History
The area's original inhabitants were the Cree. They are thought to have migrated from the southeastern prairies over 9000 years ago.
The first European recorded to encounter the Cree here was Henry Kelsey, an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. He travelled through the area between 1690 and 1692 on his way to the Canadian prairies.
During the years of New France, La Vérendrye, the first western military commander, directed the construction of Fort Pascoyac near here. It was named after the people of the Pasquia River.
For years the settlement was called Pascoyac, sometimes shortened to Le Pas. The Pas Indian Band's reserve lands around the site of the Hudson Bay trading post and the Anglican Church Mission were surrendered in the first decade of the 20th century to make way for the railroad and development of the Town of The Pas which was incorporated in 1912. The Pas Indian Band was relocated to the north side of the Saskatchewan River and changed its name to Opaskwayak Cree Nation. The area today is composed of three distinct communities: The Town of The Pas, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey.
The history of the city and the region may be seen at the Sam Waller Museum, located in the old courthouse in downtown The Pas.
Read more about this topic: The Pas
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