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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 who first lived in the area. More than 230 years later, trapping and fishing are still activities enjoyed by residents of Fort Chipewyan. According to the 2018 census, there are 981 residents living in Fort Chipewyan, making it 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 Fort Chipewyan Métis.
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