Bas de la Rivière, Trading post and supply depot in Manitoba, Canada
Bas de la Rivière was a trading post and supply depot positioned at the mouth of the Winnipeg River where it flows into Lake Winnipeg. The settlement occupied both riverbanks and functioned as a central station for operations throughout this strategic region.
The post was founded in 1792 by Toussaint Le Sieur and became the main headquarters of the North West Company in the Winnipeg River basin. It remained a key hub in the trading networks that shaped regional commerce for decades.
This site served as a meeting place where North West Company traders and Cree communities conducted regular exchanges of furs and goods. These relationships shaped the rhythm of daily operations and interactions throughout the settlement.
The location at the river mouth made arrival and departure convenient from multiple directions. The relatively open layout allowed visitors to navigate between docking areas and storage buildings with ease.
The settlement maintained gardens and farms that produced pumpkins, carrots, turnips, onions, and substantial quantities of potatoes for winter storage. These food operations kept traders and workers supplied with fresh and preserved provisions year-round.
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