Mr. Cooke's letter

A few months ago an octogenarian friend gave me a copy of two pages of a letter. One page is shown here (click to enlarge). I understand from my friend that a Mr. Cooke in Kimberley placed ads in the newspapers looking for people interested in Pitt Lake's Lost Creek Mine and apparently sold these pages to interested parties.

Daryl Friesen has another version with practically the same text but with a few more map details on it. Click here to have a look.

I wonder if anyone can tell more about Mr. Cooke and this letter.

Website Award

At the annual conference of the British Columbia Historical Society in Nelson (May 14-16) Greg Nesteroff presented a Website Award to Fred Braches's standin, Brenda Smith. Photo by Alistair Fraser

Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society meets at Katzie

On this sunny day Cyril Pierre and his relatives and friends at Katzie hosted fellow members of the legendary Lost Mine of Pitt Lake Society. A great feast was offered with freshly caught salmon and bannock as main dishes. A warm thank you goes to all our hosts and the expert cooks!

It was a great day to renew our friendship and continue our discussions that started in January. We learned about efforts made in the Katzie community to commemorate Slumach freed from the legends that obscure his real self. A monument is planned at Katzie for this much maligned man and research is done how otherwise to right the wrongs done to this victim of the early colonial laws and legal system.

The photograph shows us in front of the Swan-e-set Longhouse. Klick on the image for an enlargement. Click here for more photos.