“I was thinkin of de ice”

Métis mail carriers like Louis Miron and Michel Labatte carried harrowing tales of service and survival. Many reflected on navigating the unique dangers of traveling vast distances in all seasons using their deep knowledge of the lands and waters of their mail routes. 

The beginning of springtime, in particular, presented numerous dangers for Métis mail carriers, as the warming weather brought unpredictable and quickly changing ice conditions that could place mail carriers into life-and-death predicaments at any moment.

Long after his retirement, Métis mail carrier Louis Miron shared one such springtime tale with Edward H. Capp, Rector at St. Luke’s Pro-Cathedral, Algoma, for his annals of Sault Ste. Marie:

“I remember one day we leave Killarney early in de morning, de day was fine an de sun she high above in de heaven. Everybody was happy but me and I was thinkin of de ice. How she stan us? we haf no dogs wid us. Only my uncle an me was togeder. Well we start out early ‘cross de lak and work our way ‘long and everywhere we strike de pool, but I not think much of dat till ‘bout five mile out I was busy thinkin of something else and forget altogeder I was on de lak I heard someding crack. Den, I tell you, I not forget no more, but we both jump at de same tam, and when my uncle he come down again he go clean thro’.”

Drawing upon his life’s experiences and knowledge of the precarious ice conditions, Miron quickly jumped into action, using a long pole to save his uncle from the frigid waters before sending him onward to safety:

“What I do? No courir, he not ready for dat. We haf de long pole an I run dat pole ond to him and he grab it, and little by little he work his way on to de solid ice. We no say a word, we just work, an when he get out he tak de sleigh an’ start for de town as fas’ as he can do. Dat kep’ him from freezing, and when I get der too, we was all right.” 

Such stories speak to the immense seasonal knowledge of Métis mail carriers and their deep commitment to serving their communities despite the ever-present dangers and high personal costs.

See Our Sources

• The story of Baw-a-ting, being the annals of Sault Sainte Marie

Mini Crossword

Have fun with the facts by completing today's mini crossword.