'This is not what I expected'

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WASBACA/DESMARAIS

On November 21, I made my first trip into the Wabasca/Desmarais area, approximately 145 km northeast of Slave Lake.

First impressions can last you a lifetime. My first impression after driving through the Bigstone Cree Band reserve and into the hamlets of Wabasca and Desmarais was one of "this is not what I expected."

Modern buildings clashed with older ones, all of them lining the banks of Wabasca Lake. I drove by a new high school, new stores and older ones like the Hudson's Bay. Theres was even a pizza joint.

When I left the pavement 30 km from Slave Lake and turned onto the gravel road that would take me to Wabasca/Desmarais, I fully expected to see a cluster or run-down houses, of course an Old Hudson Bay store, and possibly a rented trailer used for administration. How wrong I was.

Wabasca/Desmarais is taking care of itself.

Wabasca is located on the southeastern shore of North Wabasca lake, while Desmarais is situated on the northwestern shore of South Wabasca Lake. The two communities are joined by three miles of gravel road from the centre of one settlement

to the centre of the other. In addition to the hamlets, there are five Indian Reserves bordering the North and South Wabasca Lakes. These reserves are occupied by the Bigstone Cree Band.