Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION Faces of the aboriginal
community Born in 1737 at the Prince of Wales fort, he was taken
in by the chief factor to live there after his father died. He
became a "leading Indian" of Churchill and became the middleman
between the Hudson's Bay Co. traders and the aboriginal people.
He guided Samuel Hearne to the Coppermine River in the Northwest
Territories from 1770 to 1772 and was credited with making the
expedition a success because he helped the explorers live off
the land. He committed suicide in 1782 after he witnessed the
French destroy the fort. He was born in 1774 near present-day
Sault Ste. Marie before leading his people west to settle at
Netley Creek. He was a friend to the Selkirk Settlers and warned
Governor Semple about plans by the Nor'westers to destroy the
Red River Settlement, advice that Semple ignored, costing him
and 20 others their lives at the Battle of Seven Oaks. Peguis
later helped Lord Selkirk make treaties with the Cree and
Saulteaux and was presen