August 16, 2005

Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism Minister Eric Robinson and the Orkney Islands Council of the United Kingdom will enter into a memorandum of understanding on friendship and co-operation to reinforce existing bonds and to create new ones between the respective countries tomorrow.

“The histories of Manitoba, Orkney and the Hudson’s Bay Company are intertwined. During the 18^th and 19^th centuries, as many as 90 per cent of the Canadian-based employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company were of Orkney descent,” said Robinson. “This historic connection is a source of great pride amongst the people of Orkney and the people of the province of Manitoba.”

The links between Orkney and Manitoba’s early fur-trade families are currently being commemorated by the Red River Settlement Descendants Reunion at Lower Fort Garry.

Resonances of the Orkney connection abound in Manitoba, Lower Fort Garry was built by Orcadian masons. York boats, based on the design of the traditional Orkney yawl, with a crew from the islands, provided part of the distribution network for the fur trade.

The five-year agreement will formally acknowledge the historic connection and the continued relationship between Manitoba and Orkney and will promote tourism and the exchange of experience in strengthening northern and remote communities through tourism.

“It has been an honour to attend the Red River Reunion of descendants of Manitoba’s original fur trade family settlers, and celebrate our shared history,” added Robinson. “I look forward to continued co-operation between our two countries for generations to come.”

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