Lucy Margaret Baker

Lucy Baker, (1836 – 30 May 1909), was a teacher who became involved in teaching and missionary work the region of present day Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

Previous to her move to the Canadian west, Baker had a varied and successful career in education. In 1879 she accompanied her mentor, Donald Ross and his wife to Prince Albert. Ross was sent there by the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church and he had chosen Lucy Baker to run the mission school. By 1884, a high school had been established named after Rev. James Nisbet, a former Presbyterian missionary to the community. In 1887 Baker became a regular staff member of the Nisbet Academy.

By 1890, a school had been established for the groups of Sioux that had come to the Prince Albert area as refugees from the American Indian Wars. This school was north of the North Saskatchewan River and funded by the Presbyterian Church with the assistance of the Prince Albert community. Baker was the principal teacher and taught there, with a number of breaks for health reasons, until her retirement in 1905.

Baker made a significant contribution to western education in her endeavours with the Cree and then the Sioux of Prince Albert. She emphasized a solid curriculum with the principles of Protestant Christianity at its core. She was the first woman to serve as missionary and teacher among the native people of the west for the Presbyterian Church. She also helped break down barriers for women involved in the development of western Canada.

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=6538 Biography at "the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]