submitted

Sioux Lookout resident Carol-Ann Madsen purchased a dusty old photo album at a yard sale in Sioux Lookout a few years ago. It turned out the album belonged to Gifford Swartman, a former World War II veteran and well-known local Indian Agent for the federal government. The album is full of black and white photos documenting his trips to northern communities in the early 1940-50s. The communities named are Webequie, Mishkegogamamng (Osnaburg), Cat Lake, Sandy Lake, Weenusk, Bearskin Lake and various unnamed places and faces.

I used to call Stan at his office once in while, just to chat and share my thoughts with him. Sometimes, he would start off when he answered the phone “Hello Luke.....what did Chretien say?”
Well, I would repeat what (Jean) Chretien had said when he was the Minister of Indian Affairs. “My government will do everything”. Stan would always laugh at that line. Then we would settle down to real discussion.