Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Apr 16/04) - A little piece of the Tsetso family's history has arrived at the John Tsetso Memorial Library.

Claire Molson and her husband David met Deh Cho author John Tsetso and his family while travelling the Mackenzie River in 1963. The encounter left such an impression that Claire kept in touch with them throughout the next several years. She wrote the preface to later editions of John Tsetso's book, "Trapping is my Life."

In December, Claire sent a package containing correspondence and photos of John Tsetso and family to the Fort Simpson library. In a one-page letter, she noted that she is moving from her Baie-D'Urfe, Que., home and decided that the library would be the best place for the keepsakes.

Librarian Lorraine Ocko said the material will be put on display once the Tsetso family has had a chance to review it.

There are 15 pictures, mostly in black and white from the mid-1960s, each with a brief description on the back. The letters, of which there are more than two dozen, include correspondence from the Tsetso children and from Father H. Posset on Lapointe Hall Roman Catholic hostel letterhead. He kept the Molsons updated on the status of the Tsetso family. In a letter dated Sept. 22, 1964, Posset writes to regretfully inform her of John Tsetso's untimely passing at age 43 due to pneumonia.

Ernest Tsetso, John's eldest son, wrote several of the letters to Claire Molson. He said he vaguely remembers her and David stopping in at his family's camp. Many local people visited as they boated up and down the Mackenzie, but most tourists usually took pictures or simply waved as they passed, Ernest said.

He recalls his father sending gifts and getting some in return. Claire's letters indicate she received pelts and she sent tea, cigarettes, clothes and coloured pencils for young Ernest and his siblings: Virginia, Florence and Walter.

"They (the Molsons) used to write to me but I was mostly in the bush so I lost contact," Ernest said. "Even now I'm in the bush."

He said he enjoys spending much of his time on the land, just as his father did. Lately Ernest has been travelling back and forth to his camp at Shale Creek, which is off the highway towards Wrigley. He's eagerly awaiting the return of the geese and ducks so he can begin hunting, skills that his father taught him and he has used all his life.