According to the journals of Alexander Henry (the younger), a fur-trader with the North West Company, the cart made it made its first appearance in 1801 at Fort Pembina, which was situated on the Red River at about where the Canada-US border is now.
The first carts were smaller than what we see in pictures today. They were capable of carrying about 450 pounds, with wheels about three feet high. Later larger wheels were used until it evolved into the cart we see today, carrying almost twice as much and much larger wheels. The Red River Metis cart was used extensively throughout the 1800's, the high-point being 1850-1870. Most carts were under contract by the Hudson Bay Company (HBC) to transport goods and furs between the Red River Settlement and St Paul. This type of trade had begun in 1844 and by 1869, no less than 2500 cartloads had made the journey while in contract to the HBC.
The north-south cart trails (Crow Wing) saw the slow death of the carts during the 1870's with the advent of the steam-boats plying the Red River. While the east-west cart trails (Fort Ellice) saw the demise of the carts a few years later. By 1885 with the expansion of the railroad, the carts became a thing of the past. A few remained in the hands of people that saw less and less use for them.
In January of 2002, approximately 125 years later, the idea came to a handful of people to resurrect the cart train, not just one or three carts, but five in total. Stemming from that first thought, July of this year saw nine carts make the journey from the historical Metis cemetery near Pembina, North Dakota to St Norbert, Manitoba. The carts assembled in Emerson on July 19 crossing the border to the cemetery the next day. A historical event was unfolding in the Red River Valley.

The carts used were:
St Norbert Cart Committee - 5
Al Henry & Yvon Dumont - 3
Ed Jerome, Minnesota - 1

After cutting the trees on a farm in St Pierre, the work then began to take on a serious turn. The trees were donated and volunteers cut down the marked trees, limbed and cut into the proper lengths. Here we see a portable sawmill, its use donated by a group that admired the under-taking of cart making. These logs were cut into boards to begin the carts. Keep in mind the intense labour that went into this other than time. Cutting the trees with a chain saw, hauling the logs to the St Norbert Art Centre by truck and the sawmill.

The tools used to make all of the parts were mostly part jerry-rigged. For example, looking closer at this picture, we see a rope holding down an industrial size hand drill, the wood is being turned on a home-made lathe. One of the hubs is being turned to size. The hubs were made of Elm or Oak. Size is important in the fit of the spokes and axle.

In the previous picture you saw the hand drill and lathe, here we see an extension added to that, to drill the holes in the hub to accept the spoke ends. Accuracy is important, not only in distance between the holes, but also in depth.

Now we see the hubs taking shape. The alternate holes and making the round holes into square holes. Here again accuracy is important, if holes were made to big these caused problems down the line. Square holes minimize movement.

The wheels slowly begin to take shape. Here the spoke ends are fitted to the hub. Accuracy now takes on meaning. The fit must be tight and the length of the spoke ends must be true. The table that this procedure is done on is specifically fashioned for this purpose. The hub must be maintained in one position and secured.

When you have never made a Red River Metis cart before, the learning curve becomes a vertical line. Here the understanding of accuracy comes to the forefront. Note the table, its function becomes even clearer.

The rims of the wheels are called "felloes". Here the felloes are being drilled, again accuracy is important, not only the distance between the holes, but also the depth. Everything must fit tight, because no nails, screws or metal parts are used in the construction of a Red River Metis cart. Also no glue of any kind is used. Wood dowels and a tight fit is what holds everything together.

The felloes are now fitted to each other by means of dowels. The spokes then fitted to the felloes and hub. Some extra cutting is required to ensure a good fit. Holes must match exactly, dowels must be of proper size and length.

With much trial and error, the wheel now takes shape. The wheel is brought together with a come-along around the circumference of the wheel. A come-along is canvas strap with a ratchet mechanism. Each piece is fitted and checked for accuracy, it must fit tightly.

One can only imagine the joy felt among the volunteers when the wheels began to roll out of the workshop. These wheels are approximately six feet high, 12 spokes and 6 felloes around.

The baskets are of lighter wood and can be of poplar or spruce. Assembly is not as complicated, but yet labour intensive. Requires drilling and sizing for each piece.

With most of the work completed in the workshop, the cart can now be assembled.

Team work at its finest. Everyone worked well together, everyone eagerly going from one completed task to the other

Well there are exceptions. These people must work for the city. A three-person workcrew, one works while the other two two watch. Great team work. Just kidding people.

Scraping buffalo hide after being soaked for a couple of days. Scraping the hair from the hide is no easy task. It's wet and smelly plus takes lots of elbow grease.

Cutting the buffalo hide into strips. Some would call this shagganappi ( Michif Cree word), while others might call this babiche (a Michif French word).

Wrapping the shagganappi/babiche around the rims of the wheel. This has two purposes; minimize the wood from splitting and holds the felloes together and to the spokes

The finished cart gives a person a lot of pride. The feeling of recreating history is like no other feeling. If you look close at the detail of the cart, you can see the great care and love that went into making them.

The cart alone is an awesome sight, but the touch that gives it the glory it deserves is the addition of the Metis Flag to the back of the cart.

With the completion of the Metis Red River carts, made by Metis people and each cart adorned with a Metis Flag. What better way to celebrate, doing the Red River Jig.

The Metis Resource Centre wants to sincerely thank Caroline McIntyre for permission to use these photos. Also a big thank you to the people involved in the making of the carts. All of you will always be remembered.