Origins of the RCMP

North to the Arctic Shores

Establishment of law and order, similar to settlement of the prairies, preceded the opening up of Canada's Arctic frontier. Although attention was focused upon the Force's dramatic role in the Yukon, the Force had already begun to extend its activities into the subarctic forests of Canada's Middle North: the Athabasca country, the Mackenzie River system and the Keewatin District west of Hudson's Bay. By the close of the nineteenth century, traders, trappers and prospectors frequently penetrated these areas. As a result there was a growing need for more effective control to protect the native people, enforce liquor laws and administer hunting regulations.

A patrol had been made to York Factory on Hudson's Bay as early as 1890. Another patrol three years later extended the Force's influence into the Athabasca country. In 1897, Insp. A.M. Jarvis and two men reached Fort Resolution on Great Slave Lake and later that year permanent detachments were established at Fort Chipewyan, Athabasca Landing and Lesser Slave Lake.

Because men were needed to police the Gold Rush, the movement to establish authority northward was slowed. It
did not pick up until Yukon conditions began to stabilize. Through a detachment and patrol network, the Force gradually extended its authority throughout the forest belt to the Arctic Ocean's barren shores. The end of World War I saw the entire northern mainland effectively brought under Canadian jurisdiction.

In 1903, a dispute between Canada and the United States over the Alaskan boundary location prompted a new thrust northward. The judicial council arbitrating the case decided in favour of the American claim. Ottawa became concerned that American whalers' activities along Canada's Arctic coasts might lead to further territorial loss. As a result Supt. Constantine, Sgt. F.J. Fitzgerald and four constables were ordered to proceed to Fort McPherson, at the mouth of the Mackenzie River, to explore the need for Western Arctic posts. Upon arrival at the settlement,
Constantine obtained detachment quarters from the local mission. He then returned leaving the rest of the men to
spend the winter there.

Sgt. Fitzgerald, meanwhile, continued on down the Mackenzie River. On August 7, 1903, he reached Herschel Island in the Arctic Ocean. Reports that whalers wintering on the island had been supplying Eskimos with liquor prompted the Sergeant's visit. Fitzgerald rented two sod houses from one of the whaling companies and with only four sheets of note paper settled down to spend the winter. He found little liquor but succeeded in making it clear to American whalers that henceforth, supplying booze to the natives must cease, Canadian laws must be respected and customs must be paid on all goods landed. In 1905, the Mackenzie District and Athabasca country detachments were organized as "N" Division with headquarters at Athabasca Landing.

Thousands of miles away, on the other side of the country, Supt. J.D. Moodie and a 16-man party were preparing to leave Halifax on the S.S. "Neptune" for Hudson's Bay. Moodie's task was to police the whalers using the area and establish a post from which to extend Canadian authority westward into the Keewatin District. Fullerton was chosen as the site for a new post on the west coast of Hudson's Bay facing the southern tip of Southhampton Island. Its harbour was a frequent wintering spot for whaling vessels. Moodie and his party arrived at Fullerton on September 23, 1903, unloaded their supplies and hastened to erect detachment buildings before freeze-up. During the winter one of the men went insane, and in the cramped quarters his sickness was a great strain on the others' nerves.

In the summer of 1904, Moodie left three men behind and returned eastward on the "Neptune" to report his findings to Ottawa. He returned immediately with reinforcements and orders to extend his activities throughout the entire Hudson's Bay region, now designated "M" Division. On September 17, 1904, his party sailed from Québec City on the C.G.S. "Arctic" commanded by Captain J.E. Bernier. During the second winter at Fullerton, Moodie sent out several patrols including a mail run to Churchill and back, a distance of some 1,100 miles.

To extend control over the area covered by these two new divisions, the Force began operating a system of regular winter dog team patrols. On December 27, 1904, Constable H.G. Mapley, with two other constables and a guide, undertook a mail patrol from Dawson and, discovering a short route through the mountain ranges, reached Fort McPherson on February 2, 1905, covering the 475 miles in just over a month. In February 1906, Constable L.E. Seller inspected whaling operations in Repulse Bay and Lyon's Inlet, more than 500 miles north of Fullerton.

The most spectacular patrol of this period was led by Inspector E.A. Pelletier. This young French-Canadian officer was given the task of establishing a link between "N" and "M" Divisions through almost unknown country east of Great Slave Lake. With a corporal and two constables, Pelletier left Athabasca Landing in June 1908. Traveling by Hudson's Bay boat, the party crossed Lake Athabasca and continued down the Slave River to Fort Smith. Here they transferred to two canoes, and with three months supply of food, began the long and difficult journey eastward.

Their route took them across Great Slave Lake, over the height of land and down the Hanbury and Thelon Rivers to Baker Lake. They traversed scores of portages and were constantly attacked by hordes of insects. Pelletier reported seeing musk ox and vast herds of migrating caribou. The first part of their journey ended at Chesterfield Inlet on August 31, 1908, when they were met by a whale boat sent from Fullerton. Later that winter, Pelletier continued southward by dog team to Churchill, Norway House, and Gimli, completing a patrol of over 3,000 miles.

By 1919, with 25 detachments, the Force had a strength of over 70 men, policing the northern frontier. These included 14 detachments in the Yukon under "B" Division at Dawson, and 9 under "G" Division at Edmonton Athabasca, Coppermine, Fort Fitzgerald, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Fort McPherson, Grouard, Peace River, and Herschel Island. "F" Division's detachments, Fullerton and Port Nelson, on the shores of Hudson's Bay, completed the Force's northern arm. It was a small band with which to police Canada's vast northern domain, but it was sufficient to ensure that Canadian laws and sovereignty were enforced. Only the most northerly Arctic islands remained to be brought under the Force's jurisdiction.

next: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police

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