History
Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island (2765 km²) is at the northern end of Lake Huron beside GEORGIAN BAY. It is the largest island in a freshwater lake in the world. It is important to add "in a lake" because there are larger islands in some rivers. Manitoulin Island has more than 100 lakes. The town of Little Current (population 1575, 1996 census) is the main community. The island is linked to mainland Ontario by road and rail.

There is evidence that the native people have been using the land island for 9000 years. When JESUIT missionaries arrived in 1648, the island was occupied by the OTTAWA. These people were driven out of their lands by the IROQUOIS. The island was then abandoned for 125 years. It was then resettled by the government as an "Indian refuge" in the 1830s. It became a centre for Indian administration. Later the government bought most of the island, except for the eastern end. The native people have never given up this land by treaty. Its name is Algonquian for "place of the great spirit," meaning their god, Manitou. The Canadian Encyclopedia © 2006 Historica Foundation of Canada