The Forks — Uncover Six Millennia of Hidden Trade Secrets

Your journey begins at The Forks National Historic Site, designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1974. This cultural landscape bears witness to 6000 years of history, with archaeological excavations conducted between 1989 and 1994 uncovering camps, bison hunting artifacts, and fishing tools. It is here, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, that Indigenous groups like the Nakoda, Cree, Anishinaabe, and Dakota met and traded for millennia, establishing seasonal migratory routes essential to the region's economy. You'll perceive the strategic importance of this place, long before any modern construction.

Continue your exploration of The Forks site, and you will encounter the echo of Fort Rouge. Erected in 1738 by Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye, it was the first European fort and trading post nearby, marking a new era for Winnipeg. This fort was part of a larger network, skillfully using the Assiniboine people as intermediaries in the fur trade. Its strategic location at the confluence of the two rivers made it a crucial continental transportation axis, centralizing the fur trade until the 1880s, and weaving deep connections between European and Indigenous cultures.

Nearby, the ruins of Upper Fort Garry recall another page of history. Built in 1835 by the Hudson's Bay Company, it replaced Fort Gibraltar, destroyed by a flood in 1826. This fort became the socio-economic epicenter of the Red River Colony, a major player in the fur trade economy for 150 years. Its presence symbolizes the intensification of resource extraction, particularly bison, whose decline is directly linked to this period. It is an essential landmark for understanding the evolution of the territory and human impacts on the environment.

Your route then takes you to Union Station, a historic railway station built in 1911, just 1 km from The Forks. Its existence is directly linked to the development of the Prairies post-1880. As early as 1886, The Forks became a railway hub, with the yards of the Northern Pacific and Manitoba railways. Union Station played a key role in facilitating grain transport, gradually replacing river routes as an economic artery. This site testifies to Winnipeg's transformation into a 'Gateway to the Canadian West,' a rapidly expanding city and a transit point for many immigrants.

Conclude your journey at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, opened in 2014, 800 m from The Forks. This museum commemorates Indigenous history and immigration, reflecting Winnipeg's role as a gateway to the Canadian West. It is located near the old immigration sheds at The Forks, which housed up to 500 immigrants in the late 1800s. Your exploration will have taken you through millennia, from the first diplomatic encounters of the Path of Peace around 3000 BCE to the great population movements of the 20th century, highlighting the city's motto: "One City. Many Cultures." This circuit offers you a unique perspective on Manitoba's heritage, a true thematic tour at the heart of Winnipeg's history.

The Path of Peace, a promenade commemorating a great meeting of nine Indigenous groups around 3000 BCE for diplomatic negotiations over bison hunting territories, integrates symbols of the First Nations and European forms, winding around Broadway Promenade. This place is an essential stop to understand the foundations of diplomacy and respect for territories, long before modern borders. It is a walk that allows you to connect with the deep history of Winnipeg and the peoples of Manitoba.