The Magpie River flows south for 125 km from Esnagi Lake, through Dubreuilville and Wawa, and into Lake Superior. Like many lakes, streams and rivers in North America, the Magpie has been an important source of food and water for thousands of years.
Long before the arrival of Europeans, native peoples occupied the area. Artifacts from a 4,000 year old native village have been found near Manitou Mountain. The area, located about 14 km east of Dubreuiville, was inhabited by the ancestors of the Missanabie Cree First Nation.
Stone tools, spears and scraping implements were also found at the mouth of the Michipicoten River, just outside of Wawa. This is where experts have found evidence that the area has been occupied by native people for over 7,000 years!