The Community of Fort Chipewyan

Nestled on the northwest 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. More than 230 years later, trapping and fishing are still activities enjoyed by residents of Fort Chipewyan.

In 2010, history was made in Fort Chipewyan when the world’s first NHL-sized synthetic ice surface was installed in the Archie Simpson Arena.  

With 1,261 residents, Fort Chipewyan is the second largest community in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Many of the residents of Fort Chipewyan are Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and Metis.