Section II, 1917 ^ [241] Trans. R.S.C. 



The Pioneers of Jasper Park. 

 By D. B. DowLiNG, F.R.S.C. 



(Read May Meeting, 1917.) 



The early explorations of the central part of Canada devolved 

 largely upon the Hudson's Bay Company. With the entrance of 

 the Northwest Company, whose field of trade encroached upon that 

 of the older company, renewed activity was evident. Few of these 

 men were trained geographers, but their zeal and perseverance 

 carried them far beyond the bounds set by the traders of the Hudson's 

 Bay Company. They even drew some of the best men from this 

 service, notably David Thompson, the surveyor. The bounds set by 

 the Montreal associates for their sphere of action seemed to be all the 

 area under British domination on the North American continent. 

 Alexander Mackenzie, one of the partners, had explored the great 

 river that now bears his name, before attempting to penetrate the 

 mountain chains that lay to the west. In 1793, fourteen years after 

 he had entered the services of the North West Company, he ascended 

 the Peace river and crossed the Rocky Mountains into British Colum- 

 bia. By various routes westward he continued until he reached tide 

 water somewhere on Burke channel, presumably near Bcllacoola 

 of the present maps. The route thus marked out opened to these 

 adventurous traders a new area which they characteristically called 

 New Caledonia. 



The men who were sent in to occupy this new land were of the 

 sturdiest type. Simon Fraser who discovered the river that bears 

 his name was followed by Daniel Williams Harmon. Meanwhile 

 other partners had established posts farther south on the Saskatchewan, 

 and had reached the sources of the Columbia, thus trading w^ith the 

 natives of the southern part of the province and into the then debat- 

 able territory which forms a part of the present States of Oregon 

 and Washington, and thus by occupation at least providing an argu- 

 ment for the British claims to that area. 



The Indians of the plains who were being equipped with firearms 

 from the traders began to see visions of conquest over their neighbours 

 across the mountains, and even the incoming white settlers, and put 

 forth objections to the passage of trading parties through their passes. 

 More northern routes were then sought and in 1800 Duncan McGilliv- 

 ray reached the Columbia by what was afterward called Howse pass, 



Sec. I & II, Sig. 24 



