"Mr. Missabie told us [Indian children] that when he was a young man he lived where Toronto is today. "When the white man first cleared the land, they found my blazer on a tree, my marks for the trails. They also found some of my wooden traps."
At that time there were no steel traps to be had, so they made their own wooden traps. The crib was made with little poles circled around with the bait tied in the centre. An opening was left for the animal to get inside this crib and a big log laid across the crib. As the animal pulls the bait the log drops down and crushes the animal. This wooden trap can be made for any size of animal you want. Black bear traps can be made too, but have to be very heavy. "Any kind of fish is good for bait," he would tell us.
Mr. David Missabie left 'Toronto' when he was a young fellow. He worked his way north by canoe. After a few years of travelling he got into Lake Temagami and settled down on Bear Island for his summer home and at Obabika Lake for his hunting ground. He married, raised his family and spent the rest of his time in this area.
It always amazed me to think I actually lived to talk in person to this man who lived and trapped where Toronto is now located. I really believe this is a wonderful, most beautiful memory to have! Knowing an Indian who first lived in the land of Toronto! He was a very pleasant man, very tall and slim. A wonderful man!.."
|
