20 Canadian Arctic Expedition, 1913-18 



" Lake Rouvier is the source of what may be considered as the east branch 

 of the Dease river. The route crosses the lake, then cuts east over a low and 

 gently sloping ridge of tundra hills to the south side of the valley of the main 

 Dease river. It follows this to the "Garche" hills, crossing the southeast branch 

 of the Dease at "Big Stick island", and from the "Garche" hills, which are some 

 fifteen miles east of Great Bear lake, the route goes through the timber to the 

 lake. 



" With straight travel the above route would occupy about ten or twelve 

 days. The Eskimos of course have to sustain themselves during the trip, and 

 it takes them longer. It would seem that they usually leave the coast with 

 enough dried meat for three or four days. The whole Coppermine valley to 

 its mouth seems to be good caribou coimtry, but within two or three days of the 

 coast the people do not seem to rely on finding them. We ourselves, except 

 for three on the opposite side of the river which we could not get at, saw none 

 until we had left the Coppermine; but from then on we always had plenty and 

 without going out of our way to get them. Caribou offered an abimdant supply 

 of food and we had no need to consider fish or other sources of supply. In both 

 Dismal lake and Lake Rouvier, however, fish are known to be plentiful and the 

 Eskimos say that the many small lakes which are abundant throughout the 

 gently rolling tundra country are full of fish. Ducks, loons, bear, etc., are not 

 numerous, but are sometimes used by the people as a source of food. 



" Wood for various purposes seems to be obtained most largely from the 

 vicinity of "Big Stick island."' This place, about thirty-five miles east of 

 Great Bear lake on the southeast branch of the Dease river, is an area of several 

 hundred acres of excellent timber. It is surrounded by the Barren lands, and 

 is recognized as a good hunting ground both by the Eskimos and by the Indians 

 of Great Bear lake. It is here, when the Indians are hunting, after their return , 

 from the siunmer trips to the trading posts, that the meeting between the two 

 peoples takes place. 



" On the Coppermine itself timber comes to about twenty miles from the 

 mouth, but the trees there are small and stunted and consequently neither in 

 size nor in easiness of being worked are they adaptable for use by the Eskimos. 

 From that point on up the river, trees are frequently met with and in places 

 they attain considerable size. In the valley of the Kendall river, which connects 

 Dismal lake with the Coppermine, there is abundant timber, and at the east 

 and west ends of Dismal lake there is a small amount. The balance of the shore 

 of Dismal lake is said to be destitute of trees except for a small clump in a 

 cirque-like basin near the "Narrows." Lake Rouvier has abundant timber on 

 its north side. It was here that Fathers Le Roux and Rouvier had their house. 

 The main valley of the Dease is well timbered, especially as Great Bear lake is 

 approached. In all of this country the timber is confined to the immediate 

 vicinity of the river or lake valley; the surrounding hills and plains are a part 

 of the "Barren lands." 



" Mr. D'Arcy Arden, a well-known traveller in the north, who has made 

 his headquarters at the east end of Great Bear lake since 1914, tells me that in 

 1914 the Eskimos were wandering all through the country south of the east end 

 of the lake as far as Cape McDonnel (which is locally known as Caribou point). 

 From there directly east to the Coppermine, old tent rings and other signs of 

 their camps were numerous. 



" It would seem that " Big Stick island " and the country immediately 

 east of Great Bear lake are the main objective points of the Coppermine river 

 Eskimos in their inland excursions in the summer. There it is that they get 

 the wood for various purposes and there it is that they meet and trade with the 

 Indians. If any person were to look for the Eskimos at " Big Stick island " 



»Cf. Stefanason, Anthrop. Papers, A.M.N.H., Vol. XIV, pt. I, pp. 82-3; My Life with the Eskimo, 

 p. 222. ' 



