Mennonite Landing

History of the site

Since time immemorial, the site at the confluence of the Rat and Red Rivers has been a meeting place for Indigenous people of the region. To capitalize on that traffic, the North West Company operated a trading post just east of here, from 1796-97. And later, this was where Mennonite immigrants from Ukraine (at the time called “South Russia”) stepped off steam powered river boats onto Treaty 1 land. In total, about 3500 Mennonites arrived here on this very site from 1874-76. This was the first large block of European settlers to Manitoba.

Transformation

In 1994, a stone monument was set up at this site by Dr. Wilbert C. Loewen, Orlando Hiebert, and Frank Dueck. This monument commemorates the significance of the site for the 1870s Mennonites. The cairn was dedicated in September of that year by former Premier Ed Schreyer, accompanied by a reenactment of the story starring many Niverville locals.

What you see today

This picturesque site consists of 2.5 acres of Crown Land leased by the Mennonite Landing Site Association under the jurisdiction of the RM of Ritchot. This site has been included as part of the Trans Canada Trail as a tangent to the Crow Wing Trail.

There is parking up against the fence, just off Provincial Road 200. You’ll see a large info board at the entrance to the site, courtesy of the Crow Wing Trail folks. You’ll then follow a lovely trail through the woods. At about the halfway point, you’ll see another smaller trail leading to the monument.

This is a popular fishing spot – including ice fishing in winter – so you’ll likely meet several folks trying to catch a bite. Speaking of bites… bring your mosquito spray in summer months. Other dangers include poison ivy and ticks.

Obviously, there is the danger of the rivers themselves. In spring especially, the waters come up quite high and occasionally flood right up to the road. Do not attempt to visit the monument at this time. Also be careful if venturing close to the edge – the Red River gumbo is no joke and you may slip or become stuck. The monument is a distance from the river itself for a reason!