162 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



city of Winnipeg was a place of resort and James McKay was always 

 looked upon as a peacemaker among the many disturbing elements 

 of Old Assiniboia. 



IX. 



Hon. John Norquay. 



Among the men of note of the native people of Old Assiniboia 

 was Honourable John Norquay, a man of greatest ability in affairs, of 

 skill as a speaker and a successful leader of men. He was an honour to 

 Manitoba. Of Orkney and native descent he was a nephew of the 

 Arctic explorer, Captain Kennedy. Born at Cumberland House 

 on the Saskatchewan River, he was educated at St. John's College, 

 Winnipeg. Early in 1870 he became a representative in the first 

 local Parliament of the Province, and became premier of Manitoba 

 in 1878. He was an excellent speaker, a patient and cautious leader 

 and being of mixed blood was a most successful peacemaker among 

 the Manitoba gathering of people of polyglot tongues. His efforts 

 led on to the strong community feeling in his province, which has grown 

 markedly from year to year since his day. The Orkneys of Scotland 

 may well be proud of their eloquent son who died at forty-eight years 

 of age in 1889. 



X. 



Sheriff Colin Inkster. 



While almost all of these notables described have passed away, 

 there still remains the popular Sheriff of Manitoba, of Orkney and 

 native blood, who is still actively performing the duties of his office. 

 Born in Kildonan of The Old Red River Settlement he was on the 

 formation of the province in 1870 appointed a member of the Legis- 

 lative Council. On the Upper House of Manitoba being abolished by 

 the Mackenzie Government at Ottawa the Hon. Colin Inkster was 

 appointed High Sheriff and for forty-four years he has done his duty 

 without shortcomings or criticism. 



XI. 



Review. 



It has been the good fortune of the writer to be a contemporary 

 and to have acquaintance with almost all of the personalities that have 

 been described since 1871. The scattered elements of early Manitoba 

 have wonderfully coalesced. The heads of almost all of these native 

 families who saw the transfer of their prairie homes to Canada have 

 gone, but their descendants are to-day true and loyal Canadians. 



