1906

June 18

Anahareo is born in Mattawa, Ontario, Canada.

June 21

Anahareo is baptized Gertrude Philomen Bernard.

1911

November

Anahareo’s mother, Mary, passes away. Unable to care for his children due to the demands of his work, Anahareo’s father, Matthew, divides his four children among various relatives. Anahareo goes to live with her paternal grandmother, Catherine Papineau.

1917

One of Anahareo’s aunts moves her family in with Anahareo and Catherine, as Catherine is unable to care for Anahareo due to advancing age. The aunt’s authoritarian approach to parenting causes Anahareo to rebel, skipping school and otherwise causing mischief.

1918

Matthew learns of Anahareo’s behaviour and decides to find work closer to home, reuniting the three older children under one roof again.

1925

July

Anahareo convinces her father to allow her to go to Camp Wabikon for a few weeks’ holiday. He eventually consents, on the condition that she is chaperoned by a married relative.

August

Camp Wabikon’s social secretary, Isobel LeDuc, befriends Anahareo and offers her a job for the remainder of the summer. After receiving Isobel's assurance that she will act as a chaperone, Anahareo's aunt agrees.

Towards the end of the summer, Anahareo meets Grey Owl.

September

Anahareo receives word that her niece has died and returns home to Mattawa abruptly, staying to comfort her family in their grief.

Grey Owl arrives unexpectedly at Anahareo's door. After a short visit, he returns to his trapping grounds. The two continue to correspond, but then Grey Owl's letters stop abruptly.

1926

February

Upon hearing that Anahareo's plans to further her education at Loretto Abbey are delayed, Grey Owl sends Anahareo a round trip ticket and a telegram asking her to visit. After securing her father's permission for a one week visit, Anahareo agrees. Later that month, Anahareo boards the train to Forsythe, Quebec.

March

Grey Owl persuades Anahareo to stay for one more week so she can visit his trapping grounds, where she finds he has built her her own little log cabin, "Pony Hall." Anahareo convinces Grey Owl to take her on an overnight trip to check his traplines. Although appalled at the brutality of his profession, the challenge of wilderness living convinces Anahareo to extend her stay further.

April

Anahareo travels to Senneterre for Easter confession. The priest refuses to give her his blessing as he has heard she is living with a man to whom she is not married. In addition, reproachful letters that she receives from her father prompt her to further delay her return home.

June

Grey Owl takes a summer job as a fire ranger with the Forestry Department in Oskélanéo. Prior to this, however, Grey Owl and Anahareo are invited to the summer encampment of the Lac Simon Algonquin as thanks for the help Grey Owl provided two members of their community. There, Grey Owl and Anahareo's relationship is blessed by Chief Ignace Papati (Nias Papaté). They consider this their marriage.

Anahareo decides to go to Rouyn for her three-month separation from Grey Owl, as women are not allowed at the fire ranger post. However, the wolf pup she had received from Chief Papati, Hingy (short for Mohingan, or "Wolf") goes missing shortly after her arrival. By the time he is found, he is extremely unwell and dies shortly after her arrival at Oskélanéo, where she has gone to seek Grey Owl. Exceptionally, she is granted permission to join Grey Owl at his post, and they spend the rest of the summer together.

September

Grey Owl's job ends on the 15th. After some consideration, Anahareo and Grey Owl decide to travel to what Anahareo calls "Jumping Caribou country," 70 miles north of Doucet in Northern Quebec.

October

Grey Owl and Anahareo build their first cabin together on a lake "away off the main route." It is a lonely winter for Anahareo as Grey Owl refuses to allow her to accompany him on his traplines.

1927

March

After persistent badgering on her part, Grey Owl relents and teaches Anahareo the skills she needs to trap. Anahareo learns well despite her revulsion, and begins to run her own traplines.

June

Unable to clear their debts from their trapping, Grey Owl spends another summer as a fire ranger

October

Grey Owl and Anahareo return to their cabin in Jumping Caribou country, where both resume trapping.

