Temagami Island History
By Ancient Forest Exploration and Research

The history of the Temagami area, in terms of both its natural and cultural heritages, is diverse and extensive. Aboriginal inhabitants, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, have occupied this area, their homeland (n'Daki Menan), for at least 6,000 years.

Temagami Island lies within n'Daki Menan, the homeland of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, which encompasses almost 4,000 square miles. Archaeological investigations have documented human habitation in the Temagami area as early as 1,000 B.C., and it is likely that these were ancestors of the tribe that presently occupies the area. Historically, the Teme-Augama Anishnabai were a hunter-gatherer society that moved with the seasons and with the availability of various resources. Within their homeland, certain areas had special significance. Temagami Island has two such areas of significance.

The first is a place now known as Wabikon, which was the summer settlement of the Teme-Augama Anishnabai, located at the southern tip of this island.

The second was the presence of small groves of maple trees on the northern portion of the island that were used to produce syrup. An impressive stand of old-growth maple still remains.