YORK FACTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE OF CANADA ...

In discussion with First Nation community members and consultations with the
interested public, several themes were raised concerning heritage protection of York
Factory. They were:
• reasonable efforts should be taken to at least slow down erosion of the bank
without impairing the historical nature of York Factory and the environment
of the river;
• historic practices used by the HBC and the people of York Factory to retard
erosion and drain the site should be considered by Parks Canada;
• the Depot is the icon of York Factory and must be looked after;
• York Factory will remain important and significant to the First Nation
communities, even if the physical buildings and historical evidence are
eventually lost. Their connection is to the land, the rivers, the animals and
the place where their ancestors are buried. It is hoped that measures can be
taken to slow down erosion and permafrost changes that threaten the site
and the Depot, but regardless York Factory will remain alive through
memories, stories and photos;
• protect the artifacts being found on the site and on the riverbank; and
• further document the cemetery, keep it clear of vegetation, and explore
further with the First Nation communities a program for its ongoing care
and maintenance.
2.2 Heritage Presentation
Heritage presentation is how Parks Canada provides opportunities to enjoy and
learn about its parks and sites. Such opportunities may be on-site for visitors or offsite,
known as outreach, for interested Canadians. Heritage presentation forms a
large part of the visitor experience for national historic sites.
Heritage presentation is based on the site’s commemorative intent, that is, its reason
for designation. The principal messages for York Factory’s heritage presentation are:
• York Factory’s critical role in the 18 th century French – English struggle on
Hudson Bay for control of the fur trade;
• York Factory’s continuous operation by the HBC from 1684 to 1957;
• the function of York Factory as an important HBC trading post and later as
an entrepôt for the interior trade;
• the role of York Factory in establishing viable routes to the interior of
western Canada; and
• the role of Aboriginal peoples in the fur trade associated with York Factory.
York Factory NHSC Management Plan Page 15