guide, 1962.

Linemen Bill Jonasson, Angus Bear Sr. and Charlie Ver Wilghen.

Angus Bear Jr., mechanic and tractor driver.

Carpenters Etienne McDonald and Alex Morin.

Frank Kirkland and Tom Merasty work on the new houses.

Alex Strindlund and Leonard Ray pipefitting at minus 35 degrees.

Mechanics Ken Bracken and Joe Morin.

Mr. and Mrs. Antoine Morin.

Mr. and Mrs. David Merasty on their wedding day in 1956.

On April 7th, 1956, the North lost one of its oldest inhabitants in the death of the late Mrs. Louis Morin of Sandy Bay. This remarkable old lady was virtually the mother of Sandy Bay village. She married Louis Morin, the first Hudson's Bay factor at Pukatawagan in 1883 and their twelve children were born there. After Louis' death the family moved to Sandy Bay. About fifteen years ago an accident necessitated the amputation of one of Mrs. Morin's legs.

Notwithstanding this handicap she continued to get around amongst her family as usual until this past winter. She leaves to mourn her at Sandy Bay ten of her own children — of whom the eldest is a son aged seventy two — sixty-one grandchildren, fifty-two great grand-children and two great, great grand-children. There are seventeen families living at Sandy Bay now who are direct descendants of this fine old matriarch.

Angus Ballantyne and Dave Merasty, truck drivers.

Mr. and Mrs. Magloire Nateweyes, 1961.

Mr. and Mrs. Ansel Morin, 1961.

Cecelia and Maggie Ann Morin going home from church, 1961.

A group of Sandy Bay and Island Falls girls in the skating rink. L. to R.: Virginia Charlette, Veronica Morin, Emily Sinclair, Marie Louise Charlette, ? (hidden), Nora Ballantyne (with the goofy look on her face and standing slightly tilted), ? (hidden), Irene McDonald, Flora Nateweyes (with the white fur ear muffs), Barbara Westbury, Linda Bowman, Margie Bear, Lillian Bear (dark and petite in the front row), Yvonne Bear, Kathy Goertzen, Judy Russell, Veronique Caribou (very serious looking), Angelique Linklater, Dorothy Bear. [Our thanks to Alison Ballentyne for these names]

1958 construction crew from Sandy Bay. Back row: Jonas Ballentyne, William Bear, Andrew McDonald, Sam Ballentyne. Second row: Sudley Bear, Cyril Daniels, Joe-Joe Charlotte, Robert (Lepa) Morin, Ralph McDonald, Ovide Bear. Third row (seated): Eli Nateweyes, Paul Morin, Frank Brazier, Peter Linklater. Front: Alfred Montgrand, Frank Ray.

Pipefitting crew: Magloire Nateweyes, Leonard Ray, Matthew Nateweyes, Alex Strindlund.

Miss Willett's class, 1960.

Mr. Heicht's class 1960.

Miss McDougall's class, 1960.

Mr. Stasiuk's class, 1960.

The "Happy Gang", Eli Natoweyes, Alfred Montgrand, William (Bill) Bear, Peter Linklater, Angus Bear Sr.

Harry Bighetty, store clerk, and Gabriel Morin, plumber, 1961.

Atihtlahit (Mrs. Antoine Bear) and grandchildren preparing beaver skin.

Harry Bighetty, Chuck Hill and Paul Morin in the No. 2 commissary.

Louis Bear and Louis Ray, 1963.

Sulaht (Mrs. Bud Ray) and Adele (Mrs. Louis McDonald).

Gilbert and Harry Morin, 1963.

Cornelius Bear and David Merasty, utility truck crew.

Back: Esther Bear Murray (daughter of Angus and Antoinette) on the left, Yvonne Merasty on the right. Front: Cecelia Merasty on the left (with eyeglasses), and Roseline Daylight.

Marcel Daniels and Angus Ballantyne, 1963.

Mrs. Louisa McCallum, 1963.

Interior decorating crew, Ralph McDonald, Philip Morin, Louis Bear and Bill Caribou (kneeling).

Alf Broster and his carpenter crew, 1963.

Isaac Bear, 1965.

Peter Linklater and Norman Nateweyes, 1966.

Click here to see more of Flora's photos.

These are Flora's three great-grandchildren, Evan, Kayden and Tristen.

Back row: Colleen Rivard and her mother, Flora Smigel. Front row: Flora's granddaughters Kandyce Rivard and Tannis Young, with Tannis's three sons, Kayden (held by Kandyce), Evan, and Tristen. Taken in Winnipeg, September, 2004.

This is the house in Sandy Bay where Flora was born and grew up. It was built by her father, Alex Morin.

This picture was taken in the 1950's.

Lena Morin Bear with her grandson Ryley Spencer tanning hides at a camp on Britton Lake, halfway between Sandy Bay and Pukatawagan. Photo by Keith Spencer, July 2002.

The child, George Stewart, died in a drowning accident when he was about eight.

Nancy was born in 1901 at Pukatawagan, MB, where she married Flora's dad, Alex Morin. The photo is not dated, but it looks like Nancy was in her late 50's.

See also the 1946 Northern Lights Magazine special article on Sandy Bay

Kennetch Charlette of Sandy Bay is given a Toastmasters International award, 2006