Albany Old Post
SEPTEMBER 28, 2008 - Teepee Days Gathering
28.08.2009
Back in September the Fort Albany community held a 4 day celebration (Teepee Days) at what is called the Old Post site on Albany Island, right in the middle of the Albany River estuary, half way across the river to neighbouring Kashechewan. The island is where both communities began and there is plenty of history there, including a grave yard with many Orcadians (HBC servants recrutied from the Orkney Islands) buried there from centuries past. Also remnant ruins from the various fur trade companies and the competing Anglican and Catholic missions that ultimately divided the itinerant people into two sedentary communities.
The trip there takes about 20 minutes by motor boat, a crossing made during the event by a number of local freighter canoes that the organizers arranged for everyone. Here, Mairéad is seen bundled up and speeding towards the island ahead. Teepees set up on site can just be glimpsed as white dots on the green horizon. Over the course of the gathering teachings were shared in the various tents, the likes of traditional food preparation (goose plucking, cleaning and cooking), caring for babies, local history/storytelling at the cemetary, etc. The last days featured a Pow Wow.
