History
Long before Europeans came to Canada, Manitoba First Nations were using the Hayes River as ancient campsites according to pictographs. It traverses the traditional territory of four First Nations: Norway House Cree Nation, Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Shamattawa First Nation, and York Factory Cree Nation. It continues to be an important source of traditional harvesting for the First Nations.
After the arrival of Europeans in North America, the river became an important link in the development of Canada. In 1684, the Hayes River was named for Sir James Hayes, a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) charter member and secretary to Prince Rupert, by French trader/explorer Pierre Radisson At its mouth, the HBC established York Factory in 1684, which served as its North American headquarters until 1957. The Hayes was the main route between York Factory and Norway House in the interior of the continent for explorers, fur traders, Voyageurs and European settlers from 1670 to 1870. To get to the Hayes from Norway House required a short trip down the Nelson River, then a turn onto the tiny Echimamish River up to the Painted Stone Portage. This tiny 10 metres (33 ft) of stone separates the Hayes watershed from that of the Nelson. This route became the last leg of the York Factory Express known as "the Communication", once that was established in the early 19th Century, connecting the HBC regional headquarters of the Columbia District at Fort Vancouver to York Factory.
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