The Scots influence on Hudson’s Bay people
I recall reading a Leopard about a year ago, asking for information on Hudson’s Bay Stores in Canada. I visited stores in Sugluk, on the Hudson Straits and Fort Chimo on the south end of Ungava Bay in 1956 and 1957.
The photo (above) of the Hudson’s Bay store at Fort Chimo shows the profound influence Scottish managers had on the Eskimo (Innuit) people. Not only in the dress of the women, but also in their music and dancing. Dances included the Eightsome Reel, Lancers, Gay Gordons and the music was all Scottish tunes played on accordion by Eskimo men. Most H.B. managers, I believe, came from N-E Scotland.
At Sugluk all the locals rushed down to greet us as we arrived on our Norseman float plane or helicopter. Again a lot of tartan to be seen on ladies’ dresses. I appear with the Eskimos in front of the Fort Chimo Store and also in the inquisitive group admiring our helicopter at Sugluk.
About five years ago, I visited an agricultural museum (an old iron shed full of equipment from farming in the good old days) in Alford. I was fascinated by the exquisite album with photographs taken by poet Charles Murray during his esteemed career in South Africa. Adjacent to the album was what appeared to be a very valuable Cape of Good Hope Bank (Kimberley Branch) cheque for £5,338,650 and signed by Cecil Rhodes! The payment was By De Beers Consolidated Mines to purchase assets of Kimberley Central Mines which went into liquidation. De Beers has never looked back with this acquisition of fabulous rich Kimberley diamond pipes and mines.
I am most impressed with the quality of the magazine. Keep up the good work! Much better than The Press & Journal and Buckie Squeak.
I was brought up near Buckie, and graduated in Geology from Aberdeen University (1956) My mother’s side of the family was the Cruickshanks who hailed from Brunthall, Turriff. I spent 14 years in Canada, and the past 38 years in Australia. Hope you find this to be of interest to your readers.
Norman Shepherd
shepnc@optusnet.com.au