The Northern Saskatchewan Archives

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As we deal physically with the smoke of forest fires in our communities, our thoughts are with those who are dealing with the actual fires in the north. We were heartbroken to hear of the loss the hundreds pieces of Indigenous art and historical artifacts when Robertson Trading burned as a wildfire tore through part of the community of La Ronge, but relieved to know that Graham Guest, who serves as the Archivist at the Northern Saskatchewan Archives, in the Pahkisimon Nuye?áh Library System (PNLS), was able to save photos of some of the lost Robertson's material. 

Below is a summary of several emails that Graham was able to send in July and early August to Gloria and myself at SCAA as well as James Hope Howard (Director of PNLS) and Linda Collins (Office Administrator PNLS)

"Hello, all,

Thanks for your concerns about our archives and Suzanne (Graham's partner) and me. We are still camping at Murray Point so I thought it would be easiest to forward an update that I recently sent to James and Linda. We were originally evacuated from La Ronge on 2 June and had a very hazardous drive through smoke and flames on the road south. As it happened we had already booked our summer holiday at Waskesiu (with me commuting back once in a while) and found we could get in a week early. Then, as reported below, there was an evacuation alert for Waskesiu as the Buhl Fire was encroaching on the north border of the park and creating very bad smoke conditions at our campsite - and the story continues below. Jenni is our daughter who lives in Prince Albert. We are still experiencing smoke here at Murray Point, the fire situation around La Ronge is still serious with the road north closing a couple of times, and we are still worried about the fire in the park. The Robertson fire was a terrible disaster, with the great loss of all the handicrafts they had collected over the years. I searched our archives to find out what I had recording these handicrafts, and was able to digitize and enlarge some photos of them and provided a display to the town library which is named after Alex.

All the best,

Graham"

With the damage to the Northern Gateway Museum in Denare Beach as well, we are reminded of the crucial importance of secure archives to protect the heritage and culture of Saskatchewan.

This is a brief history of the North Saskatchewan Archives:

When the Department of Northern Saskatchewan (DNS) ended in 1983 it left Mistasinihk Place bulging with thousands of documents and cabinets of photographs. People who had worked for DNS like Lois Dalby and Lynda Holland were very concerned that these valuable materials did not head for the dump. With Pahkisimon Nuye?ah Library System (PNLS) board member Alf Wiens and other concerned citizens they lobbied for the creation of an archives.

PNLS had already accepted some of the items and when planning a new building in 2002 they happily designed in an Archives Room. Graham Guest was retiring from the government and was selected as the Archival Historian. He was promptly sent off to Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists to learn basic archives skills, and over the years has attended a dozen more SCAA workshops on many archival topics.

The Archives is for the whole of the north, with donations featuring many areas including Stony Rapids, Uranium City, the West Side, and Sandy Bay. It has received over 100 donations of materials from many people and organizations, ranging from the first northern Saskatchewan air mail envelope through to large family and business photographic collections dating back over 100 years.

 During the 2025 Archives Week celebrations Graham once again held an open house event, something he has done annually at least since 2015.

Below is an article that appeared in the local newspaper LaRonge NOW:

 

‘There’s nothing better,’: Stomp commercial fishing forms new archival exhibit

Jan 30, 2025 | 2:31 PM

Air Ronge’s Gordon and Joyce Stomp have been commercial fishing for more than five decades and their story will be on display starting Monday as part of Archives Week.

The Stomps began fishing in 1972 on Wappaweka Lake and, throughout the years, they built a successful fishing venture that went on to include their sons (Rick, Robin and Randy) and extended family. They also had many workers assist them with Moses Halkett and Kelly Irving at the top of their minds.

The Stomps currently do most of their fishing on Lac La Ronge, Bigstone Lake and Egg Lake, but used to fish in places such as Sikachu Lake and remote lakes only accessible by aircraft. They fish for species such as pike, walleye, whitefish and burbot.

“It was a hard life for all of us, especially for Joyce and myself, but nothing else that I would like to do,” Gordon Stomp remarked.

“There’s nothing better than this. I got tied up in it and liked the life on the lakes and all of that kind of stuff and liked fishing.”

Stomp explained there has been several changes to the industry since they began fishing all of those years ago. He noted the weather has become much more windy and the price of transportation has gone up. While they used to harvest fish and transport the produce via aircraft, they no longer to do because it is prohibitively expensive.

Stomp also added there’s isn’t as many fishermen in the North as there used to be.

“There was a lot more involvement by all the fishers in Northern Saskatchewan,” he said.

“We used to have meetings in Prince Albert and there was a lot more fishermen. That’s sort of down to hardly any fishermen now.”

Stomp doesn’t advertise his business as his customers come to him via word of mouth. He mentioned many of them are repeat customers and demand always outpaces supply.

Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System (PNLS) archivist Graham Guest is inviting all residents to the archives next week to see the exhibit about the Stomps. Previous exhibits will also be on display, as well as four other news ones about the Wollaston Lake Caribou Project, classic photos of La Ronge and Waskesiu, Department of Northern Saskatchewan photos from the 1970s, and photos of families enjoying trapline life.

“I have dozens of collections now after 20 years of local families who kindly donated their pictures and their documents, and they have been stored and kept in the archives,” he said.

The archives will be open for visitors Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

—

derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

by Derek Cornet

 

Graham Guest, left, stands with Gordon and Joyce Stomp in front of the new exhibit. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

 

 Displays at the Northern Saskatchewan Archives during Archives Week 2025