Lost In The Barrens

Lost in the Barrens is set in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Nunavut. Manitoba, most of which is subarctic, lies in the center of the country, bordered by Ontario to the east and Saskatchewan to the west. To the north is the remote arctic province of Nunavut while to the south lies the United States. The Pas is a small town in the unincorporated northern Manitoba region, which makes up the bulk of the province but contains less than 10% of the population. “Five hundred miles and two days north from Winnipeg” lies the small fur-trading town of The Pas (2). The population of The Pas in 1956 was roughly 3,300 people, according to census data. A 2011 survey of The Pas revealed that 46% of the population was North American Aboriginal, comprising First Nations (26%) peoples and Métis (19%). Most of the remaining population was identified as of Canadian, American, or European origin. It is in this town that Angus sells his furs, and through which Jamie arrives in the wilds. The Barrens, where the main characters are lost, is located in the northern part of Canada, known for its harsh climate and remote, isolated landscapes.