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Odanah is prOnounced 0—dan—ah. It is a word from the
language ofthe Cree Indians and has been variously tran—
slated as a 'Wneeting place", a ”resting place”, a "ga—
thering place". The nanie was fhwt applied by white
settlers at Minnedosa to a pass through the hills west of
the town, and there was evidently a large Indian cam-
ping ground nearby, hence a gathering of Cire es.
Symbolically the word Odanah is depicted by a drawing
or picture of teepees, signifying an Indian encampment.

The town of Minnedosa had also been incorporated in
1883, and is situated in the valley of the Minnedosa Ri-
ver, formerly called the Little Saskatchewan River,
which flows south from the foothills of the Riding Moun—
tains and turns west just befOre reaching Odanah. In the
legend of Hiawatha his beloved was called Minnehaha,
which IneansLaughinglNaten MinnedosarneansFlowing
Water hithe language ofthe Sioux.

In Odanali the land is rolling, bushy and in nornial
years is dotted with many leughs or pot holes . Minto on
the north and in the foothills of the mountains has stee -
per hills and winding roads.

These hills, geologists tell us, were once part of the
Western shore of Lake Agassiz, a huge-glacial lake 700
miles long and 250 miles wide that 10,000 years ago co—
vered much of scuthern Manitoba, western Ontario, nor—
thern North Dakota and Minnesota.

The early settlers in Odanali'were largely of English
and Scottish descent, with some Irish, Welsh and Car-
mans included among them. Later came people from the
Seandinavian countries, the Swedes, the Danes and the
Norwegians who were thrifty and industrious and made
good citizens. A large number of SWedish immigrants
settled in the two northern tOWnships of the municipality
and“ more will be said about this later.

It is perhaps fitting, then, that the present Reeve of
Odanah, Hans Andersen, should be of Danish descent,
with the councillors for wards 3 and 4,]Dave Calen and
Roy JohnSOn, having Swedish ancestors. Keith Curle and
Laurh: East, Councillors in wards 1 and 2, have Brflfish
parentage.

Members of the first Odanah Council elected in 1883
were: Reeve: VV.L Manby. Councfllom: John Fomyth,
S. Kempshall, T.J. Wilson, T.I-I. Jackson and A. Came—

ron Jr. Secretary—Treasurer: Henry Rose.
The present secretary—treasurer is Miss Margery Hal—
penny.

Because it plays such an- important part in our lives,
and also because it was in existence from the beginning
of this history, we will now look at: