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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF Ken McKay, from Norway House, I would never have been offered the opportunity of taking part in the York boat expedition. We didn’t always agree once we were on the river, but he has my respect and my extreme gratitude. I should also mention that I have the utmost admiration for his boat-building skills. In addition, I must offer my sincere thanks to the other members of the crew for allowing me to share their adventure. They are: Charlie Muchikekwanape, Wayne Simpson, Ryan Simpson, Gordon McKay, Edward Monias, Nathanial “Simon” Clynes, David Chubb Jr., Murray Balfour, John Wesley, Ken Ormand Sr., and Benjamin Paul.To a man, they demonstrated tenacity and absolute dedication to the task at hand. Their forefathers, the early Cree tripmen, would have been so proud of them. I would like to comment on the friendship that Charlie and Wayne showed me from the start in Norway House and during our time on the river. It was important to me and much appreciated. I know I am indebted to many other people of the Cree First Nation from Norway House; most notably I would like to single out Irv Swanson and Albert Tait. Irv met me at the airstrip and introduced me to Norway House and the York boat crew. Albert befriended me, kept me amused with his nonstop jokes, and drove me around Norway House and the surrounding area. I enjoyed his company and will always regret that he was not able to join us on the river.

I am deeply grateful to Mark Ingebrigtson from Churchill for his support during a series of visits to Manitoba. Likewise, in Winnipeg, I owe thanks to Rob Bruce-Barron of CanZeal Ltd. who arranged for my journey with the Norway House York Boat Expedition, and, on two occasions, found room and a bed for me in his home. Over a few years, Denis Maksymetz at Travel Manitoba and Charles Hatzipanayis from Industry Canada gave me much leeway in my travels around their beautiful province and opened many important doors for me. I thank you both for your generosity. My thanks also to Tim Muskego and Neil Bradburn at Oxford House for their kindness to me while I waited in vain for the Norway House crew to arrive in 1995.

On the canoe run from Oxford House to York Factory, I thoroughly enjoyed the company of fellow author Barbara J. Scot, biologists Valerie Hodge and Herbert Koepp and, from Winnipeg-based Wilderness Spirit Adventures, the highly skilled and irrepressible duo of Rob Currie and Mark Loewen. Rob and Mark shared with us their enthusiasm for great Canadian rivers and their seemingly inexhaustible supply of humour. Thanks also to their partner and mentor, Bruno Rosenberg; and to the Discovery Channel television crew who joined us briefly late in the journey. The cooks at Knee Lake Lodge deserve credit and our gratitude for feeding six cold, wet, and weary voyagers one stormy evening. Eric Saunders of Silver Goose Camp Ltd. sent me useful information on York Factory, which I received with thanks. Finally, thanks to Air Canada for getting me to Winnipeg and home again.

As with a previous book dealing with Hudson’s Bay Company history, I am extremely appreciative of the ever helpful staff at the Archives of Manitoba/HBC Archives in Winnipeg.

Some of my fellow writers in the Canadian Authors Association have given me so much encouragement over the past few years; they deserve mention, especially: Matthew Bin, Karen (kc) Dyer, Suzanne Harris, Margaret Hume, Jean Kay, Bernice Lever, Anita Purcell, Arlene Smith, and my favourite Irish author — Patrick Taylor. Thanks so much.You are special people.

My thanks to Barry Penhale of Natural Heritage Books (part of the Dundurn Group) for taking on this project and for his encouragement. Thanks also to Dundurn Group publisher Kirk Howard for accepting me into his publishing family. My editor, Shannon Whibbs, deserves special mention for her patience with me during the editing process and for her considerable editing skills. Thank you so much. I have enjoyed working with you, Shannon.