The explorers who came in the early years to this unmapped region in the heart of the country were guided in their travels by the native people, over trails, along canoe routes, and across lakes.
Pierre de La Verendrye, in 1741, sent his son Pierre to establish Fort Dauphin near the mouth of the Mossy River. The father, Pierre, did not himself come to the fort. However he recorded the event by writing to minister Maurepas on May 12, 1742, from Fort La Reine: “I have established a new fort, at the request of the Mountain Crees, on the Lake of the Prairies, the past autumn, named Fort Dauphin.”
The Mossey River Municipality is home to many Ukrainian families who immigrated to this area in the early 1900’s. They were drawn here for many reasons but the lure of 160 acres for ten dollars was seen as an opportunity to better their lives.
Camperville and Duck Bay, on the northwest shore of Lake Winnipegosis, are inseparable in their history, religion and society. Mention of the northwest shores of the three Manitoba lakes – Winnipegosis, Manitoba and Dauphin – can be found in many early fur trade journals.
One of the great lakes and inland waterways of Manitoba is Lake Winnipegosis – Little Winnipeg, or Little Muddy Water – so name by the Cree Indians. Lake Winnipegosis stretches its tapering, irregular, graceful length due north of Lake Manitoba and west of Lake Winnipeg.
Winnipegosis, Man. May 14. Situated at the mouth of the Mossey River at the terminus of the Dauphin branch of the Canadian Northern railway, is the picturesque village of Winnipegosis…