Norway House, Manitoba 3524638 218112177 2008-06-09T05:38:04Z KenWalker 1004223 /* History */ reorder some passages to chronological order '''Norway House''' is a rural community of approximately 5,000-6,000 people some {{km to mi|30|spell=UK|abbr=on}} north of [[Lake Winnipeg]], on the bank of the eastern channel of [[Nelson River]], in the province of [[Manitoba]], [[Canada]]. The community shares the name ''Norway House'' with the [http://www.nhcn.ca/kinosao.html Norway House Cree Nation] [[Indian reservation]] (Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation). Thus Norway House has both a Chief and a Mayor. The community is located {{km to mi|456|spell=UK|abbr=on}} by air north of [[Winnipeg, Manitoba]], {{km to mi|208|spell=UK|abbr=on}} by air east of [[The Pas, Manitoba|The Pas]], and {{km to mi|190|spell=UK|abbr=on}} by air south of [[Thompson, Manitoba|Thompson]]. To drive from Winnipeg it is approximately {{km to mi|800|spell=UK|abbr=on}}, from Thompson it is about {{km to mi|300|spell=UK|abbr=on}}. Major economic activities include commercial fishing, trapping, logging and government services. Seasonal unemployment varies, with peaks as high as 70%. == History == After the arrival of Europeans in North America, the [[Hayes River]] became an important link in the development of Canada. The Hayes was the favoured route between [[York Factory]] the interior of western Canada for explorers, [[fur trade|fur traders]] and European settlers from 1670 to 1870 because transit was easier and food was more readily available. After [[Anthony Henday|Anthony Henday's]] explorations, Joseph Smith was sent in 1756, from [[York Factory]], to explore the area. He ascended the [[Nelson River]] seeking Lake Winnipeg. He reached Little Playgreen Lake on September 21 that year.<ref name=Morton>{{Cite book | last =Morton | first =Arthur S | coauthors = (Lewis G Thomas) | title =A History of the Canadian West to 1870-71 | place=Toronto | publisher =University of Toronto Press | year =1973 | origyear=1939 | location =Toronto | edition =2nd ed | isbn = 0-8020-4033-0}}</ref>{{rp|250}} In 1816 [[Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk|Lord Selkirk]] sent out a band of Norwegians, apparently ex-convicts,<ref name=Morton/>{{rp|594}} to build a road from [[York Factory]] to [[Lake Winnipeg]] and a series of supply posts. They built Norway House at Mossy Point (west side of outflow) in 1817 replacing the former Jack River post at that location.<ref name=Morton/>{{rp|603}} In the last days of the rivalry between the [[Hudsons Bay Company]] and the [[North West Company]] prior to their union in 1821, [[Colin Robertson]], of the Hudsons Bay Company from their office in Montreal, organized a brigade of mostly French-Canadians lead by John Clarke, bound for the Athabasca country<ref name=Morton/>{{rp|600}} to compete with the North West Company by developing the trade of supplying the colonists in addition to the company's usual business of trading furs. In 1822 [[George Simpson (administrator)|Governor Simpson]] passed through Norway House in the depth of winter on his way to [[Cumberland House, Saskatchewan|Cumberland House]].<ref name=Morton/>{{rp|695}} Simpson traveled through Norway House to the [[Columbia District]] in 1824-25, journeying from York Factory. He investigated a quicker route than previously used, following the [[Saskatchewan River]] and crossing the mountains at [[Athabasca Pass]]. This route, which passed through Norway House, was thereafter followed by the [[York Factory Express]] brigades. In 1826 the company abandoned its position on Mossy Point in favour of its present position on the East River, or as it is now known, the Jack River in order to be nearer to the fishery, the food supply of its population. In 1830, [[Cumberland House, Saskatchewan|Cumberland House]], formerly the most important post in the interior, was supplanted by Norway House.