Shortly after the turn of the 20th century, the area now known as Sioux Lookout became settled by outsiders, mainly men constructing the Canadian National Railways main line across Canada.
With those work crews came assorted other settlers, including the hoteliers, restaurateurs, clothiers, trappers, explorers, mining claims stakers and entrepreneurs in the forest industry.
The first settlers were a rough and tumble, rugged lot of individuals. There were others before these. In the two centuries preceding the railroad, fur traders traveled extensively by canoe throughout the whole of northern Canada. Again, mostly men, they were a hardy bunch who fought and schemed among themselves to acquire the bountiful fur harvests of the Aboriginal people living on the land.
Although relations among the Natives and the traders were generally amicable, the history of the Ojibway community of Frenchman’s Head on the Lac Seul Reserve bounding the western edge of Sioux Lookout illustrates the consequence of deceit in the early days.
In the 1700s, having been swindled by a French fur trader, some of the local band members tracked down the culprit, extracted their revenge, and placed his head on a pole stuck into the river bank where all those traveling by would be aware of the foible of cheating.
Through the years, Sioux Lookout continued to evolve as a pioneer town. Although schools and churches attracted families starting in the early 1900s and the population grew slowly, the main attractions continued to be forestry, mining and aviation. The shift from a frontier town to today’s fully modern community has been gradual. It’s hard to point out any one event or series of occurrences that marked a new direction in development, however without question a huge impetus in the changing face of Sioux Lookout during the past decade has been the establishment of First Nations organizations in town, including several Tribal Councils, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, Tikinagan Child and Family Services and Wawatay Native Communications Society.
Sioux Lookout Chief Administrative Officer Merlin Dewing pointed out, “The population of Sioux Lookout from 1996 to 2001 experienced an increase of 3.3 per cent, going from 5165 to 5340 (1996 restated to include annexed areas). Growth is expected to increase substantially and steadily in the next five years.
“North of Sioux Lookout are 29 First Nation communities with a population of approximately 30,000. Most of these northern communities are accessible only by air and Sioux Lookout acts as their service center. As Sioux Lookout services a population several times the size of its own population, it has many more amenities than one would expect in a town of its size,” Dewing continued. Among other features Sioux Lookout now has a new large supermarket, rivaling any similar stores anywhere in Ontario west of Thunder Bay, a new retail lumber and hardware store, two new hotels, a municipally owned clinic, and new public and Catholic schools.
Municipal council has identified the town’s gateways – highway 72 and the airport – for commercial development starting with infrastructure servicing. The Sioux Lookout Meno-Ya-Win Health center has started a new $90 million hospital construction project and a $10 million associated hostel is under construction. In addition, another medical clinic is due to be built to the tune of $6 million, a new long term care facility for $10,000 and an $11 million expansion of the Ministry of Natural Resources base has been announced and is in the planning stage. The SiouxLookoutMunicipalAirport has an $11 million multi-year development plan in place. It is the fourth busiest airport in its category in Canada, with more than 100 scheduled departure flights each week carrying more than 100,000 passengers annually.
Along with the rapidly changing physical face of the town has come a new enthusiasm among Sioux Lookout residents and visitors for a bright future.
The September conference of Community Living Ontario brought upward of 600 delegates and partners for a weeklong stay, a feat undreamed of only a couple years back when all the hotels in town had fewer than 200 rooms in total. A Saturday night concert headlined by prominent Canadian band GreatBigSea drew more than 4000 cheering spectators from Minnesota, Southern Ontario, Winnipeg, and every town in Northwestern Ontario. A late September train tour originating in Winnipeg included an overnight stay in Sioux Lookout where travelers viewing the fall colors of Northwestern Ontario spent the following morning touring the town, and visiting the museum and heritage park before boarding their train to continue the sightseeing trip.
Careful planning over the years has protected and enhanced the traditional resource based tourism industry in the area. Now, and in future years, improved and expanded facilities will enable a wider range of tourism attractions and the ability to host greater numbers of visitors. In the words of one town councilor, “We should now be known as the conference center of Northwestern Ontario.”
Confirming the widely held belief that Sioux Lookout is a fine town in which to work and raise a family, Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairman Brad Hyslop pointed out the vibrancy of the growing population and economy. “Our geographical position gives us great economic advantages. This area was the crossroads of North American transportation even before the fur trade days and Sioux Lookout continues to be the logical place to be the hub with our location on the transcontinental rail line, our airport and our position on the roads to the north.”
Sioux Lookout has thrust itself into the 21st century with sound planning and a determination to continue its role as a leading player in the development of the Northwest.
