French River

French River is a region in Ontario.

In Anishinabek News

• April 2013: The river is the location of Dokis First Nation, where Gord Restoule Sr. lived for over seven decades.
• August 2013: The Okikendawt Hydroelectric Project is being built on the Portage Channel of this river. The river receives water from Lake Nipissing through a dam that will supply the new generating station.
• November 2014: The river is the site of the Okikendawt project and the Portage Dam. Water levels on the river are regulated by control structures to manage Lake Nipissing.
• December 2015: This river receives water from Lake Nipissing at the site of the Dokis First Nation hydroelectric facility.
• November 2019: The Georgian Bay Biosphere environment extends from this river to the Severn River.
• November 2019: Sightings of wild pigs have been reported as far north as the French River. The French River marks one of the boundaries of the invasive pig sightings reported to the Ministry as of November 2019.
• August 2020: The river was used by members of Dokis First Nation to travel by boat to access medical services. Stories about traversing this waterway are being collected as part of the community's oral history project.
• December 2020: Samuel de Champlain traveled down this waterway in 1615, noting its rocky and hilly terrain. The river served as a gathering place for the Odawa people during the berry-harvesting season. Samuel de Champlain observed only ten acres of arable land along this river.
• June 2021: Historical records place the Amikwa First Nation west of this river along the north shore of Lake Huron. Samuel De Champlain encountered Odawa people at the mouth of this river in 1615.
• July 2022: Dokis First Nation is situated along the upper portion of this river.
• January 2025: The river is the location of the Manitou Greeting Rock, which features natural staining interpreted as a welcoming sign by Dokis First Nation members. The Ganawandaagwad Institute is conducting research into the traditional history and language associated with this waterway.
• May 2025: The water levels of the river increased by approximately six feet following the construction of three dams by the federal government. Dokis First Nation is using drones to create 3D models of the shoreline to calculate land lost to historical flooding. Drone imagery is used to identify dangerous ice conditions on the river during the winter months.
• September 2026: There is a reported high need for childcare services within this region and Dokis First Nation.