Photo courtesy Pawâmiw Creative William McMurray (1820 - 1877) was the Chief Factor for the Hudson Bay Company during the height of the fur trade. He was born in Northwest Manitoba to John McMurray and Jane Cardinal and later posted in the Athabasca region to oversee trading. At the time, the confluence of the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers was merely stopping point on the way to the Fort Chipewyan.

William established a reputation his strength of leadership and quality of character while managing his position. In 1870, while establishing an official post at the confluence, Henry “John” Moberly chose to honor him by naming it Fort McMurray.

“Many people do not know that Fort McMurray was named after William McMurray, who was a Métis man,” says Bill Loutitt, Chief Executive Officer of McMurray Métis Local 1935. “It just goes to show that Fort McMurray was always a place of economic prosperity, long before the oilsands, that was home to Métis people.”

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is celebrating the rich culture and history of Indigenous peoples of this region in recognition of National Indigenous History Month. Please join us throughout the month of June in honoring the original peoples whose stories have marked these lands for time immemorial.