PIE-A-POT (Piapot), - Indigenous Chief
This First Nation Band cut fire wood for the Bell Farm in 1883.
Chief Pie-a-Pot (Piapot) and his Band lived almost due north of the Bell Farm, in the Qu'Appelle Valley. With few labourers available to him in 1882, Major Bell likely secured the services of the Band as quickly as possible, to ensure that he had a good supply of fire wood for that first winter on the plains (1882-83); and, if the service was good, arranged for subsequent purchases in succeeding years.
Historical records confirm that Piapot's Band cut 800 cords of firewood in 1883. Stockpiles of firewood are evident in the 1884 William Notman photographs of the Bell Farm.
Although there is no documentary confirmation that Piapot visited the Bell Farm, it is probable that he would have done so to see for himself how Major Bell was developing the Bell Farm on the open prairie.
SOURCES:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=682&dat=18840208&id=K2lhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xi8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4410,3578932
http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/scripts/imagedownload.php?accessNumber=M932.8.1.218&Lang=1&imageID=191200&format=large photo source
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/payipwat_13E.html Pie-a-Pot/Piapot/Payipwat
Manitoba Daily Free Press, 1 July 1887, p. 4 - Presbyterian Assembly visitor
RESEARCH BY:
Michelle Cabana, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Frank Korvemaker, Regina, Sask.