Manitoba’s first explorers were Aboriginal people who entered the region from the south over 11,000 years ago. At that time, only a small portion of the province was accessible, as most of it was covered by an ice sheet or glacial lakes.
These first people hunted now-extinct species of Ice Age animals and manufactured a distinctive style of stone spear point. The scarcity of such artifacts indicates that the earliest explorers were members of a small, highly mobile population whose territory included present-day southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
As time went on, the ice sheet gradually melted and the glacial lakes slowly drained away. The central and northern regions of Manitoba soon supported a variety of plant and animal resources that drew the attention of indigenous hunters and gatherers. By 7,000 years ago, most of the province had been explored and subsequently occupied by successive generations of Manitoba’s first people.
This plaque was erected at Boissevain in 1993 by the Manitoba Heritage Council.
Manitoba’s First Explorers Plaque (August 2010)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.23027, W100.05394
denoted by symbol on the map above
Manitoba's First Explorers, Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 22 January 2021
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
