My name is Ben Richards. I am about to tell you a story which I don’t expect you to believe. But…it is true.

When I was thirteen, my grandfather, Fred Millotte revealed a family legend to me. I was to inherit this legend because of my Millotte blood of my mother. He inherited it from his dad.

It all started July 23, 1750 when my fourth generation grandfather was born in Tulon, France. His parents were wealthy as they owned a large wooden furniture business. Louis had nightmares that he was to save a large group of people, but never could figure out who they were. After graduating as a Veterinarian he married his best friend Marionette Lavigne.

They both became interested in the plight of the North American Indians and in particular the Montagnais Indians. They did not believe the stories brought back from Lower Canada claiming these people to be savages. They decided to spend their honeymoon in Lower Canada seeking out the Montagnais. Prior to leaving, Marionette became pregnant.

During their voyage they met a young couple, John and Melissa Bertrams who accompanied them further on their Journey. In defence, the Millottes shot and killed two men who belonged to a conspiracy to stop them from reaching Lower Canada due to their alliance with the Indians.

Montreal was a small village. Once going through customs they were directed to the office of Major John Lafayette. Lafayette would become a close friend. He oriented them in what to expect in the new world. They did not like what he said and took it personally. During their short stay they witnessed the savagery of Montreal’s hostile climate. They killed three men known as the younger Loret brothers who were attempting to rape three young women. Three older and more vicious brothers forced them to leave Montreal quickly.

Louis would experience a mystical meeting with Chief Bear and his son Eagle of the Montagnais who believed Louis was the Great Black Bear and that the Legend of the Ultimate Refuge was about to be fulfilled. The Ultimate Refuge was Paradise, a place where the spirit of the Great Black Bear would rescue the Natswanega tribe and any other Montagnais who wanted its Refuge.
They arrived at Three Rivers, meeting many wonderful people. During the stay the older Loret brothers attacked the village unsuccessfully losing most of their men and one of the Loret brothers.

Troy Bergeron, the Sheriff was secretly married to an Indian Princess called Flower Petal who as Marionette was also in her ninth month of pregnancy. Was this a coincident? Through Troy, the Millottes were taken to the Montagnais village of Natswanega where again Louis was declared the Great Black Bear. Louis of course did not believe this. Due to the threat by the Lorets, they eventually decided to stay in Natswanega.

Chief Bear persuaded the Millottes to go on a journey wherein he would prove that Louis was the Great Black Bear. During that journey while Louis was daydreaming, the party found themselves in Paradise. There was a beautiful lake with a spectacular waterfall. Birds, animals and plants were everywhere. It would be in a cave under the waterfall Louis would be convinced that he was the Great Black Bear.

Further on in their journey Louis would meet the Montagnais God, Atahocam who during a frightening spiritual ritual would bring the spirit of the Great Black Bear and place it into Louis.

Once back at the Natswanega village another journey was taken to the village of Tagnishi. Eagle, Chief Bear’s son wanted to propose to a young maiden called Tanyin. A massacre had happened before they arrived. Chief Falcon was killed by his son Cheyne and his band of renegades. The Natswanega group was taken hostage. Through Louis’s powers as the Great Black Bear they were rescued. The remainder of the Tagnishi citizens were taken back to Natswanega.

Louis went to Montreal and received Major Lafayette’s assurance that his soldiers would back Three Rivers and Natswanega if attacked by Cheyne and the Lorets.

On his return to Natswanega Louis discovered his most powerful gift from Atahocam. Days later he is told by a rider from Montreal that Lafayette, a farmer and his family have been killed. Arrows of the Montagnais were discovered in the bodies. A vigilante group, the Lorets and the army were on their way to seek revenge.

Louis arranges for all citizens of Natswanega to gather their possessions and place them in their wigwam that night. The three groups from Montreal along with Cheyne and his warriors surrounded the village. Night approached as the enemy watched the village. There was no sound, even the village dogs are inside. A campfire burnt outside each wigwam. Tomorrow the massacre would begin. Louis asked all to go to sleep and dream of the greatest paradise they can dream. Slowly the five camps slept…

Now what happens…my friends? Well the Legend of the Ultimate Refuge is completed. You will find this out as you continue reading the story.

The second Legend now starts and continues. I inherited being a Keeper to the Gates of the Ultimate Refuge from grandfather Fred. Little did I know that I would be unsuccessful doing so during most of my life.

Louis’s daughter, Tagnais my third generation Grandmother, the second Keeper of the Gate was born in 1778. She and her son with a small tribe of Montagnais escaped the Lorets by fleeing to my Millotte Farm along the Mac Donald’s Corners road in Ontario. The Lorets finally found them and massacred all but one, my great grandfather Adorator. Their souls would remain in the Netherworld until the Keeper rescued them.

And here I am today; the last Gate Keeper. My last attempt was it successful. It is all in the book. The Story of The Ultimate Refuge and The Keepers to The Ultimate Refuge is finished and told in ‘The Ultimate Refuge A Millotte Family Legend’.