Lesser Slave Lake

Lesser Slave Lake lies in the northern forest country of present-day Alberta. The British explorer David Thompson visited the area of the lake's southeastern shore in 1799. British fur traders subsequently established posts around the lake, including a Hudson's Bay Company post at its outlet.

A settlement known as Sawridge grew around the post. The lake and surrounding waterways formed part of the northern interior through which people and trade goods moved, while Indigenous communities provided indispensable local knowledge and connections.