a thousand miles

Two O'clock Creek in summer normally is dry in the morning but in the early afternoon is full of floods. The creek is fed by underground streams from Wilson Glacier, and the heat of the day with the sun shining melted snow on the glacier to feed the underground streams. The creek’s surrounding area plays one of the most important roles in the history of Kootenay Plains and Canada West.

On June 1, 1807, David Thompson, his wife Charlotte Small and children travelled through this area and camped at that location. In his journals, Thompson described the abundance of game in the Kootenay Plains and recorded several encounters with bison and remains of tipis.

David Thompson’s contributions to exploring Western Canada are often overlooked in official histories. He used his surveys to create the finest Canadian maps of his generation, ones that would be in use for decades. Thompson was an explorer of First Nations traditions, and he regarded the Native and Métis peoples among whom he travelled.

But what about his Métis wife Charlotte Small?

​Between 1799 and 1812, and in the years that followed, Charlotte Small and the children accompanied Thompson on his extensive expeditions across the North American wilderness, spanning from the Rockies to Quebec. Researchers have determined she traveled more than 20,000 kilometers (over 12,400 miles), and some estimates suggest up to 27,000 miles (over 43,000 kilometers) by foot, canoe, and on horseback.

Her contributions were crucial to Thompson's success. Her Cree heritage and knowledge of Indigenous languages and customs made her an invaluable interpreter and cultural mediator, helping Thompson maintain essential relationships with First Nations communities for safe passage and trade. She braved all the elements, often while raising their large family, demonstrating remarkable resilience and determination.

Native and Métis women are often overlooked when discussing the pre-colonial era, because much of the historical narrative was written by non-Indigenous male colonizers who did not recognize or record women's significant roles in their societies.

Historically Native women held diverse and influential positions in their communities before colonization, many of which were suppressed by the imposition of European patriarchal systems. Women were central to the economic life of their tribes and were seen as extensions of the Spirit. Women's opinions were highly valued in decision-making processes, including matters of war and peace. 

David Thompson died poverty-stricken on February 10, 1857, in Longueuil, Quebec. His wife, Charlotte died three months later.