Fonds 635 Klukas-Norris Family fonds

Herman Klukas served in World War I from September 9, 1915 until he was injured in France on November 22, 1918. He fought in the Battle of the Somme, and was injured the first time at Vimy Ridge in 1916. Returning to service, he was at the Battle of Sanctuary Wookds, Ypres, Observatory Ridge, and then was injured a second time north of Paschendale. He was discharged January 8, 1919, and returned to the Peace Country where he took a homestead in the Bad Heart district. He abandoned this claim in 1922 when he became a warden in Wood Buffalo National Park. Wood Buffalo National Park was created in 1922 to protect the last remaining herds of wood bison in northern Canada. Under O.S. Finnie, the Department of the Interior’s Northwest Territories Branch actively promoted Ottawa’s presence through government initiatives in the north. RCMP posts were set up throughout the NWT and the Yulon, the Eastern Arctic Patrol was established, and games preserves were created. To supplement the waning herds in Wood Buffalo Park, plains bison were shipped in from Wainwright, Alberta, between 1925 and 1928, and men were hired to be wardens in the park as well as harvesters to preserve hay for winter feed for the buffalo. This active conservation ended in 1931, with the onset of the Great Depression and O.S. Finnie’s department from the position. By this time, Herman and Jessie were married with one child. They returned to the Bad Heart district to farm and raise their family.

The series consists of two certificates from World War I for his War Service Badge and his Service Chevron Certificate; a Weapon Permit for a Colt Auto Revolver dated 1922; some general store receipts from the Richards-McNaughton General Store in Sexsmith dated 1921; thirteen photographs of his time in the war and as a ranger in Wood Buffalo National Park; and a Pioneer Award for Herman Klukas, 1908. There are also copies of newspaper articles about Herman from the Grande Prairie Herald; his World War I attestation paper; an account of his life written by Herman for the Sexsmith History, “Wagon Trails Grown Over”; and a detailed biography written by his son-in-law Mathew Wozniak.

Catherine Jessie Norris was the daughter of John “Jack” Norris, one of Edmonton’s early entrepreneurs. Jack Norris was born in Scotland and came to Canada as a labourer for the Hudson’s Bay in 1846. He served as a voyageur on the York boats between Fort York and Edmonton, and after completing his contract with the Hudson’s Bay Co., went into business for himself. About 1879, he and a few partners built a saw and grist mill east of the hamlet of Edmonton, and by 1882 had one of the first stores outside of Fort Edmonton. Norris was first married in 1854 to Marie Pelletier, daughter of Kayattowe, a Cree Indian and Josephte Chatelain, Metis. Marie had been born at Edmonton ca. 1840. Her liaison with the Metis community was a great asset to Norris in his business. Later Norris married Euphrosine Plante, a Metis from St. Albert. The Norris home on the St. Albert Trail was a gathering place for the community, and they were recognized as being among the elite in early Edmonton”. Their son Malcolm became a Metis leader and a founder of the Metis Nation of Alberta. Jessie Norris was born ca. 1905 to John Norris and Euphosine Plante and grew up in St. Albert along with siblings Emily, Malcolm, and Thomas. While she was visiting her brother Malcolm in Wood Buffalo National Park, Jessie met Herman Klukas. They returned to Edmonton where they were married in May 1925.

The series consists of 52 photographs of the Norris and Klukas families; and copies of articles about the Norris family titled “Jack Norris–An Edmonton Pioneer”, “An Aristocrat of Early Edmonton”, “Week-Long Reunion for [Norris] Family”. There is also an article about Metis leader Miles Norris and a Descendency Chart for John Norris.

Barbara Elizabeth Klukas was born June 15, 1930 to Herman and Jessie Klukas, and grew up in the Bad Heart area, about 20 miles north of Teepee Creek. She attended Bad Heart School about a mile south east of their home for grades one to eight, and in about 1947 went on to take grade 9 at St. Joseph’s School in Grande Prairie. After her education was finished, Barbara went to work at Fimrites Store in Wanham, boarding at Mrs. Prevost’s and taking her meals at Gaspard’s Café. That summer she met Mathew Wozniak. Barbara and Mathew were married on November 15, 1949. They started farming from a “shack” on Mathew’s parents farm and 15 acres broken on their quarter of land. They farmed together, at one time taking turns driving the tractor for 24 hours so that the whole quarter was ready to seed in record time. When Mathew’s father retired in 1964, they purchased the Wozniak farm consisting of seven quarters of farmland and four quarters of pasture by the lake which became the Eaglesham Golf Course. Eventually the farm increased to 22 quarters of land. Barbara and Mathew’s first baby, Evalda Irene, was born in 1950 but died within hours. In 1952 Patrick was born, and in 1953 Elizabeth Jean. When the children were in grade school Barbara began to work for the Eaglesham Co-op and was manager for five years before it burned in 1969. Barabara was an excellent crafter, teaching herself to make hardanger lace, crochet, knit, ceramics and Easter egg painting. She was also a fabulous sewer and quilter, and painted on ceramics and canvas. She entered her articles in the agricultural fairs at Falher, Eaglesham, Wanham and Spirit River and won numerous prizes. In their later years, Mathew and Barbara spent time traveling to the Canary Island, Malasia, Hawaii, and Scotland. They also bought a motor home and toured the United States. In 2000, Barbara was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She passed away on January 29, 2001 and her ashes were scattered at the mouth of the Bad Heart River where she had played as a child.

The series consists of a 1947-1948 report card from St. Joseph’s R.C. Separate School; 14 photographs of Barbara Klukas’ adult and married life; her memorial card in 2001; and a biographical account of her life written by husband Mathew Wozniak.