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Page 2
On 5 August, 1875, Dominion Land Surveyor Duncan Sinclair started his survey of Twp 18 Range 21 WPM. By October 14, he was working on the north boundary of section 9. He shows three acres of plowed land near the dwelling house of Mr. Flett, a stable, and an "Indian school house". His report of the township:
"The Hudson's Bay Company's establishment called the Riding Mountain House is on Section 34. The Presbyterian missionary to Indians has built a comfortable establishment consisting of a dwelling house, a school house, a storehouse, and two stables on section 9. The Revd. George Flett and Michael Curran have begun to improve on section 6. There are two small Indian establishments composed of a few log huts, one on each side of the River near the middle of the Township. These settlements are indicated on the plan.
The Rev. Flett made his routine report to the Presbyterian Church on July 10, 1879, from "Riding Mountain", answering a number of printed queries. His congregation consisted of about fifty persons. Of these, there were four families which also practiced family worship, in each of which the parents were "communicants", i.e., full members.
"Most Indians wish to have their children instructed, but those who are Christians take a deep interest," he said.
On May 18, 1879, from "Okanase", the Rev. Flett wrote the senior Presbyterian minister in Manitoba, John Black,
"My dear sir, The enclosed will shake you. The land that I took up for the Mission I thought that you secured the land from the government long ago, but I have learnt from the land office at the Little Saskatchewan that you have not got it as yet. So I made the entry for said land. I am sorry to put our church to so much expense, but I could not help it.
"The place looked too mean altogether for a mission. The new house is nearly finished. I have added a kitchen 16 feet square and the kitchen and house are both well shingled. It has a very fine appearance. Both have cost me some £125, and all I got from the Church is £60. I count by pounds as the Indians know nothing about dollars. If our Church finds it too hard to make a grant to help me to finish or to pay off the expenses, let me have the place and I will return to the church all the money I got from her, say $300, and I will settle with the government for the land...
"Township 18 Range 21 section 9, the west half was taken up by me on the 16 of July 1874 for the mission, that is the Presbyterian Mission at Okanase. The northwest ¼ of section 9 is in the Indian reserve, but it was taken up by me before it was survey'd to the Indians, so it is government land.
"The woodland is on the southwest ¼ of 9. Mission house on the northwest ¼ of 9 section. The Indian reserve is inside the dotted lines 3½ miles by 2½.
That summer of 1879, Flett, with the help of one Hector Matthews, a widower who married an adopted daughter of Councillor Baptiste Bone, erected a log church of the well-known Red River frame style, (3) about 20 x 30 feet. When the HBC mill was working, siding was secured and put on over the logs. It was never painted. Many white people came to worship here. [The last service held in the building was a memorial service for Flett in 1897.] The church was on the land which the band had designated for that purpose at the time of the survey.
On February 6, 1882, Professor Hart wrote Professor McLaren that the Presbytery in May, 1881, had passed a recommendation that the Foreign Mission Committee make George Flett a personal grant of land, namely ten acres bordering on the Little Saskatchewan off the corner of the SW¼ s.9 Tp. 18 R21W.
"Mr. Flett wants this for a home for Mrs. Flett should she survive him. And we all feel here that Mr. Flett richly deserves this grant from the Committee.
"At the same meeting, the Presbytery recommended that the sum of $200 be given by the FMC to furnish the Okanase Mission Church. On the strength of this recommendation, Mr. Flett borrowed the $200 in Winnipeg and had the church completed. And ever since, he has been paying interest. Two weeks ago he paid off the person from whom he originally borrowed with money passed through my endorsation at the bank at a lower rate of interest. Mr. Flett strongly urges that he should get the interest he has paid for this money, amounting now to $25. He says, and quite truly, that he is unable to pay this from his own limited resources. . ." (4)
George Flett corresponded with the Foreign Mission Committee on September 25, 1882, from Winnipeg to explain his account of money due him.
"I borrowed $300 to build Church at Okanase a year ago last May, for which I had to pay 10%. $200 of the amount has been paid by the Committee, leaving due $100, and $40 interest up to date."
The Rev. Hugh Mackay had arrived at Okanase on March 29, 1884, with Flett, "Mr. Flett returning to Okanase after having spent the winter at Fort Pelly." MacKay stayed at Okanase ". . . in studying the Indian language and preaching on the Sabbath among the white people, also visiting among the Indians and preaching occasionally through an interpreter."(5)
In addition to Okanase, George Flett was also establishing other Presbyterian Missions in the Qu'Appelle Valley.
Footnotes
3. Red River style means a frame of hewed logs is set up and the spaces between are filled in with short logs.(back)
4. United Church Archives. 43-old#990, Hart to the Convenor, 6 February, 1882.(back)
5. United Church Archives, 147-old#1364. Report of Hugh MacKay, Round Lake, Mar 17 1885.(back)
