# James Isbister

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**James Isbister** (November 29, 1833 – October 16, 1915) was a [Canadian](/source/Canadians) [Métis](/source/M%C3%A9tis_people_(Canada)) leader of the 19th century. Prominent among the [Anglo-Métis](/source/Anglo-M%C3%A9tis) of the area, he is considered to be the founder of the city of [Prince Albert, Saskatchewan](/source/Prince_Albert,_Saskatchewan).

## Life

An interpreter for the [Hudson's Bay Company](/source/Hudson's_Bay_Company) for many years, Isbister was talented linguistically, speaking [English](/source/English_language), [Gaelic](/source/Scottish_Gaelic_language), [Cree](/source/Cree_language), [Dene](/source/Northern_Athabaskan_languages), and [Michif](/source/Michif).

Isbister began [farming](/source/Farming) in the summer of 1862 one mile east of the present day [federal](/source/Federation) [penitentiary](/source/Prison) at Prince Albert. The area he farmed is close to present day 17 Avenue and 14 Street West. Isbister was probably the first man in what is now known as [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan) to grow [wheat](/source/Wheat) on his own farm. He also worked on the John Smith Reserve (currently the [Muskoday First Nation](/source/Muskoday_First_Nation)) as a farm instructor. By 1866, when Isbister moved a short distance away, several families were living in the district, which was known as [Isbister's Settlement](/source/Isbister's_Settlement).

By 1884, both settler and Métis discontent was growing rapidly due to poor agricultural conditions and unresolved land issues in the [Saskatchewan Valley](/source/Saskatchewan_Valley) region. As a community leader, Isbister was selected as one of the four delegates (along with [Gabriel Dumont](/source/Gabriel_Dumont_(M%C3%A9tis_leader))) sent to recall [Louis Riel](/source/Louis_Riel) from [Montana](/source/Montana) to lead the people in seeking government action to address the situation. Local settlers' perception of government inaction culminated in the [North-West Rebellion](/source/North-West_Rebellion) of the following year (1885).

Like most other Anglo-Métis of the area, Isbister disassociated himself from the movement led by Riel when tensions ultimately erupted into violence. Despite this, he was denounced by the [Conservative](/source/Conservatism_in_Canada) [press](/source/Publisher) in Prince Albert.

Following the North-West Rebellion, Isbister was active in the [Anglican Church of Canada](/source/Anglican_Church_of_Canada) in the Prince Albert area, and lived out his last days in that community. He is buried in the Anglican St. Mary's Cemetery just west of the Penitentiary not far from where he farmed initially.[1]

## See also

- [Gabriel Dumont (Métis leader)](/source/Gabriel_Dumont_(M%C3%A9tis_leader))
- [James Nisbet](/source/James_Nisbet_(missionary))
- [Lawrence Clarke](/source/Lawrence_Clarke_(politician))
- [Thomas McKay (N.W.T. politician)](/source/Thomas_McKay_(N.W.T._politician))
- [Louis Riel](/source/Louis_Riel)
- [Prince Albert, Saskatchewan](/source/Prince_Albert,_Saskatchewan)
- [North-West Rebellion](/source/North-West_Rebellion)

## References

### Print

- Prince Albert: The First Century, Gary W. D. Abrams, 1966, Modern Press Saskatoon
- The Voice of the People: Reminiscences of the Prince Albert Settlement's Early Citizens 1866–1895, Manon Lamontagne, Monique Lamontagne, Verna Redhead, Bob Serjeant & Bill Smiley, 1984, Marion Press Ltd Battleford Saskatchewan.

### Internet

1. Smyth, David. ["Isbister, James"](http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/isbister_james_14E.html). Vol. 14.

## External links

- [Dictionary of Canadian Biography, James Isbister](http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/isbister_james_14E.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Isbister](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Isbister) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Isbister?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.