Mammamattawa

Mammamattawa, a name meaning a meeting of waters, stands where the Kenogami joins the Albany River. The junction linked routes from the forested interior with James Bay. In 1743 the Hudson's Bay Company established Henley House here, sending its traders inland from Fort Albany to meet competition from French merchants. It became a place where Indigenous hunters brought furs and obtained goods without travelling all the way to the coast.

Relations at the post could also turn violent. In 1754 the Cree leader Wappisis and his sons attacked Henley House, killing several company men. The company rebuilt the post, which continued to serve the river trade. Its position at the forks made it an important stopping place between the interior and the bay.