The Wawanesa
Area
1738
The French Explorer, La Verendrye, buil\ds Fort La Reine on the
Assiniboine River (near present day Portage La Prairie).
On October 18, 1738 he left Fort La Reine traveling south west along
the Souris River. When he reached the Turtle Mountains, on the
insistence of his Indian guides he turned northwest until he reached
the Souris River. Here he met 102 lodges of Assiniboines.
From this point he followed the Souris River southwest until he reached
the Mandan Indian villages on the Missouri River
1743
La Verendrye brings a priest, Father Coquart, to the Souris
River. He taught the Assiniboines to say prayers. Forty
years later French and English traders were astounded to hear the
Assiniboine Indians reciting prayers they had memorized years
1750
The Assiniboines gain mobility on the plains when they obtain horses.
1770
From 1770 to 1778 the Assiniboines often carry corn and furs from the
Mandan Country up the Souris River to Fort La Reine, although they had
been expressly warned by the Sioux not to traffic with the Whiteman.
1781
In the last half of the 18th century the Sioux, armed with Hudson Bay
Company muskets roamed the Souris River attacking Assiniboines and
traders alike. In 1781 they combine with the Madans to attack the
Assiniboine villages in the Turtle Mountains and continue these attacks
along the Souris in 1786 and 1793.
1782
Assiniboines living along the Souris River suffer a great smallpox
epidemic but by 1784 they had recovered enough to resume trading
operations.
1797
David Thompson camped near Sipiweske on his journey to the Mandan
country.
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