Fort Kaministiquia
Encyclopedia
Fort Camanistigoyan, now standardized as Fort Kaministiquia, located at the mouth of the Kaministiquia River
on Lake Superior
in what is now northwestern Ontario
, Canada
, was established in 1717 by Zacharie Robutel de la Noue following the restoration of the system of trading permits (congés) by declaration of the King dated 28 April 1716.
It was built near the post first established by Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut
in 1684/85, and subsequently abandoned in 1696 when, due to a surplus of beaver, the system of fur trade permits was abolished and many western fur trade posts abandoned.
Fort Kaministiquia was to be the first in a series of forts reaching westward to expand trade. It would also be the starting point for an organized search for a water route which French authorities hoped would lead them to the western sea (Mer de l'Ouest). The expansion did not proceed further until Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye became commandant in 1728. He began to make plans to expand westward and began his explorations in 1731. This led to a fort at Grand Portage
and Fort St. Pierre
in that year. In 1732 the next important link in the movement west was built on Lake of the Woods
. It was called Fort St. Charles
.
Fort Kaministiquia continued to be the first link with the expansion forts. The North West Company
constructed a new fort, Fort William
, at this location in 1803. The city of Thunder Bay
now occupies the area where Fort Kaministiquia provided the base for so much western history.
A map drawn in 1802 by military engineer Ralph Henry Bruyeres (1765–1814) showing the location of the French forts has been reproduced in Jean F. Morrison, Superior rendez-vous place : Fort William in the Canadian fur trade. Toronto : Natural Heritage Books, 2007, page 26. 1st ed. appeared in 2001. The original sketch map may be found in the National Map Collection of Library and Archives Canada.
Kaministiquia River
The Kaministiquia River is a river which empties into western Lake Superior at the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Kaministiquia is an Ojibwe word meaning " with islands" due to two large islands at the mouth of the river...
on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
in what is now northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, was established in 1717 by Zacharie Robutel de la Noue following the restoration of the system of trading permits (congés) by declaration of the King dated 28 April 1716.
It was built near the post first established by Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut
Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut
Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut was a French soldier and explorer who is the first European known to have visited the area where the city of Duluth, Minnesota is now located and the headwaters of the Mississippi River near Grand Rapids...
in 1684/85, and subsequently abandoned in 1696 when, due to a surplus of beaver, the system of fur trade permits was abolished and many western fur trade posts abandoned.
Fort Kaministiquia was to be the first in a series of forts reaching westward to expand trade. It would also be the starting point for an organized search for a water route which French authorities hoped would lead them to the western sea (Mer de l'Ouest). The expansion did not proceed further until Pierre Gaultier de Varennes et de La Vérendrye became commandant in 1728. He began to make plans to expand westward and began his explorations in 1731. This led to a fort at Grand Portage
Grand Portage, Minnesota
Grand Portage is an unorganized territory in Cook County, Minnesota, on Lake Superior, at the northeast corner of the state near the border with northwestern Ontario. The population was 557 at the 2000 census...
and Fort St. Pierre
Fort St. Pierre
Fort Saint Pierre was the first fort built west of Fort Kaministiquia by Pierre La Vérendrye in northwestern Ontario. La Vérendrye, the first western commander, built it in 1731 at the beginning of his explorations. As military officer, La Vérendrye had multiple responsibilities, and he created...
in that year. In 1732 the next important link in the movement west was built on Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods
Lake of the Woods is a lake occupying parts of the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba and the U.S. state of Minnesota. It separates a small land area of Minnesota from the rest of the United States. The Northwest Angle and the town of Angle Township can only be reached from the rest of...
. It was called Fort St. Charles
Fort St. Charles
Fort Saint Charles was a secure trading post constructed in 1732, one of several western forts built under the direction of military commander La Vérendrye...
.
Fort Kaministiquia continued to be the first link with the expansion forts. The North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
constructed a new fort, Fort William
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
, at this location in 1803. The city of Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
now occupies the area where Fort Kaministiquia provided the base for so much western history.
A map drawn in 1802 by military engineer Ralph Henry Bruyeres (1765–1814) showing the location of the French forts has been reproduced in Jean F. Morrison, Superior rendez-vous place : Fort William in the Canadian fur trade. Toronto : Natural Heritage Books, 2007, page 26. 1st ed. appeared in 2001. The original sketch map may be found in the National Map Collection of Library and Archives Canada.