History
In the days of the fur trade, this river provided access to James Bay by way of the Missinaibi and Moose Rivers. Pierre-Esprit Radisson and Médard des Groseilliers are believed to be the first non-natives to travel this route. A French trading post was built at the river's mouth in the early 18th century. The Hudson's Bay Company started building trading posts along the route in the 1770s and its post at Michipicoten River remained in use until abandoned in 1904 (the site is now part of Michipicoten Post Provincial Park).
In 1781 Philip Turnor, HBC's first full-time surveyor, performed a detailed survey of the river, followed by many upgrades to the portages. After 1821, the Moose/Missinaibi/Michipicoten route became the established supply route for HBC's Lake Superior District.
Read more about this topic: Michipicoten River
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