This is a collection of historical readings about the Red River Settlement and some of the events that occurred there during the period from about 1790 to 1870. The events are interesting in themselves and, when read in sequence, illustrate many of the changes that took place in the settlment during the period. The readings offer glimpses into the competitive and highly aggressive relations between the North West Company and the Hudson's Bay Company before the companies merged in 1821. They reveal a complex human environment, including delicate and challenging relationships among the European occupiers, the French Canadian, Scottish and English Metis of Red River, the local Saulteaux and the neighbouring Cree, Assiniboine and Sioux. The readings also include census counts and several physical descriptions of the settlement, which extended for miles along the banks of the Red and Assiniboine rivers.