Peter Erasmus a raconteur who helped shape the Canadian west
Born in 1833, Peter Erasmus was an adventuresome Métis from Red River who found himself in almost every expedition, treaty signing, and mission of importance from the 1850s to the 1870s, sometimes in a key role, at the very least in the background, in the stories that shaped the North-West.
Erasmus was a colourful and important character in the events that marked western Canada's transformation from the open buffalo plains of Rupert's Land into townsites and farmsteads. He was a remarkable and highly educated man, fluent in six Native languages as well as English, Latin and Greek, and respected by Indigenous peoples, settlers and explorers.
Trained by the church for missionary work, Erasmus instead became one of the "mixed-blood" guides and interpreters who helped shape the Canadian west. His long career as a celebrated buffalo hunter, mission worker, teacher, trader and interpreter made him a legend in his own time. His involvement in such events as the Palliser expedition, the smallpox epidemic of the 1870s, the signing of Treaty Six, and the last big buffalo hunt has ensured his place in history long after his death at the age of ninety-seven.
Erasmus’ book Buffalo Days and Nights is a lively and fascinating account of his experiences, first assembled with the help of Henry Thompson, an Edmonton reporter, in the 1920s. This classic in western Canadian history, available at Edmonton Public Library, offers an insider's view into the events that surrounded the start of a new era. Read one of his stories at http://www.yegtales.ca/erasmus.html
White-winged Crossbill eats up to 3,000 conifer seeds daily
White-winged Crossbills are an irruptive species, meaning that, when cone crops fail in their normal range, they can move far to the south. Their arrival in our area corresponds to the availability of food. The distinguishing characteristic of these birds is their crossed bill, an evolutionary adaptation allowing them to feed on cone crops.
White-winged Crossbills feed primarily on spruce seeds, eat up to 3,000 conifer seeds each day, and can be found in the boreal forest year-round. They feed in small flocks which work around treetops animatedly, hanging upside down like parrots, challenging others that come too close, then abruptly flying off to the next tree. They also descend to the ground to gather grit for digestion or to feed on fallen cones.
White-winged Crossbills are opportunistic breeders; they can start nesting at any point in the year when food is sufficient for the female to form eggs and raise young. The species has been recorded breeding in all 12 months. Learn more at https://edmonton.wbu.com/white-winged-crossbills-red-crossbills
Winter trails for dogs in the river valley
(Nick Croken photo)
Even in winter, our four-legged friends need fresh air and exercise. Though parts of the river valley are more suitable for snowshoes or cross-country skis in winter, with deep snow that isn’t as friendly for shorter dogs, there are several off-leash parks and trails in the river valley that make for the perfect getaway in the city to burn off your pup’s energy.
As with anywhere in the city, off-leash or not, be sure to be a considerate dog owner and scoop the poop, we all share the trails. If you are headed out to trek the trails with your pup in wintertime, make sure they are just as prepared for the elements as us humans are.
Here are some of our favourite spots in the river valley to take your dogs, Dawson Park, Hawrelak to Keillor Point, Mill Creek Ravine, Terwillegar Park, and West River’s Edge. These are either off-leash trails or are a trail adjacent to an off-leash park. In both cases, the trails are well-trodden enough by other walkers that you and your pup should not be knee-deep in snow at any point. Information on these trails at https://rivervalley.ab.ca/news/winter-activity-series-winter-pups/
Elk Island only completely fenced national park in Canada
Public interest in conserving rapidly dwindling elk populations lead to the establishment of an elk reserve in 1906. This evolved into Elk Island National Park. The “Island” in Elk Island’s name may have originated as a reference to the picturesque islands dotting Astotin Lake.
The park is situated in the Beaver Hills, an area, as the name suggests, abundant in beaver at the turn of the 19th century. What made the Beaver Hills unique was the aspen thickets which surrounded the prairie and provided forage and protection for the wintering herds of bison and year-round population of elk, moose, and deer.
Wildlife in the park includes coyote, rabbit, moose, elk, mule deer, hundreds of plain and wood bison, and at least 230 species of birds. Trumpeter swans have been re-introduced to the park. Elk Island has one of the highest concentrations of big game animals in the world.
Twenty-three bison were transported from Wood Buffalo National Park to Elk Island in 1965. When disease was detected in the herd, after infected cows produced calves, the cows were destroyed and the calves bottle fed. The wood bison in Elk Island today have descended from these bottle-fed babies. Learn about Elk Island National Park at https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland
Talus Dome by Ball Nogues Studio, City of Edmonton public art collection.
https://www.edmontonpublicart.ca/#!/details/61
Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712