THE FIRST CANADIAN WOMAN 

 IN THE NORTHWEST 



The Historical Society of Manitoba at its meeting on 

 Dec. 12th, 1901, authorized the printing of the following 

 paper : 



Marie Anne Gaboury, the daughter of Marie Tessier and 

 Charles Gaboury, was born at Maskinonge, in the diocese of 

 Three Rivers, on the 6th of November, 1782, and was baptised 

 the same day by the Rev. M. Rinfret, who was in charge of 

 the parish. One of her uncles, M. Gaboury, took orders and 

 lived at Saint Sulpice for a long time. 



For eleven years young Marie Anne Gaboury lived a quiet 

 and peaceful life serving at the priest's house, without the 

 least suspicion that the years which were to follow would 

 bring such incredible changes in her existence. 



During the winter of 1806, a young Canadian, named J. 

 Bte. Lajimoniere, who had just spent five years in the North 

 West came down to Canada to visit his family residing at 

 Maskinonge. 



The aged still recall the sensation produced in the parish 

 by the arrival of a voyageur from this far off country. All 

 the world came to see him, to speak with him, and above all 

 to listen to him : he had many wonderful tales to recount ! 

 What marvelous facts fell from his lips, they were not always 

 strictly true but what did that matter ; they were interesting, 

 what more could one desire ? 



It is not surprising to learn that Marie Anne Gaboury, 

 then twenty-five years of age, after much persuasion obtained 

 leave from the old housekeeper to be present at the evening 

 entertainments, of which the young voyageur was the hero, 

 given in Maskinonge during the winter of 1807. It was prob- 

 ably at one of these reunions that she became acquainted with 

 the young hunter and allowed herself to be charmed with his 

 tales. 



