Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:58:52 -0400 http://www.wendistewart.writersresidence.com en-ca © 2026 catching frogs - finding my Cree and Metis ancestry yes Canada 4c126c11-1ae4-5a63-a35a-397cf3ab9f5e Wendi Stewart episodic false Examining history while considering who was doing the writing, as I find my way to Nahoway, my great-great-great-great grandmother born circa 1772, and connecting with my Cree and Metis roots.

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Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts for their support of this project.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Wendi Stewart https://storage.buzzsprout.com/wq2ejvyvq86l4cw14ka0416lbd8u?.jpg http://www.wendistewart.writersresidence.com Wendi Stewart 24 - Fort Prince of Wales My trip across the Churchill River to visit the ruins of Fort Prince of Wales and my final day in Churchill. 

]]> My trip across the Churchill River to visit the ruins of Fort Prince of Wales and my final day in Churchill. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-14045410 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400 827 1 24 full false 23 - In Churchill Strolling around the small community of Churchill and getting a sense of where everything is and visiting various sites to gather information. My plans got changed due to the nesting terns. 

]]> Strolling around the small community of Churchill and getting a sense of where everything is and visiting various sites to gather information. My plans got changed due to the nesting terns. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13999239 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400 1324 1 23 full false 22 - On the train to Churchill A train ride is always a fun adventure and this proved to be similar to a train trip I made fifty-seven years earlier.

]]> A train ride is always a fun adventure and this proved to be similar to a train trip I made fifty-seven years earlier.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13971634 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400 1233 1 22 full false 21 - The Journey The road trip that took me from Nova Scotia to Winnipeg in my quest for knowledge.

]]> The road trip that took me from Nova Scotia to Winnipeg in my quest for knowledge.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13927195 Tue, 07 Nov 2023 14:00:00 -0400 1286 1 21 full false 20 - Finding Colin We look at how Colin Sinclair was reunited with his family and how he lived out his life at the Red River Colony.  Reflection on Nahoway's life.

]]> We look at how Colin Sinclair was reunited with his family and how he lived out his life at the Red River Colony.  Reflection on Nahoway's life.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13474945 Tue, 12 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1230 1 20 full false 19 - We say goodbye to William Sinclair William Sinclair died 20 April 1818.  What happened to Nahoway and her family after his death?

]]> William Sinclair died 20 April 1818.  What happened to Nahoway and her family after his death?

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13446818 Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1431 1 19 full false 18 - Where was William? Why learn about Colin Robertson? We catch up with William and find out what he had been up to while we spent time with Colin Robertson. And we look more closely at why Nahoway wanted me to find Colin Robertson. It all makes sense now.

]]> We catch up with William and find out what he had been up to while we spent time with Colin Robertson. And we look more closely at why Nahoway wanted me to find Colin Robertson. It all makes sense now.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13297237 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1495 1 18 full false 17 - Disaster at Red River Colony The North West Company was at war with the Hudson's Bay Company and were determined to destroy the Red River Colony in 1816. The history books place the responsibility for the destruction on the shoulders of the Metis, but according to Colin Robertson and James Bird and the accounts they share of the Seven Oaks Massacre, blame in truth lies solely with the North West Company.

]]> The North West Company was at war with the Hudson's Bay Company and were determined to destroy the Red River Colony in 1816. The history books place the responsibility for the destruction on the shoulders of the Metis, but according to Colin Robertson and James Bird and the accounts they share of the Seven Oaks Massacre, blame in truth lies solely with the North West Company.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13286214 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1120 1 17 full true 16 - What is to become of the Red River Colony? Robertson re-established the Red River Colony by offering the settlers who remained a chance to begin again. It would not turn out as he had hoped. 

]]> Robertson re-established the Red River Colony by offering the settlers who remained a chance to begin again. It would not turn out as he had hoped. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13281849 Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1343 1 16 full false 15 - Colin Robertson and men make their way to the Red River Colony Robertson details in his journal of the travel between Terrebonne, Quebec and the Red River Colony, a journey that took 47 days.  They spent the night of July 6th on a piece of geography that is precious to me. 

]]> Robertson details in his journal of the travel between Terrebonne, Quebec and the Red River Colony, a journey that took 47 days.  They spent the night of July 6th on a piece of geography that is precious to me. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13225573 Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1077 1 15 full false 14 - Colin Robertson in Montreal Colin Robertson was in Montreal where he was recruiting men for the Red River Colony. He wrote in his journals about how the North West Company attempted to undermine his progress. The details are important to and explain the struggle of the Colony but I was interested in learning about the character of this man and the evidence his journal notes might give me and how he responded to difficulties and what his perceptions of people were. I was able to glean some idea of the man.