1928

March

Anahareo finds a live but badly injured lynx in one of her traps and decides to give up trapping for good.

June

Grey Owl invites Anahareo to join him when he goes to check the last of his traps. They find two live beaver kittens, which they bring back to their cabin. These are the two beaver who become known as McGinnis and McGinty.

July

Grey Owl takes a job as a fire ranger for the summer, and is joined by Anahareo and the beaver kits. By the end of the summer, Grey Owl has decided to give up trapping beaver.

September

Grey Owl and Anahareo head to Cabano, in the Touladi country, where they hope to find game to trap and a place to start a beaver colony. They arrive to find the area has been heavily logged, and are advised by locals to continue on to Birch Lake. There, they build a cabin, "The House of McGinty," but soon discover there is no game left other than a live beaver house on the lake.

The pair pass their time talking and telling stories, for which Grey Owl has a particular talent. With Anahareo's encouragement, Grey Owl begins to write.

December

Anahareo convinces Grey Owl to submit his writings to Country Life, an English magazine. In the meantime, Grey Owl decides to find work in a sawmill to tide them over until hunting season, when he will look for work as a guide. The goal is for them to be able to protect the beaver during the trapping season, from November to May, in order to start a beaver colony there.

1929

March

Anahareo and Grey Owl go to Squatec for supplies, at which point they learn Grey Owl's article has been accepted by Country Life. The weather delays them for three days and they find, upon their return, that the beaver on the lake have been trapped by their friend, Dave Pelon (David Whitehead), who did not know of their plans to start a colony.

May

With the live beaver house destroyed, Grey Owl and Anahareo relocate to Lake Touladi. McGinnis and McGinty go roaming and never return.

Dave Pelon meets up with Anahareo and Grey Owl and discusses his plans to go to prospecting. Seeing that Grey Owl and Anahareo are in a poor state -- financially and physically -- Dave stays to help.

June

 Before leaving, Dave helps Anahareo capture another pair of beaver kits, rationalizing that if they are not rescued, they will have been trapped by the following year. The kits are named Sugar Loaf (after Sugar Loaf Mountain, where they were found) and Jelly Roll. Sugar Loaf dies after three weeks, but Jelly Roll survives. Anahareo and Grey Owl relocate to Hay Lake.

July

Grey Owl and Anahareo go to the Métis Beach Resort on the St. Lawrence river in the hopes of finding a guiding job. Although there are none available as the resort is not geared towards fishing and hunting, Grey Owl is invited to give a wilderness lecture. Although he initially refuses, he eventually gives a hugely successful talk, raising $700. This lecture leads to other speaking engagements through the summer.

September

Grey Owl and Anahareo return to Cabano with over $1000 to show for their summer's work, where they find a letter from Country Life asking Grey Owl to write a book. There, they meet Dave Pelon, who invites them North to go prospecting. At the last minute, Grey Owl decides to stay behind with Jelly Roll in case McGinnis and McGinty return -- but also because of an injured foot.

Anahareo and Dave travel from Quebec City to Oskélanéo, paddling up the St. Maurice River to Lac Doré, where they planned to travel to Opemiska Lake to stake their claims. Anahareo and Dave find a man willing to fly them to Opemiska, only to find that the claim they had hoped to stake was already taken.

November

Anahareo and Dave return to Lac Doré, where Dave finds work as a hunter for the diamond drilling camps. Anahareo refuses Dave's offers of assistance and considers trapping again to survive as neither she nor Grey Owl have the funds to fly her home.

Anahareo ultimately decides to return to Oskélanéo, but stops at Merrill Island, hoping to see Dave on the way out. The engineer in charge of the mining operation there is horrified at her plans to travel alone to Oskelaneo, and offers her a job hauling wood for the winter.

1930

January

With the stock market crash, the mining operation is shut down; Anahareo has only been paid for 2 weeks work and is still unable to afford plane fare home. Anahareo stays on as a caretaker and is eventually hired to haul the drilling equipment to Antoinette Lake. By the time Anahareo earns enough to go home to Cabano, there are no flights available and she must remain on Merrill Island.

