Nestled on the southwest shore of Lake Athabasca, Fort Chipewyan is one of the most northern communities in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Isolated by nature, Fort Chipewyan can only be accessed by plane or boat in the summer and by a winter road in the winter.
Established as a trading post in 1788 by the Northwest Trading Company, Fort Chipewyan is the oldest settlement in all of Alberta. It was named after the Chipewyan people first living in the area. More than 230 years later, trapping and fishing are still activities enjoyed by residents of Fort Chipewyan.
Many of the residents of Fort Chipewyan are Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Métis.
This hamlet contains both commercial and industrial uses, zoned HC – Hamlet Commercial and BI – Business Industrial respectively. Fort Chipewyan is one of the oldest European settlements in the Province of Alberta.
