Established in 1684, it was the most important of the Hudson Bay Company posts, and called "the most civilized place in the Territory." It is the oldest permanent settlement in Canada, and at its peak had over 50 buildings. Today, the mammoth white wooden building sits, nearly abandoned on the blustery northwestern shore of Hudson Bay. York Factory is now protected as a national historic site, but is gradually falling victim to the extreme climate and erosion. Cree elders who were born at York Factory reunite here every summer to reminisce, and to celebrate the crucial role their ancestors played in the fur trade.