June

After almost nine months apart, Anahareo returns to Cabano and is reunited with Grey Owl, Jelly Roll, and a new addition -- Rawhide. A film crew comes that summer to make the movie Beaver People.

November

Anahareo grows restless as Grey Owl is obsessed with writing. At the suggestion of Mr. Gillman, for whom Anahareo had worked the previous year, Anahareo looks for work at the Montebello Resort, east of Ottawa. There, Anahareo convinces the resort owners to hire her to run dogsled teams for the guests.

1931

February

Grey Owl sends Anahareo a telegram asking her to meet him at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal. When she arrives, she learns that Grey Owl has been asked to be the guest speaker at the Canadian Forestry Association's annual convention, and that he needs her moral support.

The success of this lecture raises Grey Owl's profile, and he is invited to take a position at Riding Mountain National Park by the Parks Branch Commissioner, James Harkin. They return to their cabin on Hay Lake to wait for the Spring thaw, when they hope to retrieve Jelly Roll and Rawhide from their lodge.

April

Grey Owl and Anahareo set off for Riding Mountain National Park, but Anahareo only travels as far as Toronto, as she heard about a prospecting opportunity in Elk Lake country.

October

The trip is fruitless, and Grey Owl sends Anahareo money to meet him in Winnipeg. She returns with him to Riding Mountain National Park, where she finds Jelly Roll and Rawhide have had 4 kits, named Wakanee, Wakanoo, Silver Bells and Buckshot. This is the Beaver Family featured in the movie of the same name.

Due to drought, Grey Owl and Anahareo relocate with the beavers to Lake Ajawaan, in Prince Albert National Park.

1932

January

Restless and moody from inactivity, Grey Owl decides to write another book. Anahareo occupies herself by studying mineralogy.

February

Anahareo discovers she is pregnant.

August

Anahareo travels to Prince Albert to give birth to their daughter, Shirley Dawn. Archie arranges for her to stay with the Winters family after leaving the hospital so they can teach her about baby care while a suitable cabin is built for them on Lake Ajawaan.

October

Anahareo returns to Lake Ajawaan with Dawn.

1933

April

Because spring break-up makes northern travel difficult, Grey Owl and Anahareo decide to take Dawn into Prince Albert in case of illness. Anahareo stays with the Winters family.

May

Anahareo receives word from a prospector friend that there has been a new discovery at Chapleau, Ontario. Anahareo goes, but misses Dawn so much that she returns to Prince Albert a week later.

June

Anahareo receives word of another discovery at Great Bear Lake. Anahareo convinces Grey Owl to buy her a ticket to Toronto, where she thinks she will be able to find people to finance a prospecting trip.

September

The trip is unsuccessful. Anahareo returns to Prince Albert, where she retrieves Dawn and goes home to Lake Ajawaan. 

December

With Grey Owl still wrapped up in his writing, Anahareo decides to take Dawn to stay with the Winters family in Prince Albert for the winter.

1934

Spring

Anahareo decides to make one more prospecting trip. Fearing that Grey Owl will not support her, she makes her preparations in secret and does not inform Grey Owl until she arrives at Montreal Lake. From there, Anahareo continues to Lac La Ronge, then on to Fort Stanley, where she gets a tip to prospect an area north of Wollaston Lake. Unfortunately, the discovery turns out to be worthless iron pyrite.

Summer

Anahareo continues north to Reindeer Lake with two Cree families who are bound for Lac Brochet, a trading post and summer place. As it is now too late in the summer to continue to God's Lake, Anahareo sets off for home. She discovers a claim-staking spree at Amisk Lake, but is in too much of a hurry to return to her daughter, from whom she has already by separated for three months. In Flin Flon, Anahareo finds an angry letter from Grey Owl and decides to return to Amisk Lake to stake a claim after all. 

