History

This fact sheet provides a historical overview of the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB), detailing its evolution from an Indigenous transportation route and fur trade corridor to a hub for hydroelectric power, mining, forestry, and tourism.

• The lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB) served as a critical transportation route for millennia. Archeological evidence indicates human presence in the Whiteshell area as far back as 3000 BCE, with petroforms near the Whiteshell River signifying the area's importance for Indigenous ceremonies and travel. In the 17th century, the river became a primary fur trade route for the North West Company, connecting the Red River region to Lake of the Woods, until the company merged with the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1821.
• Industrial development in the LWRB began in the early 20th century across several sectors. Hydroelectric power started with the construction of the Pinawa dam in 1906, which was the first year-round electrical power producer in Manitoba; six more stations were later built and remain operational. Mining activity targeted the Precambrian Shield, leading to the discovery of copper-nickel deposits around 1920 in the Bird River greenstone belt and commercial lithium shipments from Bernic Lake in the 1930s. Additionally, a coal-fuelled paper mill was established in Pine Falls in 1926, operating until its permanent closure in 2010.
• The transition from river-based transport to land-based infrastructure occurred in the late 19th century. The Canadian Pacific Railway line connecting Winnipeg and Fort William became fully operational by 1883, rendering the river an obsolete mode for commercial travel. Later, the incorporation of Highway 1 into the Trans-Canada Highway in 1962 further connected the LWRB to the rest of the country.
• Conservation and recreation became prominent in the mid-20th century. The Whiteshell Forest Reserve was created in 1931 under the Forest Act of 1930, and it was converted into one of Manitoba's first provincial parks in 1961. This development, combined with increased road access, spurred tourism and a steady growth in private cottages in eastern Manitoba between 1961 and 1971.
• Legal frameworks regarding Indigenous rights were established in the early 1870s through the signing of Treaties 1 (August 1871) and 3 (October 1873) between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples. These documents are described as foundational for affirming Indigenous and Treaty rights, which are protected under S.35 of the Constitution Act.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2021). History. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-8-history.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. History. 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-8-history.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=History |date=May 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-8-history.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2021history, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{History}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/winnipeg-river-basin-sheet-8-history.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }