The Historic Pembina "Ox Cart" Trail

Experience a day on the historic Pembina Trail, otherwise known as The Woods Trail, one of the many branches of the Red River Ox Cart Trails. The trade route traditionally carried furs and buffalo hides from the Red River Colony (Selkirk) on the long journey to St. Paul, Minnesota. The ox cart trains consisted of several to hundreds of carts. The ox cart teamsters were a  colorful mix of peoples, primarily Metis, who are themselves of mixed race. Portions of the Woods Trail still exist in Red Lake County, Minnesota, near Huott and Dorothy. That is where I made this day trip by oxcart to capture a taste of what life on the trail might have been like. A follow-up video chronicles our stop at Old Crossing Treaty Park where we went for an evening swim after a hot day on the trail.

CREDITS

Music: Silver Spear

Album: Slainte

Group: Siainte

Source: Free Music Archive

Historical photos I referenced for the digital artwork came from numerous sources, most of which are listed here:

State Historical Society of North Dakota

Manitoba Culture, Heritage & Tourism

Project Gutenberg

Minnesota Historical Society

Library and Archives Canada

McCord Museum of Canadian History

Manitoba Historical Society

The Pageant of America Collection

APTN Digital Nations

Encylcopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America

Minnesota Historical Society

Portage La Prairie Images

Whitney's Gallery

Swimming with the Ox at Old Crossing Treaty Park

Near Huot, Minnesota, the Pembina  Trail, otherwise known as The Woods Trail (one of the major branches of The Red River Ox Cart Trails), crossed the Red Lake River at what is now known as Old Crossing Treaty Park. After a hot, bug ridden day of carting on one of the  remnants of the trail, Scout the Ox, Harry the Dog, and I stopped at the park for a swim in the river. This is the location where oxcarts on the trail forded the river, and it became a well known meeting spot as well. The crossing is rich in history and is home to the annual Chautauqua and French Festival at Old Crossing Treaty Park.

CREDITS

Historical reference photo: State Historical Society of North Dakota

Music: Jig of Slurs

Album: Cup of Tea

Group: Siainte

Source: Free Music Archive