Original written by Dick MacKenzie for Bear Country
The Bearskin Airlines in-flight magazine
Winter 2006
With those work crews came assorted other settlers, including the hoteliers, restaurateurs, clothiers, trappers, explorers, mining claims stakers and entrepreneurs in the forest industry.
The first settlers were a rough and tumble, rugged lot of individuals. There were others before these. In the two centuries preceding the railroad, fur traders traveled extensively by canoe throughout the whole of northern Canada. Again, mostly men, they were a hardy bunch who fought and schemed among themselves to acquire the bountiful fur harvests of the Aboriginal people living on the land.
Although relations among the Natives and the traders were generally amicable, the history of the Ojibway community of Frenchman’s Head on the Lac Seul Reserve bounding the western edge of Sioux Lookout illustrates the consequence of deceit in the early days.
In the 1700s, having been swindled by a French fur trader, some of the local band members tracked down the culprit, extracted their revenge, and placed his head on a pole stuck into the river bank where all those traveling by would be aware of the foible of cheating.
Through the years, Sioux Lookout continued to evolve as a pioneer town. Although schools and churches attracted families starting in the early 1900s and the population grew slowly, the main attractions continued to be forestry, mining and aviation. The shift from a frontier town to today’s fully modern community has been gradual. It’s hard to point out any one event or series of occurrences that marked a new direction in development, however without question a huge impetus in the changing face of Sioux Lookout during the past decade has been the establishment of First Nations organizations in town, including several Tribal Councils, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council, Tikinagan Child and Family Services and Wawatay Native Communications Society.
Sioux Lookout Chief Administrative Officer Merlin Dewing pointed out, “The population of Sioux Lookout from 1996 to 2001 experienced an increase of 3.3 per cent, going from 5165 to 5340 (1996 restated to include annexed areas). Growth is expected to increase substantially and steadily in the next five years.
“North of Sioux Lookout are 29 First Nation communities with a population of approximately 30,000. Most of these northern communities are accessible only by air and Sioux Lookout acts as their service center. As Sioux Lookout services a population several times the size of its own population, it has many more amenities than one would expect in a town of its size,” Dewing continued. Among other features Sioux Lookout now has a new large supermarket, rivaling any similar stores anywhere in Ontario west of Thunder Bay, a new retail lumber and hardware store, two new hotels, a municipally owned clinic, and new public and Catholic schools.
Municipal council has identified the town’s gateways – highway 72 and the airport – for commercial development starting with infrastructure servicing. The Sioux Lookout Meno-Ya-Win Health center has started a new $90 million hospital construction project and a $10 million associated hostel is under construction. In addition, another medical clinic is due to be built to the tune of $6 million, a new long term care facility for $10,000 and an $11 million expansion of the Ministry of Natural Resources base has been announced and is in the planning stage. The SiouxLookoutMunicipalAirport has an $11 million multi-year development plan in place. It is the fourth busiest airport in its category in Canada, with more than 100 scheduled departure flights each week carrying more than 100,000 passengers annually.
Along with the rapidly changing physical face of the town has come a new enthusiasm among Sioux Lookout residents and visitors for a bright future.
The September conference of Community Living Ontario brought upward of 600 delegates and partners for a weeklong stay, a feat undreamed of only a couple years back when all the hotels in town had fewer than 200 rooms in total. A Saturday night concert headlined by prominent Canadian band GreatBigSea drew more than 4000 cheering spectators from Minnesota, Southern Ontario, Winnipeg, and every town in Northwestern Ontario. A late September train tour originating in Winnipeg included an overnight stay in Sioux Lookout where travelers viewing the fall colors of Northwestern Ontario spent the following morning touring the town, and visiting the museum and heritage park before boarding their train to continue the sightseeing trip.
Careful planning over the years has protected and enhanced the traditional resource based tourism industry in the area. Now, and in future years, improved and expanded facilities will enable a wider range of tourism attractions and the ability to host greater numbers of visitors. In the words of one town councilor, “We should now be known as the conference center of Northwestern Ontario.”
Confirming the widely held belief that Sioux Lookout is a fine town in which to work and raise a family, Economic Development Advisory Committee Chairman Brad Hyslop pointed out the vibrancy of the growing population and economy. “Our geographical position gives us great economic advantages. This area was the crossroads of North American transportation even before the fur trade days and Sioux Lookout continues to be the logical place to be the hub with our location on the transcontinental rail line, our airport and our position on the roads to the north.”
Sioux Lookout has thrust itself into the 21st century with sound planning and a determination to continue its role as a leading player in the development of the Northwest.
Original written by Dick MacKenzie for Bear Country
The Bearskin Airlines in-flight magazine
Winter 2006