History of Lake Nipigon

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~ Reference for Morrisseau's collectors and investigators
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"Lake Nipigon", © 1990 Norval Morrisseau
/Click on image to Enlarge/
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"As a child Norval Morrisseau lived with his mother, grandfather and other relatives on a small reserve north of Macdiarmid and west of Beardmore on the shore of Lake Nipigon." Selwyn Dewdney
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Lake Nipigon, or lac Nipigon in French, may originate in the Ojibwa Animi-bee-gong, meaning 'continuous water' or 'lake that extends over the horizon.' It may also be translated as 'deep, clear water.' Today the remote lake has a limited number of access points so it has remained mostly pristine.
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Archeological evidence suggests that people inhabited the area around Lake Nipigon as much as 9,000 years ago. Rock paintings south of the lake around the mouth of the Nipigon are dated several hundred years before western exploration. When the area was discovered the original inhabitants were the Cree. They were gradually replaced by the Ojibwa in the 1700s.
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The area was first known to the western world after a French exploration of the area by Médard Chouart Des Groseilliers in 1660. The exploration was one of several collaborations between the western Iroquois and French. Des Groseilliers noted dense aboriginal populations in his visit, which led to the settlement of a Jesuit Missionary. The area was first mapped by Father Allouez, who from 1665-1667 explored the area from Sault Ste. Marie to Lake Nipigon.
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Then in 1679 the first trading post was set up by Claude Greysolon Dulhut. The Post was first settlement on the north shore, and one of the only until 1871 when Hudson's Bay Company established Red Rock Post. The new post had a 350 foot dock that allowed steamboats to frequently stop. By 1871 the Red River Post became the hub of commerce for the area.
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The town of Nipigon came with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In 1909 the first town election took place. The focus of the town moved from the water to land and the Red Rock Post was called first called Nepigon, then Nipigon.
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The lake is currently located within Ontario, but was almost part of Manitoba. In 1912 the Government of Canada defined the border between Ontario and Manitoba to be the 89th line of longitude, despite Manitoba's eastward claim that would have included Lake Nipigon in their province. There are currently 4 indian reservations in the Nipigon area.
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One key community member during the 1900s was E.C. Everett. In addition to owning a store where the present-day Plaza Theater is, he recorded the town of Nipigon's history through photographs which he would sell at his store. The Nipigon Community says that some of his topics included: church openings, commercial enterprises, royal visits, the Prisoners of War Camp, fires, snowstorms and floods. He was also an entertainer known to recite poetry and juggle and walk on his own hands.
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Source: 'THE GREAT LAKES WIKI'
--------- A PLACE TO SHARE STORIES, INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
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* The acrylic painting on canvas in this posting has provenance leading directly to the artist: "Lake Nipigon, 36"x48", © 1990 Norval Morrisseau /Private Collection/