The Creation Of Smith Landing and Salt River

The town that appeared one day

Indigenous people had used the Smith Landing area for many years as a place to set up camp. There is also a reference that this was a place of spiritual significance for the Chipewyan people. Before the non-native people moved north to the community of what is now known as Smith’s landing. The area was a plethora of thriving flora and fauna, dense brush and Canadian Shield. To the newcomers it must have looked rather bleak and inhospitable. The permanent structures were small shacks near a muddy waterfront. It has been recorded in the National Archives of Canada that one visitor to the area in 1921 referred to it as “squalid”.

 

In 1944, an amplification of established tent businesses was in transition to permanent structures. The Smith’s Landing was a main point of trade and commerce for the NWT and ALBERTA. They had a Hudson’s Bay Company, a Cafe and even a Hotel. The only problem is that the community had no infrastructure so people built whenever and wherever they wanted. Native people did live in the community. Some tribes still lived nearby in traditional home ranges as well. The population would fluctuate throughout the year. A major increase in people was evident in the summer season. Mostly due to the work on the docks that came about in the summer months.

 

As these events were taking place at Smith’s Landing a community 20 kilometers northwest called Fort Smith was also starting to graduate into a larger centre. As time progressed the Smith’s Landing community once flourishing as a large township was being diminished due to a hospital being established in Fort Smith. The move was gradual and services and businesses left to Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

Though Smith Landing’s residents moved to another town the area was still of major importance.

 

The most used portage was now in need by world powers in wartime. World War I and II made the portage a necessity towards the war movement. Uranium was shipped to the United States in vast numbers from Uranium City, AB. Supplies to vital outposts in Alaska and Northern Canada were priority. There would never be a time when the Smith’s Landing would harvest such importance and use ever again.

When the war machine had run its course it was John George Diefenbaker’s (June 21, 1957-Apr. 22, 1963.) legacy through creating access to all of Canada through creating roads in rural areas that eventually led to the downfall of the portage and eventual exodus north to Fort Smith, NT.

1899– present

HISTorical