The Mad Trapper of Rat River

Jan 18

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES AND YUKON, CANADA

A six week manhunt for a mysterious fugitive who seemed to have superhuman abilities, with a remarkable search party that included RCMP Constables, Indigenous trackers, fur trappers, and even legendary WWI pilot Captain Wop May.

* Note, this updated episode replaces the original episode we posted in 2020.

* Correction note: although original sources name Gwich'in Special Constable as Lazarus Sittichoulis, we've since learned that his name is actually Lazarous Sittichinli. Our sincere apologies to those affected by this error.

More information and sources

Documentary:
Arctic Manhunt: The Hunt for the Mad Trapper (focuses on the exhumation and DNA testing)

Credits:
Research: Cailen Swain
Research and writing: Kristi Lee
Audio editing and production: We Talk of Dreams
Disclaimer voiced by the host of True
Theme Song: We Talk of Dreams

Music credits:
Other tracks, including the theme song, by We Talk of Dreams.
Blue Dot Sessions - An Unknown Visitor, Winter in Black, Game Lands, Minister Creek, Access Road 214, Roadside Bunkhouse, Service Road 237, The Coal Hollow, Pigeon Falls
Swelling - Day II, Night I, Night II
Sergey Cherimisinov - Fog
Vitus Von Deg - Black Gloves

Information sources:
Arctic Manhunt - Hunt for the Mad Trapper Discovery doc: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2remij

Mad Trapper of Rat River: A True Story of Canada’s Biggest Manhunt, by Dick North: https://www.amazon.ca/Mad-Trapper-Rat-River-Canadas/dp/1592287719

Radio Canada International article: https://www.rcinet.ca/en/2017/02/17/canada-history-feb-17-1932-the-end-and-beginning-of-the-mystery-of-the-mad-trapper/

Mysteries of Canada, blog post: https://www.mysteriesofcanada.com/nwt/albert-johnson-mad-trapper/

Long-form Maclean’s article, 1955: https://web.archive.org/web/20220915111949/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1955/10/1/who-was-the-mad-trapper-of-rat-river

ATI article by Andrew Lenoir, historical researcher: https://allthatsinteresting.com/mad-trapper-albert-johnson

Whitehorse Daily Star: https://www.whitehorsestar.com/History/a-most-bizarre-case-the-mad-trapper-of-rat-river1

5-part series in the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal, by Barbara Roden https://www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com/community/golden-country/ https://www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com/community/the-mad-trapper-part-4-the-quest-to-identify-albert-johnson-begins/
https://www.ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com/community/golden-country-the-mad-trapper-part-5/

http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/stories/rat_river.htm

RCMP Veterans Association article on Edgar Millen (includes firsthand account from Millen’s great nephew): http://www.rcmpveteransvancouver.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Edgar-Millen-1.pdf

http://www.nwtandy.rcsigs.ca/persons/hersey_ef.htm (this includes multiple Globe and Mail articles)

https://www.officialdata.org/canada/inflation/1932?amount=2000

http://www.ramp-alberta.org/resources/hunting/non-native+species.aspx

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hudsons-bay-company