Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Jean Marie River (Aug 05/05) - When Hilary Norwegian was asked to think of a historical topic for a school assignment, her great-grandfather Louie Norwegian came to mind.

"He was a good leader," she said. "And how he taught the children; he was a good father to them."

Her project was impressive enough to allow her to advance from her community to the territorial historical fair in Yellowknife in May. She then earned a ticket to Saskatoon for the national exhibition.

Norwegian, 14, was one of 165 students from across Canada to participate in the National Historica Fair July 11-18. The trip included educational tours of the University of Saskatchewan, Waskesiu Park, Batoche, Duck Lake and Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

"We did all sorts of activities," she said, adding that there were also opportunities to go shopping and swimming.

On July 15, the students put their projects on display at Saskatoon Field House. Norwegian said members of the public had lots of questions about her three-page, hand-written essay, which included interviews with her family members and several photos. She was also approached three times by the media, including a television crew, she said. Most of the other projects at the fair included cultural elements, she said, citing fiddling as an example.

Fred Norwegian, Hilary's great-uncle and current Chief of Jean Marie River, said the community is proud of her accomplishment.

Fred said Louie, his father, was a community leader from the 1950s-70s until he passed away. Technically he was a band councillor with the Liidlii Kue First Nation because Jean Marie River was considered a sub-band to Fort Simpson at the time, Fred explained.

Louie, a father of eight, lobbied the federal government to establish a school in the Jean Marie River in the 1950s. A new school house has replaced the old log building, but it is still named in his honour.

Louie also ran a store in Jean Marie River. He bought furs and kept the ledger in his mind, Fred noted. As well, he operated a sawmill, producing enough logs for everyone's homes in the community. Louie acquired a tugboat and barge so Jean Marie River could generate revenue; he transported firewood for the mission, RCMP and Hudson's Bay outlet in Fort Simpson; he organized an annual fishing expedition to Great Slave Lake to catch whitefish; he assisted with the community garden.

"He was a carpenter, a trapper, a hunter, a fisherman, a mechanic," Fred said. "Some of the things that he did were amazing."