Mattawa is steeped in legend and history, from the aboriginal peoples who first inhabited this land, to intrepid European explorers and colorful voyageurs.
The Hudson's Bay Company, one of the oldest, and at times, one of the most powerful companies in the world, is also part of Mattawa's history.
Mattawa Town has grown up around the point where the Mattawa River joins the mighty Ottawa River. Mattawa means 'Meeting of the Waters' in the Ojibwa tongue.
In the days before extensive road systems were created, the rivers were the travelers' highways, providing the easiest access to the interior of this vast North American continent.
Situated at a major junction point on the interior river routes, Mattawa provided a convenient stopping place where people throughout the ages of history could rest and meet up with other travelers.
The area was initially inhabited by native peoples who used the Mattawa River as an important transportation corridor for many centuries.
The first European to pitch camp in Mattawa was Etienne Brulé, who arrived in 1610. (Look out for the statue commemorating his part in Mattawa's history in Mattawa main street, Monestime Way).
Brulé had been sent up river by the famous French navigator, cartographer, explorer and diplomat, Samuel de Champlain. Brulé's mission was to live with the Algonquin and Huron Indians inhabiting the area.
He was charged with learning their language and customs and gathering information on the routes heading to the North and West. Samuel de Champlain himself passed through Mattawa in 1615.
Mattawa subsequently became an important hub for the fur trade, due to its location on the voyageur canoe route from Montreal to the Great Lakes.
The voyageurs were immensely tough French Canadians who transported fur cargoes in enormous trade canoes during the fur trade era.
These larger than life characters are the cowboy heroes of Canada. They have earned a place in history for their legendary feats of physical strength and endurance.
For almost 300 years the voyageurs paddled the waters from the St Lawrence to the central and north west areas of North America, bringing trade goods to the outposts and valuable furs back to eastern settlements.
The Hudson's Bay Company set up a post on Explorers' Point in Mattawa in the 1830s, illustrating Mattawa's importance on the fur trade route.
The Hudson's Bay Company is the oldest commercial corporation in North America. The company was incorporated by British royal charter in 1670 as 'The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay'.
It was once the de facto government in parts of North America before European based colonies and states were established. From its long time headquarters at York Factory on Hudson Bay, the company dominated the fur trade throughout much of British controlled North America for several centuries.
Its network of trading posts formed the nucleus for later official authority in many areas.
The Mattawa House, a seven building Hudson's Bay post was built on Explorers' Point in 1837. Nothing now remains of this original settlement.
Find out much more and steep yourself in Mattawa's fascinating history by visiting the Mattawa Museum, located on Explorers' Point, where the two rivers meet.
Image of Voyageur canoe painting courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, Acc. No. 1989-401-1 |
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