Brief History

The first contact with the Crees, though some reports show the first contact may have been even earlier, occurred in 1610 during the explorations of Henry Hudson. As a result, the trading outposts were established in the region and the fur trade boomed. This led to the creation of the Hudson Bay Company.

Eastmain got its name in 1730 from the local Hudson Bay trading post that had become the company's trading headquarters for the east coast of James Bay and Hudson Bay. The town was originally located on the north shore of the Eastmain River, but in 1762, Eastmain was relocated to the south shore because it provided easier access to the town from the James Bay.

The Hudson Bay Company trading post brought commercial trading to the community and the company maintained a presence in the area, until recently, because the area was rich in natural resources and was famous for its trout, whitefish, and pike. As trading became more of a custom, Cree people began to settle in the area and the community of Eastmain was established in the early 18th century, however, the territory was reserved for the use of the Crees under the Lands and Forests Act only in 1962.