October

Anahareo stakes three claims near Amisk Lake and then departs to look for work. Her plan is to look in The Pas and, if unsuccessful, to return to Prince Albert.

Anahareo makes it as far as a group of buildings at head of the Sturgeon-Weir River -- known as "the half-way" -- when she is waylaid by illness. By the time she has recovered (under the care of the Angus McDonald, who lives at the half-way) her route south is blocked. Her only option is to wait for Amisk Lake to freeze so she can make her way north to Flin Flon. During her stay, Angus convinces Anahareo to write to Grey Owl.

December

Amisk Lake finally freezes over. The week of Christmas, Angus accompanies Anahareo to Flin Flon by dogsled, where she finds letters from the Winters family and Grey Owl waiting for her. Although Grey Owl's letter is kind, he does not invite her home and she decides not to return until this invitation is extended.

Anahareo goes on a drinking binge until Angus convinces her to return to Sturgeon-Weir with him to clear her head. At Amisk Lake, Anahareo is offered a job as a companion for the winter and she decides to stay on, visiting Angus whenever possible.

1935

May

Grey Owl wires Anahareo a bouquet of red roses for Mother's Day.

June

Anahareo's companion job comes to an end, and she decides to sell her claims and go prospecting.

August

Anxious for news of Dawn, Anahareo makes a trip to Amisk Lake, where she finds a letter from Grey Owl asking her to come home as he has been invited to England on a lecture tour. Anahareo happily accepts and returns to Prince Albert, where Mrs. Winters meets her with Dawn.

September

Anahareo fashions a beaded hunting shirt and leggings for Grey Owl in just three weeks, using his beadwork designs but adding a maple leaf for Canada on one shoulder and a white beaver (for luck) on the other.

October

Grey Owl leaves for England.

1936

February

Grey Owl returns to Canada and continues on a North American tour.

March

News that Dawn has been hospitalized with pneumonia brings Grey Owl back to Prince Albert, where the stress of their experiences lead to a bitter quarrel and they decide to part company, at least temporarily. Anahareo spends the summer with her daughter at Waskesiu.

September

Anahareo is hired as a lake guide for Professor Theodore Cockerell, an zoologist from Colorado. On one trip, Anahareo's friend, a Parks Warden named Art Howard, falls overboard. Anahareo is unable to save him. Badly upset, she calls Grey Owl who invites her to bring Dawn to Beaver Lodge.

Fall

Anahareo takes Betty Somervell out to Waskesiu, leaving Beaver Lodge -- and Grey Owl -- for the last time.

Searching for some direction to her life, Anahareo considers a career in Hollywood but soon discovers she is pregnant. Anahareo makes her way to Calgary.

1937

June

Anahareo gives birth to a daughter, Ann. Finding herself in dire financial straits, Anahareo travels to Banff with Ann to look for work as a canoe guide as soon as she is discharged from the hospital.

Fall

At the close of the guiding season, Anahareo returns to Calgary. There, she meets Reverend J. M. Roe, an acquaintance of Betty Somervell's, who convinces her to move to Saskatoon, where he feels her job prospects will be better. However, Anahareo is unable to find work and soon runs out of money.

In desperation, Anahareo contemplates suicide, but changes her mind for Ann's sake. Instead, she appeals to the mayor of Saskatoon for help and is introduced to Wilna Moore.

1938

February

Wilna helps Anahareo to arrange a place for Ann in Bethany Home, a Salvation Army residence for unwed mothers. Anahareo brings Dawn to live with her in Saskatoon for a period, but is ultimately unable to manage; Dawn returns to live with the Winters family.

April

Anahareo rushes to Prince Albert when she hears that Grey Owl is dying. However, he passes away the day after she arrives and she does not have the chance to see him.

Almost immediately, the North Bay Nugget reveals that Grey Owl is "a full-blooded white man, possibly of English descent." Anahareo is stunned.

