Memorials

• Henry Muminawatum
• Mary Anne Muminawatum
• Joe Keeper
• Delores Cromarty
• Johnny Walker
• Ida Paul

Henry Muminawatum

Renowned Northern photographer Murray McKenzie travels this month to Germany for an exhibit of his work at the Westfalisches Museum fur Naturkundle. The Museum has been preparing an exhibit of Native Art since 1993 and Mckenzie's will be one of the key features. This week we bring you the first of a series of McKenzie's insights in Northern life.

Twice this summer we've printed a picture of a York Boat. Although the pictures were different, they were coincidentally of the same boat the "Henry Muminawatum". When Murray came in to discuss the photos series he commented, "I've got a picture of that man." "You mean the boat?" we asked. "No, not the boat," replied McKenzie. "The man the York Boat was named after and I can tell you a little about him."

"Henry Muminawatum's last name means 'wind is calm'," commented McKenzie. "A good name for a York Boat man. This picture was taken at Norway House around 1980. He was watching the York Boat Days festivities on the lake. I was amazed by his big hands (from years of rowing, as a young man) he'd paddle from morning daylight to evening twilight and think nothing of it. He had worked as a York Boat man for 75 cents a day."

Muminawatum, one of the last professional York Boat men, was a key figure in the revival of York Boats at Norway House. In his youth the sails of the York Boats covered Lake Winnipeg like gulls, and for the better part of a century they were the principal means of transportation in Northern Manitoba.

The "Henry Muminawatum" is one of a dozen or so York Boat replicas pain stakingly recreated by the people at Norway House to recall the historic Fur Trade. The boats, a hybrid of scandinavian techniques and native canoe designs, were built and maintained by communities along the great interior water routes in the hundreds. Today only a score of replicas and a handful of museum pieces remain to remind us of a time when Lake Winnipeg was white with the distinctive square sails of these craft.

*Note: Information used from unknown source.

Mary Anne Muminawatum

Mary Ann Muminawatum Mary Ann was born on January 19, 1943 in Norway House, Manitoba. She had three children; Liane, Edward Jr. and Jackson Gordon. Liane a rower herself and her brother Jackson Gordon are both deceased.

It was believed that Mary Ann began rowing right at the start of our annual festival which was in 1974, there is an uncertainty of when she retired from the competition but it is known that she and her team mates won many races through out the years.

Sadly Mary Ann passed away at the Norway House Hospital on May 12, 1991. Her name will be carried on through out our annual Treaty and York Boat Days festival for years to come.

Joe Keeper

Joe Keeper Portrait Joe was born on January 21, 1886 at Walker Lake, Manitoba. He was the youngest of a family of seven boys and three girls. Being the only child to attend school, he was very successful. He was sent to Brandon Indian Residential School in 1889, not being able to go back home to his family for 10 years.

It was Reverend Joseph Jones, Joe's principal, who discovered Joe's outstanding performance of running. After coaching him accordingly, Joseph brought the young lad from Brandon in 1910 to train in Winnipeg at the North End Athletic Club.

On May 7, 1910 Joe entered his first serious competition. In this seven mile race he placed first of the forty competitors.

From 1910 to 1914, Joe won first place each year in the five mile YMCA race.

Another one of Joe's major accomplishments was setting a Canadian record. His time for the 10 Mile record was 54 minutes and 50 seconds. This race took place in Fort William, on May 24, 1911.

Having a successful season, Joe represented Manitoba at the Dominion Championships in Montreal. He placed second, attaining top achievement and recognition amongst all Canadian athletes.

In 1912, Joe reached the climax of his career. He was named to the Olympic team along with another Winnipeg man. During the Olympics, he placed fourth in the 10,000 mile race.

Upon completion of the Olympics, Joe joined the army in 1916 where he served for a period of two years. Serving in France, he was awarded the Medal of Bravery in 1917.

He represented Canada in Inter Allied Sports in Paris, following World War I.

Subsequent to the war, Joe was employed as a carpenter in Winnipeg. He later moved back to the North, where he got married and raised a family of four boys and four girls. Once in Norway House he worked for the Hudson Bay Company until he retired in 1951.

Upon retirement, Joe remained active within the community. He served as a Steward in the United Church. He was also President of the Norway House Community Social Club.

Joe passed away on September 21, 1971.

There is no doubt that Joe was and still is one of Canada's greatest long distance runners.

* Note: These are only highlights of Joe's running career. He still obtains approximately one dozen silver cups and some 33 medals from track victories.

Delores Cromarty

Delores was born on July 5, 1975 at Norway House, Manitoba. She was born to Henry and Patsy Cromarty. Coming from quite a large family, Delores had quite an ambition to the best in competitions she was involved in, her drive to succeed arose from constant competitiveness against her four sisters and one brother.

During her school years, she attended Rossville School. She was an excellent student with the capabilities of achieving the high standards expected of her. It was here in elementary school that Delores realized her running capabilities. Here on in, she was entering running competitions of all types.

Delores ran in most of the marathons that were held annually during the York Boat Days festival. She was always ranked among the top runners in her category. It is not certain of the placements she achieved.

In her late teen years, Delores gave birth to a baby girl, whom she named Cherilyn. Her daughter has the ambition she once had. She too will follow in her mother's footsteps as an athlete.

Delores unexpectedly passed away at the young age of 19, on July 23, 1994.

As a memoriam to her accomplishments a major marathon has been dedicated to her name and will be run annually during the York Boat Days festivals.

Johnny Walker

Immediate family, relatives and friends were interviewed to find out why the canoe marathon was named after the late Johnny Walker.

When Johnny was growing up, he spent most of his time on the trap line. There he learned to become a highly skilled trapper, fisherman, along with many other things involved in wilderness survival. One of the seasonal transportation moethods was using a canoe, even in the use of the canoe, Johnny became highly skilled in terms of "shooting the rapids", portaging and also just to mention another form of transportation was snowshoeing.

While utilizing canoe transportation, Johnny would find someone to team up with to enter other community canoe marathon competitions. He became a well known competitor and championships were won at these events, however before, during and after these events, Johnny always shared his legend story telling, more than often being very humourous as laughter is a form of healing.

Johnny often participated in square dancing competitions, He was also well known in snowshoeing winning many numerous championships. Although Johnny was a very talented athlete in all aspects of the traditional events. He is most favored for his canoeing, therefore that is why we have named the canoe marathon after him.

Ida Paul

The late Ida Paul was born and raised in Norway House. Her paddling skills started at an early age, for that was their only transportation. Her parents rowed a skiff boat to Warrren's Landing and that gave the ambition to start competing in the events as they were held year after year. She won in canoe races, in which one of her partners was the late Johnny Walker.

She was a participant in many events particularly in the York Boat Races and Women's Canoe Races. She was a very strong competitor and has been known to win championships of both York Boat and Canoe races.

She also competed in the York Boat races for many years. We are very proud to have the Women's Canoe Race in honour of her name.