1812-1890+Amelia+Douglas

Links @http://www.heroines.ca/people/douglas.html [] []

__Background__ - born from William Connolly and his country wife, Suzanne (Cree, also known as Miyo Nipiy, also the Cree chief's daughter) - Metis, spoke French (Dad born in Quebec) and Swampy Cree (with Mom) - father left mother because marriage wasn't done by Christian priest <- 'not really married' - feared her own marriage wasn't 'real' and had gotten married under the Church of England - originally married country's customs - married James Douglas in 1828 (16 at the time, he was 25) - helped James Douglas when in situations with Natives. - (Douglas) family became very prominent and very wealthy as well - had 13 children, 7 died as infants, 2 died in adulthood - lived in Victoria for 40 years - often shunned by community for being of mixed blood - had problems with communicating in English (didn't know English fairly well) - James Douglas -> knighted in 1863 - James -> died in 1877 - she lived until 1890 (age 78) - Douglas family at time of her death: 4 daughters, 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

__PICTURES__

__WHAT?__ - had not helped James, he could have been killed by Natives - she was a prominent person in Metis community

__WHERE?__ - born in Fort Churchill, Canada (In Manitoba) - met James Douglas in Fort St. James - lived in forts all of her life (didn't see outside of forts until she was 40) - moved to Fort Vancouver ( in the States) in 1830 - moved to Fort Victoria in 1849 (lived there until death)

__WHY?__ - if it weren't for her, James Douglas would probably be dead - no James Douglas, he wouldn't have been a govenor - first lady in Vancouver Island colony