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CALL NUMBER: T1061:0001
SUMMARY: These tapes comprise a series of unedited interviews with residents of Fort St. James, Hagwilget and Moricetown, recorded by CBC producer Norman Newton.
TRACK 1: DONALD GRAY, Sun Chief at Hagwilget, tells legends of Carrier prophet "Bini", as well as the origin of Saskatoon berries, and the relationship between men and animals. He then sings several songs and explains their meanings. DAVID DENNIS of Moricetown sings a song about "Bini", then a love song that he composed. LIZETTE HALL, a member of the Fort St. James Historical Society and the great-granddaughter of the famous Carrier Chief Kwah, tells the story of the first missionary, as told to her by her father. The Natives were afraid of him because, after seeing him lighti a match, they understood him to be a man made of fire.
RACK 2: Mrs. Hall continues by telling the story of how her father was first baptized at the age of four by Bishop Demers, and the impact of the missionaries on the community. She discusses her father's view on religion be;fore the white people came. Then JOHN PRINCE, who is the Catholic native chief, sings a song composed by Father Morice, and explains the song; then continues to sing several more songs. Mr. Prince tells several more stories, including how the first missionaries arrived, why the HBC named the local natives Carrier, and why natives no longer trap. John Prince expresses his regret at the loss of "old fashioned ways" and the negative impact of contact with "whites". Then he recalls his experiences as a child with Father Morice. This is followed by several more songs, and Prince's discussion of the conversion of the Carrier to Christianity. He adds that most natives are no longer interested in the church, and describes the difference among church law, state law and the Carrier religion.

CALL NUMBER: T1061:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. ALEX McKINNON, a native sawmill worker at Fort St. James, discusses Carrier history, beginning with the arrival in 1842 of Catholic priest Father Demers and his half-breed Cree interpreter. He describes the native population at Fort St. James and their customs, and how the priest imposed monogamous marriages, including the story of a man who loved both of his wives but was forced to sell one. Then he describes later priests, and more on the life of native people at Fort St. James. Mr. McKinnon recalls an experience in 1946, when he was invited by Andy Paul, of the North American Brotherhood of Indians, to join him in Ottawa to speak on what natives wanted; problems with schools; how he was received in Ottawa. Then CHIPMAN WELLS, boat builder at Fort St. James, describes Fort St. James when he arrived in 1924, and his experiences as a boat builder. He continues to describe Stuart Lake; Fort St. James, and the impact of "whites" upon natives. TRACK 2: EVELYN M. HOY of the Fort St. James Historical Society tells the story of the murder of two German prospectors in 1930. The subsequent inquiry focused on native suspects, until the arrest in Alberta of a former companion of the prospectors. After several trials, he was acquitted. A few years later, he was arrested for possession of firearms and deported back to Germany. Mrs. Hoy was told that the German government, then controlled by the Nazi party, shot him for murder of three other people.

CALL NUMBER: T1061:0002 track 2 item 02 SUMMARY: After the last interview, there are some fragments of CBC Radio programs that were present on the tapes before the interviews were recorded over them. These begin with a musical excerpt from the program "Records for You" and an advertisement for the Devonshire Hotel in Vancouver. This is followed by an advertisement for the Grand Cafe in Prince Rupert, and an excerpt from the program "Talk of the; Town", described a "weekly sound picture of the city of Prince Rupert". This excerpt contains an interview with Tommy Black, Rotary Club past president and manager of the Northern BC Power Company, about the history, principals and goals of the Rotary Club. He mentions some accomplishments of the Prince Rupert local including helping start the nurses home, the public library, the Civic Centre,; and homes for seniors. The program concludes with an announcement of upcoming shows, including an interview with George Wilkins of Port Edward about his experience sailing from Honolulu to Tahiti, and with Eva Kirkwood Hackett about her long career in theatre.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-09-14 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. John Prince, born March 3, 1886, a member of the Carrier tribe, recalls Indian life with stories and songs, including anecdotes about the first white men, the first priests, stories about the legendary figure Astace, the Hudson's Bay Company, the Catholic priest Father Morice, and A.G. Hamilton, an HBC trader who sold the Indians liquor. TRACK 2: Mr. Prince goes on to sing and tell more Carrier stories, sing hymns in his Native language, and describe a throwing-stick game.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1966-09-14 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Lizette (Mrs. Ralph Hall), a woman from the Carrier tribe, discusses her father, Louis Billy Prince, who was born in 1864 on the east side of Stuart River. His father was a chief until a bishop removed him; she describes the circumstances around that. She describes her great-grandfather, Kwah, who lived to a very old age and was a nobleman. The people who lived on the reserve. Stories about their first encounters with huns and with white people. Mrs. Hall tells the story of how Sir James Douglas' life was threatened after a when the Native man was killed by two HBC workers near Fort George; the incident ended peacefully. She discusses the first priest in the area, named Father Nobili. Her recollections of Father Morice; he returned to the area in 1924 and was surprised at seeing the advancement of the Carrier people. Father Marshall, who came before Father Morice and other priests. TRACK 2: Mrs. Hall continues with a story about Father Morice and a printing press he left behind. Her recollections of Father Coccola, who ran the place with an iron hand, and the effects of his racial beliefs on the people. She discusses the Hudson's Bay Company and its relations with Indians.; Catholic influences on education, and the focus on the spiritual needs of the Natives rather than their bodily needs. The first public school in 1913, which was not run by the Church, lasted three years. Her experiences at the Catholic residential school; the loneliness that resulted from being taken from parents; penalties imposed for speaking their native language; the unsanitary conditions and; food served. The school's aim "to eradicate culture"; how Indian culture was practiced in private. Mrs.Hall relates some stories about the legendary figure Astace. She offers meanings and pronuciations of Indian names. Finally, she discusses Indian village life in the old days, including how winters were spent, and the raids by the Chilcotin people.

SUMMARY: This program features stories of the early Roman Catholic missionaries in the central interior of B.C. Voices heard are: Lizette Hall, Martin Starret, and Dick Walker.