Michipicoten

Michipicoten lies where its river reaches the northeastern shore of Lake Superior. The mouth of the Michipicoten and neighbouring Magpie rivers was a gathering place for Ojibwe families and a gateway to the interior. Canoe routes led north by the Michipicoten, Missinaibi and Moose rivers to James Bay, with portages joining the watersheds. The name refers to the great bluffs beside the river.

French traders established a post here in the early eighteenth century, seeking furs from the surrounding country. By 1797 the Hudson's Bay Company had built a rival post across the river from the North West Company. After the companies merged in 1821, Michipicoten became an important centre for the Lake Superior trade. Supplies travelled inland from James Bay along the river route, relying on the knowledge and labour of Indigenous travellers and voyageurs.