The Substance of a Journal During a Residence at the Red River Colony, British North America by John West is an early 19th-century account detailing West’s experiences while living in the Red River Colony, located in what is now Manitoba, Canada. As a missionary and chaplain for the Hudson's Bay Company, West was tasked with ministering to the settlers and Indigenous peoples in the colony.In his journal, West documents daily life in the colony, describing interactions with both European settlers and the Indigenous Cree and Métis populations. He provides keen observations of the cultural exchanges, as well as the challenges faced by the colonists, including harsh winters, isolation, and the difficulties of establishing a stable community in a remote part of British North America.