July

Betty Somervell offers to fund a trip for Anahareo to visit her in England. Together, they tour England and Scotland, making a stop at Oxford to visit with Grey Owl's mother.

With Betty's encouragement, Anahareo decides to write a book about Grey Owl to defend his image. Grey Owl's publishers are interested in the idea, but stipulate that his background not be mentioned in the manuscript.

September

Anahareo begins work on her first book.

1939

January

While staying at Christopher Lake with the Winters family, Anahareo requests permission from the Parks Department to go to Beaver Lodge and check on Jelly Roll, whom she has heard is in poor shape. Her request is denied. 

At around this time, she meets Eric Moltke when they hitch a ride to Waskesiu on the same truck.

December

Anahareo and Eric are married in Winnipeg, where they have relocated in hopes of securing employment. They briefly set up a bootlegging business before finally finding work in a packing company, cleaning hides.

1940

November

Anahareo's first book, My Life with Grey Owl, is published. However, Anahareo was unhappy with the book, feeling that she had been unable to provide a story that was true and compelling enough to defend his image.

For this and other reasons, the book's publication does nothing to ease her financial situation.

December

Anahareo and Eric spend Christmas at God's Lake, where Anahareo had planned to go during her 1934 prospecting trip.

1942

January

Shortly after Christmas 1941, Eric enlists in the army and is deployed overseas. Anahareo, who is several months pregnant by this time, moves back to Saskatoon in early 1942.

With Anahareo's consent, Ann is adopted by an Anglo-Canadian couple from Calgary, Mary and William Eagle.

March

Anahareo gives birth to her third daughter, Katherine. As she is receiving a small pension from the army, Anahareo brings Dawn to live with her as well.

1946

Summer

Eric returns home from the war and finds work as a groundskeeper at the University of Saskatchewan. The adjustment to his return is difficult for the family and finances continue to be tight.

1947

Dawn develops diabetes and requires hospitalization. By the end of the year, for health reasons, it is decided that she should return to live with the Winters family.

1948

March

Home life continues to deteriorate and Anahareo takes Katherine away to a place called Hills Farm, where she works as a cook and housekeeper.

Autumn

Eric gets a new job driving heavy machinery on construction sites in Canmore, Alberta. Anahareo decides to join him there with Katherine, and they move into a small, very basic two-room cabin which they call "The Doll's House."

Katherine starts school.

1950

Frustrated by Eric's constant drinking and partying, Anahareo leaves with Katherine again, moving to the outskirts of Banff where she finds work at a Chinese garden. She returns to Canmore eventually, only to leave again -- this time to Calgary -- when Eric's attempts to reform fail. She returns yet again when he promises to change.

1953

August

Anahareo's daughter Ann learns the truth of her origins and tracks down Dawn via the Winters family. Anahareo is delighted to hear news of Ann and a meeting is arranged in Canmore.

Autumn

When Eric loses his job, home life becomes unbearable and Anahareo decides to take Katherine and hitchhike east. Katherine falls ill near Timmins, Ontario, but Anahareo is able to contact her family in Mattawa, who send her what money they can for train fare.

Anahareo has a happy reunion with her family, whom she has not seen since 1926. Anahareo finds work assisting a local undertaker and enrolls Katherine in the local public school.

1954

Spring

Dawn makes a trip to Mattawa prior to starting a new job as a secretary and meets her extended family for the first time.

August

Anahareo returns to be with Eric in Canmore. Katherine spends the summer with friends at Christopher Lake.

September

Anahareo finds work as a cook at Spray Lakes, a resort just outside of Canmore. Katherine returns to Canmore and resumes her schooling at the local public school.

1956

A jobsite accident leaves Eric permanently disabled. The family relocates to Calgary so Eric can be near a hospital for his treatment.

1959

Summer

Katherine leaves home for beauty school. Dawn, who is going through a divorce at this time, convinces Anahareo to move to Dawson Creek, BC, to help her look after her children. Eric arranges to live with his first wife, Helga, and he and Anahareo part permanently, on good terms.