]]> Colin Robertson was in Montreal where he was recruiting men for the Red River Colony. He wrote in his journals about how the North West Company attempted to undermine his progress. The details are important to and explain the struggle of the Colony but I was interested in learning about the character of this man and the evidence his journal notes might give me and how he responded to difficulties and what his perceptions of people were. I was able to glean some idea of the man.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13205657 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1211 1 14 full false 13 - Colin Robertson William Sinclair returned to Scotland to tend to his declining health. I turned my attention to Colin Robertson's personal journals to learn more about the man who extended a great kindness to Nahoway, a kindness that kept his name linked to Nahoway's family tree for generations to come.

]]> William Sinclair returned to Scotland to tend to his declining health. I turned my attention to Colin Robertson's personal journals to learn more about the man who extended a great kindness to Nahoway, a kindness that kept his name linked to Nahoway's family tree for generations to come.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13174113 Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1728 1 13 full false 12 - The Settlers Arrive Settlers began arriving from the Scottish Highlands and Ireland to make their way to what would become the Red River Colony.

]]> Settlers began arriving from the Scottish Highlands and Ireland to make their way to what would become the Red River Colony.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13133049 Tue, 18 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1918 1 12 full false 11 - More from Oxford House Post Nahoway and William had seven children during their time at Oxford House, in addition to the four they already had. 

]]> Nahoway and William had seven children during their time at Oxford House, in addition to the four they already had. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13109006 Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1563 1 11 full false 10 - William and Nahoway at Oxford House Oxford House post, built in 1798, was the home where William and Nahoway lived together the longest, raising their family. 

]]> Oxford House post, built in 1798, was the home where William and Nahoway lived together the longest, raising their family. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13065830 Tue, 04 Jul 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1548 1 10 full false 9 - More of William Sinclair William Sinclair returned to York Factory in 1783 as servant to Humphrey Marten Chief of York Factory where he met Nahoway and their life together was taking shape.

]]> William Sinclair returned to York Factory in 1783 as servant to Humphrey Marten Chief of York Factory where he met Nahoway and their life together was taking shape.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-13045641 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1789 1 9 full false 8 - Smallpox We can't examine the details of life during the fur trade without considering the impact of smallpox on Indigenous people.

]]> We can't examine the details of life during the fur trade without considering the impact of smallpox on Indigenous people.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12946302 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1289 1 8 full false 7 - William Sinclair William Sinclair is my great-great-great-great grandfather, married to Nahoway. He signed on with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1782 and sailed to York Factory from Orkney aboard the King George, to begin his contract as servant to Humphrey Marten. The French had other plans. 

]]> William Sinclair is my great-great-great-great grandfather, married to Nahoway. He signed on with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1782 and sailed to York Factory from Orkney aboard the King George, to begin his contract as servant to Humphrey Marten. The French had other plans. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12927304 Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1734 1 7 full false 6 - Churchill Homeguard Who were the Churchill Home Guard and what role did they play at Fort Prince of Wales during the fur trade?

]]> Who were the Churchill Home Guard and what role did they play at Fort Prince of Wales during the fur trade?

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12921860 Tue, 06 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1538 1 6 full false 5 - Original People of the Great Swampy Land Examining Victor Lytwyn's book, Original People of the Great Swampy Land, published by the University of Manitoba Press in 2008. Lytwyn's purpose for writing this book was, in his words, to "challenge many stereotypical views of the Lowland Cree in the previous literature".

]]> Examining Victor Lytwyn's book, Original People of the Great Swampy Land, published by the University of Manitoba Press in 2008. Lytwyn's purpose for writing this book was, in his words, to "challenge many stereotypical views of the Lowland Cree in the previous literature".

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12886667 Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1279 1 5 full false 4 - Louis Bird, Omushkego Elder Louis Bird created extensive volumes of oral stories of the Swampy Cree. Consider the differences in the written historical account as compared to the oral histories.

]]> Louis Bird created extensive volumes of oral stories of the Swampy Cree. Consider the differences in the written historical account as compared to the oral histories.

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12868589 Tue, 23 May 2023 09:00:00 -0300 1445 1 4 full true 3 - Writers during the fur trade Examine more closely the writers of the Hudson's Bay Company upon which we relied for a view of the history of that time. 

]]> Examine more closely the writers of the Hudson's Bay Company upon which we relied for a view of the history of that time. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12868020 Wed, 17 May 2023 13:00:00 -0300 1869 1 3 full false catching frogs trailer what's it all about

]]> what's it all about

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12866805 Wed, 17 May 2023 10:00:00 -0300 77 trailer false 2 - Women of Red River Critically examine Women of Red River , written by William James Healy and published in 1923 for details of Nahoway and her descendants

]]> Critically examine Women of Red River , written by William James Healy and published in 1923 for details of Nahoway and her descendants

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12863371 Tue, 16 May 2023 20:00:00 -0300 960 1 2 full false 1 - Why? Introduction to my personal journey to reconnect with Nahoway, my great-great-great-great Omushkego grandmother. 

]]> Introduction to my personal journey to reconnect with Nahoway, my great-great-great-great Omushkego grandmother. 

]]> Wendi Stewart Buzzsprout-12863250 Tue, 16 May 2023 19:00:00 -0300 1319 1 1 full false