Alexander Kennedy Isbister
Encyclopedia
Alexander Kennedy Isbister (June 1822 – 28 May 1883) was born at Cumberland House
in what is now Saskatchewan
. He was an HBC
employee in his early career and later was an educator and a lawyer.
Isbister was Métis
and educated in Orkney and at the Red River Settlement. His first HBC posting was to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories
which is in the Mackenzie River District
. He assisted John Bell
in establishing Fort McPherson
on the Peel River
. During that period, he explored the Mackenzie River basin and later used the information gathered to produce important geological writings and the first chromolithograph map for the area.
In 1842, Alexander left for Britain where he was an educator and lawyer and a champion of Métis rights. The passion over Métis rights grew out of discrimination he had felt during his tenure with the Hudson's Bay Company.
Cumberland House, Saskatchewan
Cumberland House is a village in Census Division No. 18 in north-eastern Saskatchewan, Canada on the Saskatchewan River. It is the oldest community in Saskatchewan and has a population of about 2000 people...
in what is now Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. He was an HBC
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
employee in his early career and later was an educator and a lawyer.
Isbister was Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
and educated in Orkney and at the Red River Settlement. His first HBC posting was to Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories
Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories
Fort Simpson is a village in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. The community is located on an island at the confluence of the Mackenzie and Liard Rivers...
which is in the Mackenzie River District
Mackenzie River (N.W.T. electoral district)
Mackenzie River is a former territorial electoral district, that elected Members to the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly.-1954 election:...
. He assisted John Bell
John Bell (explorer)
John Bell was a Hudson's Bay Company governor and explorer.In 1839, he was sent to explore the land west of the Mackenzie River...
in establishing Fort McPherson
Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories
Fort McPherson is a hamlet located in the Inuvik Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It is located on the east bank of the Peel River and is south of Inuvik on the Dempster Highway....
on the Peel River
Peel River (Canada)
The Peel River is a tributary of the Mackenzie River in the Yukon and Northwest Territories in Canada. Its source is in the Ogilvie Mountains in the central Yukon at the confluence of the Ogilvie River and Blackstone River...
. During that period, he explored the Mackenzie River basin and later used the information gathered to produce important geological writings and the first chromolithograph map for the area.
In 1842, Alexander left for Britain where he was an educator and lawyer and a champion of Métis rights. The passion over Métis rights grew out of discrimination he had felt during his tenure with the Hudson's Bay Company.