The journey itself was a long time in planning. Coordinating every turn, every stop was a complex task. Several groups along the way wished to take part in anyway they could. The folks from the Crow Wing Trail Association and the Trans Canada Trail Association were part of the planning. Mapping out the route, the stops. Where the food and campsites would be available. How long it would take between each stop. What permits were required. Would they need a Police escort at any point. All of these questions had to be answered before they could even get on the road. Transportation of the carts from the St Norbert Arts Centre to Emerson, Manitoba.
This was an enormous task and everyone involved handled it well. Every 'i' was dotted, every 't' was crossed. Bulletins were sent out to the communities that the Cart Journey would pass. Local people were informed of the coming event. The Metis are coming !

To get the carts from the St Norbert Art Centre, where the carts were made, to Emerson, a flatbed semi truck had to be found. The cart makers found such a lucky sponsor for this. Five carts and a Metis Flag, loaded and ready to go.

The staging area in Emerson. Throughout the day carts, wagons and horses arrived. Excitement was in the air. This was the beginning of a great event.

The following day carts begin to move out and make their way across the border to the historical Metis Cemetery outside of Pembina, North Dakota

Everyone was pumped up for this event, this was a re creation of history. Look at their faces, you can see that their hearts are racing a mile a minute.

Arriving at the cemetery, the carts form up behind the crosses. These crosses were made and erected by the Metis Elders in Winnipeg, in honour of those buried there.

The larger cross is erected and the ceremony is about to begin. This cross was also made by the Metis people in Winnipeg for this occasion, the consecration once again of this cemetery.

People gather and take pause , offering a prayer for their ancestors buried here. This solemn event lasted for about an hour before heading back across the border to Emerson.

Cart repairs and general maintenance was the daily routine. The devotion these people had to make this journey a reality was phenomenal.

There were plenty of rest stops along the way. The procession sometimes stretched out for a quarter of a mile at times. So stops allowed those further back to catch up.

There were seven scheduled stops along the way. These were ; Ridgeville, Roseau Rapids, St Malo, St Pierre-Jolys, Otterbourne, Niverville and St Adolphe, with a short stop at the Mennonite Memorial Landing. There were planned events happening at most of these stops. The last stop before continuing on to the Forks in Winnipeg was at St Norbert.

Every evening at scheduled stops, repairs were preformed on the carts along with general maintenance. In this photo the carts are lined in formation for the night.

This magical event drew onlookers where ever it stopped. A large number of the people were Metis, paying their respects and saying how proud it made them feel to see Metis Red River carts. The Metis culture being showcased in such an event.

To come across a scene like this would make every Metis persons' heart swell with pride, the flags on each cart waving in the breeze.

Feelings were running high as the trek went on, smiles were on everyone's faces. The horses settled into the daily task.

By travelling secondary roads, highway crossings were many. Precautions were taken with traffic being directed for everyone's safety.

The cart trek followed the Crow Wing Trail as close as possible, as most of it is under current roads and highways. Here they follow it across a farmers field. This one picture alone is priceless. Seeing the carts on the prairie, out riders in front, flags waving. There are two words for this image. Metis Proud !!!

Wheat fields, golden in the background. Red River carts moving across the foreground. It would be easy to imagine yourself going back in time to the 1850's.

There were many times the cart people had to travel on paved roads, but it never took anything away from the image of the carts.

Metis flags waving in the wind, large billowing clouds in the sky as the carts neared the end of the journey. For some the trek was ending too soon.

With the Floodway behind them and St Norbert only a few hundred yards ahead. The carts have been on the road for seven days and even the horses look weary. This image stirs a lot of emotions. Proud to be Metis !

I think these guys could go for another hundred miles. Look at the smiles, they look as fresh as the day they started.

The last few hundred yards along Pembina Highway and they still look impressive. This is a trip that will remain in everyone's memory for a long time. Our heritage, our history, fore ever lasting.

At St Norbert Heritage Place the people waited for this moment. The crowd that greeted the cart people as they approached. Everyone standing tall and proud. This is a day to remember. History being told with great dignity.

Cart photos generously supplied by the following people:

1. Linda St Cyr
2. Ruth Swan
3. Orille Haugan
4. Carolyn McIntyre
5. Larry Haag