Athapapuskow means "Rock on Both Sides" in Cree, and the name was first recorded in 1795 when Cha Chay Pay Way Ti’s drew a map of the route to Hudson Bay for the explorer Peter Fidler.
I grew up spending my summers at my family's cabin in Bakers Narrows on Lake Athapapuskow. My grandfather had been a hunter and prospector. Every evening I would literally sit at his feet and listen to him tell stories about fur traders, Indian villages, outlaws and heroes. He created a mythical landscape that was alive for me. When I paddled my canoe around the lake I didn’t just see islands or bays, I saw an old Cree camp, a long forgotten mine, or remembered the story of a mad trapper.
My children did not arrive at Bakers Narrows until long after my grandfather and his stories were gone. So, inspired by the illustrated canoe maps of Real Berard, I decided to make them a map that documented his amazing stories. I interviewed old-timers and Cree elders, I combed through the archives of the Hudson Bay Company, and libraries around Canada. To my delight, the research verified most of my grandfather’s tales, and unearthed far more.
If you are as interested as I am in this remarkable region, which has been a busy crossroads for First Nations hunters, European explorers, coureur des bois, prospectors and trappers for thousands of years, you will want to display, study, or share this map.
Highlights
High Quality Print
History & Geography
High Quality Print
The map is printed on 24 lb display quality paper and can be shipped folded or rolled. It measures 30" x 36"
Local Lore
History & Geography
High Quality Print
The map is annotated with stories of characters, feats, and mishaps that you can't find in history books.
History & Geography
History & Geography
History & Geography
Learn the lay of the land, sights, canoe routes, and the characters behind the names you see on the map.