Waabishkinigig Ziibii (White Otter River) begins at Toch Lake and flows 100 kilometres before it joins the mighty Biigtig Ziibii (Pic River). This remote river is relatively unknown but has provided our community with travel routes, harvesting, and connection to our lands and waters since time immemorial.
All in a Name…
There are a few theories about how Waabishkinigig Ziibii got its name. River otters are often spotted in the river and symbolize playfulness and harmony with water. The “White” in White Otter River may come from a rare sighting of a white-coloured otter in the area. Another theory is that white holds spiritual significance, symbolizing purity, or that it refers to seasonal changes in relation to winter.
Camp 14 Campsite
Mooz Zaaghigan/Moose Lake/Esker Lake
Gaa-wmbaawngaag Zaaghigan Gbeshwining/Sandy Hill Lake Campsite/Aster Lake Campsite
Gaa-wzhaawshkwaabkaag Zaaghigan Gbeshwining/Bluestone Lake Campsite
Wkikaandag Gbeshwining/Jackpine Campsite/Steel Lake Camp
Dik Gbeshwining/Caribou Campsite
Gaa-gidjiiwaabkaag Zaaghigan Jiimaan Gbeshwining/Mountain Lake Canoe Camp
McKay Lake Camp
Puktawagan Ginoodaawangaa Gbeshwining/Pukatawagan Sandbar Camp
Michal Zaaghigan Aazhogan Gbeshwining/Michal Lake Bridge Campsite
Giiwedin Ishpigakaamikijiwan Gbeshwining/North High Falls Campsite
Ginoozhe Zaaghigan Gbeshwining/Pike Lake Campsite
Waboosekon Gbeshwining/Waboosekon Campsite
Tickseed Gbeshwining/Tickseed Campsite
Caramat Gbeshwining/Caramat Campsite
Mnidoo Gkaamkijwang Gbeshwining/Manitou Falls Campsite
Legend
Click map icons to reveal more information.
Much of the Waabishkinigig Ziibii remains to be explored. There is one known archeological site, an old campsite, likely from the days of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Fun Fact
North American river otters are playful creatures, most active at dusk and dawn. River otters can stay underwater for up to eight minutes and can even see underwater: They have a see-through third eyelid for underwater vision.
River otters are sensitive to pollution. They tend to leave polluted areas, making them a good indicator of river health.
During the fur trade era, the Waabishkinigig Ziibii offered a reliable alternative route (instead of the Biigtig Ziibii [Pic River]) to transport supplies and mail between the Hudson’s Bay Company Lake Superior and James Bay trading posts. This route was shorter and lesser known, with a longer portage. The route began at Fort Pic on the Biigitig Ziibii then branched off to the Waabishkinigig Ziibii. Trappers and traders then paddled to a portage. The portage led to the Negagami River, then into the Kenogami River all the way to James Bay. The route took traders about six weeks in total to complete.
The first log drive on the Waabishkinigig Ziibii was in 1945. Logs were floated down the river to reach the Biigtig Ziibii. At the mouth of the Biigitig Ziibii, on the lake, the logs were gathered together in booms. Then, they were moved and stocked piled for use at the pulp and paper mill in Marathon, Ontario.
Waabishkinigig Ziibii flows through the Canadian Shield. This rugged northern landscape is made of ancient, hard rocks, worn down over billions of years, and then shaped by glaciers. The river valley is surrounded by glacial deposits, exposed rocks, wetlands, mixed forests, and clear lakes.
Most of the historical information on the Waabishkinigig Ziibii is centred around its use as a canoe and trading route in the 19th and 20th centuries, as detailed in the Fur Trade section. Today, the canoe route is used by our community, and by backcountry canoeing enthusiasts and fishers. The remote location of the river offers tranquility and space to enjoy the natural landscape.
Many species live in or near the Waabishkinigig Ziibii. Fish such as burbot and brook trout, and of course the playful river otters, swim the river. A mix of trees stand tall, sheltering the waterway. The forest provides a home for boreal species such as moose, black bears, white-tailed deer, amphibians, reptiles, and a range of bird species.
The North Thornben Lake Moraine Conservation Reserve protects the lands and waters further inland, where the Waabishkinigig Ziibii begins. Protecting all of the Waabishkinigig Ziibii will help maintain its natural beauty and allow it to provide a healthy home for plants and animals.
Boultbee, J. (1967). Pic, Pulp and People- A history of the Marathon District. Marathon, ON: The Marathon Area Centennial Committee.
Buchan, J. D. (1972). Logging of the Black and White Watersheds: The pre-mechanization era 1890-1950. Retrieved from https://nfmcforestry.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/History_White-River-Division-Watershed.pdf
Critter Care Wildlife Society. (n.d.). Discovering the Charm of North American River Otters: Nature’s Playful Swimmers. Retrieved February 2026, from Critter Care Wildlife Society: https://www.crittercarewildlife.org/north-american-river-otter
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. (2021). North Thornben Lake Moraine Conservation Reserve Management Statement. Retrieved 2026, from Conservation reserve management direction: https://www.ontario.ca/page/north-thornben-lake-moraine-conservation-reserve-management-statement
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. (2021). Turtle River-White Otter Lake Provincial Park Management Plan. Retrieved 2026, from Provincial park management direction: https://www.ontario.ca/page/turtle-river-white-otter-lake-provincial-park-management-plan#section-2
National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.). North American River Otter. Retrieved February 2026, from NWF: National Wildlife Federation: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/North-American-River-Otter
Nature Metrics. (2024). Environmental DNA Report: Freshwater fish (excl. sharks & rays). Nature Metrics.
Norris, D. (2025). Summary Archaeological Background – IPCAs Waterways. Thunderbay, ON: Woodland Heritage Northwest.
