C Ihe Ladies c cu. V'VVAN - History and Classics, Department of

IntroductionXXXIproblems such as patching torn canoes, low water, poor channel, etc." (qtd inBayly 56). In the light of this report, it is clear that Vyvyan and Dorrien Smithwere well guided.THE GUIDESBecause of all the planning done for them by the HBC, the women stood littlechance of travelling alone through the wilderness. With tourists in mind, HarryWarner had already written two memoranda about their entire route and hadrecommended guides for the canoe trip portion. The guides engaged at Aklavikwere both Gwich'in men: Lazarus Shit'anjiinlih (1890-1988; the older andmore common English spelling of Lazarus' surname is Sittichinli) and JamesKoe (1905-80; the surname is pronounced Koo-ee). Prior to the advent ofEuro-Canadian trade with Russian and British companies, there were thought tobe eight groups of Gwich'in, who "were said to comprise a unity on the basis oftheir own opinion, of language, of culture, and the use of Kutchin, 'one whodwells', as a terminological ending'" (Krech, "Eastern Kutchin" 215-16). MostGwich'in/Gwitchin who traded at Fort McPherson belonged to the Peel River,Upper Porcupine River, or Mackenzie Flats groups. (Slobodin's name for thelast group is Arctic Red River [516]). These were Sittichinli's ancestors, nowknown as Teetl'it Gwich'in (Simon, qtd in Sax and Linklater 77). Younger by lessthan a decade than Vyvyan and Dorrien Smith, this inveterate traveller was bornat Fort McPherson and was one of only three of the twelve children born toEdward and Annie (nee Satah) Sittichinli to survive into adulthood. His surnamemeans "hanging food on a tree" (Simon, qtd in Sax and Linklater 75). Not onlydid he have vast experience in living off the land, but also he kept his fathercompany during his journeys.Edward Sittichinli was "one of the first full-blooded Loucheux Indiansordained by [the] Anglican Church ... He preach the gospel and we alwaysmoving round the country" (qtd in Zealley, "Lazarus" 3; see Benyk 79).According to Sarah Simon, Edward, who was baptized by Robert McDonald on30 May 1869 (Sax and Linklater 77), was ordained deacon at Arctic Red River on15 July 1903 (Sax and Linklater 86). He was immediately sent as catechist to LaPierre House to continue the work started in its environs by Henry Venn Ketseand continued by Rev John Ttssietla (Sax and Linklater 79). In 1910, according