H. B. Young of the H. B. Co., Edmonton returned from a visit to Lac la Biche
on Thursday. He reports considerable hardship among the poorer class of the half
breeds there this winter. The fall fishery which is the chief dependence of most
of the people for the winter was a comparative failure, tens being caught where
thousands were required. This was the greater loss as the little crops of barley
and potatoes which most of the people raise were also generally a failure last
summer owing to the drought. At best the people are very poor, depending on their
gardens and the lake for food and the catch of fur in the winter for clothing
and other necessaries. This winter, on account of having so little provisions
ahead and the snow being deeper than usual they are unable to hunt, and with
this their last source of supply cut off they are in a really pitiable
condition. They are preparing a petition to be forwarded to the government
setting forth the necessities of the case and, also its urgency. They would like
to get assistance for the poorer people to tide over the weeks until spring
opens and a little seed barley and potatoes to start them in the spring. The
English half breed settlement at Victoria is also in need of assistance in the
way of seed grain next spring, and would e glad to pay for it in work on much
needed improvements on the road to Edmonton. It is to be hoped that the minister
of the interior will not overlook the necessities of these communities in the
distribution of the relief seed for which he has placed a sum in the estimates.
It may be mentioned that all the seed grain required can be procured in the
Edmonton settlement - that it will not need to be freighted in from the railway
- and therefore the cost will not be great for all that these poor people
require to give them a new start.