We started our excursion today visiting Kakabeka Falls, the “Niagara of the North,” to admire Ontario’s second-highest waterfall. 

Next was Thunder Bay’s storied history at Fort William. We explored the Anishinaabe Encampment, home to Indigenous Peoples of the Anishinaabe nation. We learned about the beginnings of their commercial venture with Fort William and experienced the history through the eyes of those who lived and worked here. Our guide regaled us with tales from the 19th century, when cultures met and relationships were forged between Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous newcomers. Many actors were in period costumes recreate life at the fort circa 1816. We witnessed the hustle and bustle of a once active fur trading post and encountered a real-life scenario of its residents. The fort was essentially a trading post where East, West and  North met to trade. This was the midpoint as nobody could traverse the whole trip during the summer.  Mainly animal pellets were traded for European goods, tools, blankets, and iron utensils, canoes, and food.

We had a fantastic farewell with our ND friends. It is always interesting when we talk with other people on the cruise. On their tour they walked away thinking how depressed Thunder Bay was. On our tour all we saw was tourism spots and our guide talked up Thunder Bay.