Fort Chipewyan

Fort Chipewyan sits on the western shore of Lake Athabasca in a remote part of Alberta. The settlement spreads along the waterfront and relies on water and air routes for outside connections.

The North West Company built this trading post in 1788 as Alberta's first permanent European settlement. It became a key center for fur trading routes in the northern region.

Three Indigenous groups shape daily life here: the Mikisew Cree, Athabasca Chipewyan, and Fort Chipewyan Métis. Their presence shapes how the community functions and maintains its roots.

The settlement is reachable only by plane or boat in summer, while winter ice roads provide another route. Visitors should expect limited services and plan for longer travel times.

A fur trader named Roderick Mackenzie began collecting over 2000 books starting in 1790, creating one of the first libraries in this remote area. This collection provided unexpected knowledge and reading material for locals.

Location: Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Inception: 1788

Elevation above the sea: 221 m

Shares border with: Fort Smith

GPS coordinates: 58.71444,-111.15833

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:27