Heritage & Culture
The Heritage and Culture of the
Historic Saugeen Métis
The Historic Saugeen Métis have a rich and enduring presence along the Lake Huron coast, shaped by resilience, cultural connection, and deep ties to land and water.
This section honours the stories, traditions, and legacies passed down through time — from the fur trade to modern contributions in service and storytelling.
Provincial Plaque: Fur Trading at Saugeen
The Anishinaabe lived by the mouth of the Saugeen River for centuries before Pierre Piché arrived in 1818 to begin fur trading in the region. By 1826, the Hudson’s Bay Company established an outpost at Saguingue to compete with independent fur traders like Piché. From La Cloche, its main post on Lake Huron, the Hudson’s Bay Company employed First Nations, French, Métis, and British fur traders who largely depended on Anishnabe hunters to supply deer, bear and marten skins. By 1832, the supply of premium furs was exhausted and the company closed its post. Although many Anishnabe gave up hunting and settled in an agricultural village, fur trading continued here until the mid-19th century when Southampton was founded.
