Fort Maurepas
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Fort Maurepas was one of the first forts built by Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de la Vérendrye and his men west of Fort St. Charles on Lake of the Woods. In 1733, two of the brothers, Jean Baptiste de La Vérendrye, Pierre Gaultier de La Vérendrye and their men, constructed Fort La Barrière on the Winnipeg River. They also explored the southernmost part of Lake Winnipeg and the Red River for a number of miles south. They identified a site for the first Fort Maurepas on the west bank approximately five miles north of the present day town of Selkirk and in 1734 constructed the fort at that location.
There are varying accounts of this construction and the construction on the site near the mouth of the Winnipeg River. The second site is the one which receives historical recognition today. It appears that the first site was abandoned in 1739 and the second, Fort Maurepas, was built on the Winnipeg River across from present day Pine Falls. It was moved in the interest of peace with the local natives and the establishment of Fort Rouge on the Assiniboine made the first site obsolete. The new area proved popular as a fur post location and both the North West Company and the Hudson Bay Company constructed a fort there during their fur trade expansion. See Fort Alexander, Manitoba.
Fort Maurepas is important historically as being the first post in that area (both locations) trying to capture the fur trade and make allies of the local natives which included Ojibway, Cree, Assiniboine, Metis, and other traders.
