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Indian hunters pursuing buffalo
in the early spring
ca.
1822, by Peter Rindisbacher
Peter Rindisbacher was 15 years old when he immigrated
to Selkirk's Red River settlement in 1821. Already an
accomplished artist when he arrived in Canada, he produced
a series of watercolours documenting the voyage to Rupert's
Land and life in the settlement. His watercolours, including
this drawing of Assiniboine Indians from the Red River
area, are among the earliest images of western Canada.
[more]
In 1817, the Earl of Selkirk recruited veterans
of the De Meuron Regiment - a Swiss infantry regiment
that had been disbanded after the War of 1812 - as
armed settlers to his colony. A few years later, he
sent a Swiss officer and De Meuron veteran, Captain
Rudolph von May, to recruit other settlers from Switzerland.
Peter Rindisbacher and his family were among this
second group. Setting out in 1821, the 157 Swiss immigrants
travelled to York Factory and then followed overland
trade routes to Red River where they expected to find
a region with bountiful farming conditions and a mild
climate. They faced many challenges on their trip,
and endured incredible hardships once they arrived
at Selkirk's settlement. After a few years, the majority
of Swiss settlers, including the Rindisbacher family,
immigrated to the United States in search of more
favourable living conditions. Peter Rindisbacher became
well known as an artist in Red River and received
requests for copies of his works from settlers and
Hudson's Bay Company officials.
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