Aboriginal History Unit: Europeans Arrive
In 1690 and 1691, a group of Cree and Assiniboin guided a young Hudson's Bay Company employee by the name of Henry Kelsey into what is now Saskatchewan in search of the "Naywatama Poets" (probably Hidatsa). In his journal, Kelsey described the parkland and the grasslands ("This plain affords nothing but Beast & grass"), the bison and the grizzly bear ("He is mans food & he makes food of man"). He also recorded numerous details of First Nations life and culture.
However, European trade goods arrived long before Kelsey did, as attested by scraps of iron and glass trade beads in sites dating from the early 1500s. One can only wonder if another "trade item", namely disease, had also arrived this early.
Fort Pelly was established in 1824 as the headquarters for the newly-formed Swan River District. Its original location, on a site northeast of the elbow of the Assiniboine River, was subject to periodic flooding, so in 1857, the post was relocated about a 1/2 km southeast to a ridge overlooking the Assiniboine River valley. Fort Pelly continued as a economic and social centre until 1912, when it was abandoned because the railroad came through several miles to the north. 
Fort Pelly #1 (EkMl-1).
Trough and forge in blacksmith's shop.
While it was headquarters of the Swan River District, Fort Pelly was the centre for receiving all trade and for distributing goods to other posts. It was the centre at which trade goods such as traps, rat spears, trade points, and parts for boats were produced and the manufacturing centre for boats, barge-like batteaux, dogs sleds, and carts. During the 1837 smallpox epidemic, the HBC Factor taught the Cree and Saulteaux how to vaccinate each other, thereby reducing the death toll among them.
Cellar under the store at Fort Pelly #1 (EkMl-1).
Broken china plate from tempering trough (before).
Broken china plate from tempering trough (after).
For further information contact the Curator of Aboriginal History
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