A James Bay Interlude by Theresa

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Hi Everyone! I'm up near James Bay, a few hundred kilometers south east from Dave in Churchill! My work has taken me to this pretty little place on an island in the middle of the Moose River and just a boat ride away from Moosonee where my plane landed. The Moose River drains into the James Bay. The landscape is the Hudson's Bay Lowlands and muskeg forests. The island itself and the neighbouring islands are prone to erosion because of the sandy, silty ground. Many fossils are found up here, as is the odd diamond. The diamond mine, De Beers, is up the coast near Attawapiskat, a reservation community in the region.

Moose Factory was originally a fur-trading post, set up by Charles Bayly of the Hudson's Bay Company, and a fort was built there in the early 1670s. Many of the original Hudson's Bay Company workers came from the Orkney Islands. Mostly Cree people live here, as well as the other settlements nearby (Moosonee, Fort Albany, Attawapiskat, Kashechewan and Peawanuk).

For more info, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_Factory,_Ontario

People in the community are very friendly. I have made many little friends who stop me on my walks to ask me where I'm going and what my name is.

Last week a few of us went to the "Haunted House Tour" that Moose Factory community members put on for the town. We were led into many dark rooms with scary strobe lighting and fog. Many scary witches, ghouls, and ghosts scared us silly as we felt our way through the dark passages. What fun!

Last week we also attended a community event of a Turkey Dinner for the "Week of the Child" celebration. And left with a free t-shirt.

A few days ago on my walk through the forest, I had a special treat in the melting snow....black bear tracks. And seeing as the snow just fell the day before and that morning, it means the bear was using the trail within a few hours of me. So, naturally, I continued to walk the trail. (wouldn't you?) And naturally, I started to sing out loud in order to deter said beast from surprising me and resulting in underwear of the tarnished kind. I was successful! and exited the bush unscathed. (wiping my brow of sweat).
Here are a few photos of my experience so far.

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Photos

Weeneebayko Hospital
in Moose Factory, where I am on site working.

Hospital houses
The hospital houses many locum heath providers who come up on a rotational basis. Mainly nurses, dentists and doctors.

clay soup
The silty muck from the lowlands dots our boots and pant legs with a lovely beige colour.

My apartment
3rd one down. Streets are not paved here. Cheaper property taxes, tho!

water taxis
to travel back and forth to the mainland (Moosonee)

water taxis
with a northern flavour! Plastic sheet windows and tarp rooftops, very chic.

another water taxi
takes us from the mainland (Moosonee) to Moose Factory Island

Moose River
at low tide

inside the water taxi
this one had a fancier roof. Kevin, my colleague and manager of the Northwest Telepharmacy Program

windsheild looks clear for
our viewing pleasure

dinner at the Eco Lodge
I was invited to join some locums for supper. Beautiful restaurant.

getting ready for snowballs
These girls, 2 doors down from me were preparing for a snowball battle with the boys.

sloppy roads
no paved roads anywhere, great muck when it rains and snows. Definitely rubber boot terrain.

sunlight
the sun came out to help me with my photo

Comments

[MOM]

bear careful
Did they not tell you never to walk alone, This is very scary my daughter, be careful, better carry pepper spray or something next time, Do you stay at the hospital while you are there, Dave's movie video is really something to see, beautiful polar bear. take care MOM

[Sarah Giles]

HBC
The HBC liked people from the Orkney's because they thought the people were "industrious, submissive, and free of disease"!