1

The Reverend George McDougall (1821-1876).
1860
?

Credits:
Glenbow Archives NA-345-34 United Church film studio.

2

George McDougall was the first missionary sent by the Canadian Methodist Church, accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth Chantler and their young son John. Although George McDougall was not well schooled, he was an energetic lay preacher and businessman. A convert to Methodism he came to the west from Ontario after some formal training and practical experience:

3

Mrs. George McDougall.
1860

Credits:
Glenbow Archives NA-1010-22 Field, Montreal, Quebec.

4

Gerald Hutchinson:
… And so he became the man that the Canadian Methodists decided would be the leader of this new thrust into the west, where they were taking over the whole of this western territory. In 1860 he came to Norway House. He lived there two years and then he came on his first trip, in 1862, to Edmonton. He brought young John with him and visited Steinhauer, then visited Woolsey, and did the trip around. He didn't get right down to the Bow River on that journey, but they travelled far enough to see that this area was the center of their mission work and that Norway House was yesterday's chapter. Edmonton was the new centre of their work.

5

'We carried the haycocks in between us on two poles'
1866
Pigeon Lake, Alberta

6

George established and oversaw missions in the present-day provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Although his spent most of his time at the Victoria Mission on the North Saskatchewan River, he opened missions at Fort Edmonton and Morley and helped to reopen the abandoned mission at Pigeon Lake.

In establishing these missions, his task was also to promote the agricultural settlements started by Robert Rundle, preparing Aboriginal people for settlement. George McDougall died in 1876, perishing in a blizzard during a buffalo hunt. His son John would carry on this work. In many ways, John was better prepared than his father, having learned Aborginal languages and practices in growing up with Aboriginal people.

7

The Reverend John McDougall (1842-1917).
1870
?

Credits:
Glenbow Archives NA-589-2 United Church film studio

8

Gerald Hutchinson:
… John had these tremendous skills, including sympathy, understanding and friendships with First Nations people. He just fit into the picture. He was the number one friend of Chief Samson, for example. He had working partnerships galore.

9

Letter from the Department of Indian Affairs to George McDougall
1875
Ottawa

10

… But he was also so able and was extraordinarily useful to the government and the whole process of settlement. He was called in over and over again in the opening of the whole west and the establishment of the new white culture that was now going to overcome what had been before.

11

Quote from McDougall, John. 1898.
1865
Victoria Settlement, Alberta

12

John married Abigail Steinhauer. In 1864, Their "honeymoon" consisted of traveling from Whitefish to Pigeon Lake to reopen the mission, now abandoned for nearly six years. Allong with missionaries Peter Campbell and Henry Bird Steinhauer, the Canadian Methodists oversaw missions at Pigeon Lake, Edmonton, Victoria Settlement and made occasional visits to Rocky Mountain House.

13

Prairie on fire, 1867.
1870
Central Alberta

Credits:
National Library and Archives of Canada 1946-139-1
Artist: Alfred J. Miller

14

John McDougall writes of traveling through the land to the Pigeon Lake Mission in 1873:

Three times during the day I met prairie fires, and to the inexperienced there would have been great danger, for many have lost their lives in this way. The old traveler looks for wet ground or short grass and waits until the waves of flames pass and then proceeds. When in the evening I camped by a creek, at midnight the fires where upon me from all quarters. So I adopted the old plan, set fire to the grass and then moved my horses onto the burnt ground. Saturday noon I sighted Woodville Lake, one of the finest sheets of water in the great northwest. And literally full of Whitefish. The lake is about 15 miles long, 6 wide. I was anxious to reach the mission house without being observed, but the Stoney were on the lookout. And long before I reached the house a multitude came running to meet their old friend. My first task was to shake hands with upwards of 300 persons."