<ref name=Morton/>{{rp|695}} From the 1830s, the Councils of the Hudsons Bay Company, (annual meetings of its Chief [[Factor]]s) met at Norway House rather than York Factory. These meetings would involve planning decisions for the following year and promotions from clerk to Chief Trader and from Chief Trader to Chief Factor. Such promotions were within the authority of the Governor and Committee. The recommendations of the council would be given to [[George Simpson (administrator)|Governor Simpson]] who would make his recommendations to London. <ref name=Morton/>{{rp|692}} The last of the great Northern Council meetings that were started by Simpson a half century earlier, was convened at Norway House by [[Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal|Donald Smith]] in July 1870. The men met around a great oak table with Smith as the new Governor, following his success in negotiations earlier that year concerning [[Red_River_Rebellion#Provisional_government|the Red River Rebellion on behalf of Canada]], and empowered him to represent them in London concerning the rights of the Chief Factors and Chief Traders to share in the £300,000 transfer fee payable upon the surrender of [[Ruperts Land]].<ref name=Newman>{{Cite book | last =Newman | first = Peter C. | title =Merchant Princes, Company of Adventurers, Volume III | place=Toronto | publisher =Penguin Books Canada Ltd | year =1991 | location =Toronto | isbn = 0-670-84098-X}}</ref>{{rp|54}} ==Transportation, Education & Services== [[Manitoba Provincial Road 373|Provincial Road (PR) 373]], an [[all-weather road]], leads from Norway House past [[Manitoba Provincial Road 374|PR 374]] which leads to [[Cross Lake, Manitoba|Cross Lake]], through [[Jenpeg, Manitoba|Jenpeg]] and then joins [[Manitoba Provincial Highway 6|Provincial Trunk Highway 6]]. There is a ferry that shuttles vehicles across the Nelson Channel just north of Norway House. This ferry runs most of the year, except into the winter months when an ice bridge is opened. The ferry is known to get stuck occasionally in the freeze up season and cause delays. The most important means of transportation in this remote territory is an [[fixed-wing aircraft|airplane]]. [[Manitoba Northern Airports]] maintains a 1,200-metre (3,490') crushed-rock [[airstrip]] at Norway House. There are daily flights to Winnipeg on two private airlines; Perimeter Air and NAC Air. Norway House is one of the most well developed reserves in Canada and is well known for common references in the news and is also developed in many ways. There are several restaurants, 2 hotels, a royal bank, 2 Northern stores, a full service post office, a video store and paved roads within the community to name a few things. The Kinosao Sipi Mall and the recently added cell phone service are improvements to this northern community. It is home to a regional centre of the University College of the North and has satellite degree programming from Brandon University's Faculty of Education and the University of Manitoba. The Helen Betty Osbourne Ininew Education Resource Centre preceded the Rossville Residential school, and is one of the most technologically advanced schools in the province. Norway House is serviced by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and also have NHCN Band police. == Treaty and York Boat Days == Held annually each summer, the [[York Boat]] races serve as the main attraction. == References == {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.nhcn.ca/ Norway House Cree Nation] * [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4622058&Geo2=PR&Code2=46&Data=Count&SearchText=Norway%20House&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Stats Canada, 2006 Census, Norway House Reserve 17] {{coord|53.995661|-97.770767|display=title}} {{Canadian City Geographic Location (8-way) | Centre = Norway House | Northwest =[[Flin Flon, Manitoba|Flin Flon]] | North = [[Cross Lake, Manitoba|Cross Lake]]<br>[[Thompson, Manitoba|Thompson]] | Northeast = [[Oxford House, Manitoba|Oxford House]] | East = [[Island Lake, Manitoba|Island Lake]]<br />[[St. Theresa Point, Manitoba|St. Theresa Point]] | Southeast = [[Bloodvein First Nation]] | South = [[Winnipeg, Manitoba|Winnipeg]] | Southwest = [[Grand Rapids, Manitoba|Grand Rapids]] | West = [[The Pas, Manitoba|The Pas]] }} {{Manitoba}} [[Category:Designated places in Manitoba]] [[pt:Norway House]] [[fi:Norway House]]