Riding Mountain — Uncover the Hidden Settlement

Your journey begins at the Riding Mountain National Park Visitor Centre, located in Wasagaming near Clear Lake, an area where the Keeseekoowenin Ojibwé First Nations historically camped. Here, you will discover the roots of this territory, designated as the Riding Mountain Forest Reserve in 1906 under the Forests and Parks Act. It was here, in the heart of Treaty 2 Territory, that the initial discussions for a national park took place, culminating in the proposal of October 27, 1927, which ended logging operations and paved the way for the conservation we know today in Manitoba.

As you continue your exploration, you will reach the Riding Mountain Park East Gate Registration Complex, a National Historic Site. Built between 1933 and 1934 by local artisans in the Rustic Design style, this complex, comprising a registration building and two staff cabins, stands as a testament to the federal Depression relief program. Located at the park's east entrance on Highway 19, it is the last of the park's three log gates and symbolizes the importance of early automobile tourism and outdoor recreation in the history of Riding Mountain National Park.

Your path then leads you towards Clear Lake, bordered on its western side by the small Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation reserve. This lake was a historic winter dwelling site for the Ojibwé Okanese, renowned for its abundance of furs, moose, and elk. It was also in this region that Pierre de La Vérendrye and his sons explored and traded between 1731 and 1749, establishing connections with Indigenous populations. Chief Okanese had his preferred camping ground here in the Little Saskatchewan River valley before 1871.

The Keeseekoowenin Ojibway reserve in Wasagaming, on the western shores of Clear Lake, is a living testament to the continuous presence of the Ojibwé. These communities lived here in winter near Lake Audy and Wasagaming for thousands of years, benefiting from the region's abundant resources. Further along, the site of the former Riding Mountain House trading post, established by the Hudson's Bay Company, recalls the thriving trade with the Ojibwé led by Chiefs Okanase and Keeseekoowenin. It was the first post on Lake Dauphin in 1741, consolidating the fur trade in this part of Manitoba.

Upon completing your circuit through the landscapes of Riding Mountain National Park, you will have not only discovered key sites such as the Elkhorn School and Wasagaming Cemetery but also grasped the deep interweaving of the Ojibwé First Nations' heritage and the history of the settlers. Each step, from the Visitor Centre to Grey Owl's Cabin, reveals a layer of this territory rich in stories, from the designation of the Riding Mountain Forest Reserve to the establishment of the national park. This journey offers you a tangible understanding of the evolution of this land, where nature and human history meet in the heart of Manitoba.