Many years ago the savage Iroquois ventured up the Sturgeon river to an Ojibway camp where the Iroquois massacred most of the Ojibway braves, saving only a handful to act as guides to lead them further North to find new wealth in furs. They headed up the Sturgeon river through the Temagami to the Abitibi River. There, the Ojibway braves knew that they must settle their score with the Iroquois, so they convinced the Iroquois that there was a rich Indian settlement up the river and that if they continued to paddle during the night while the Iroquois were sleeping, then they could surprise the camp in the early morning. The Iroquois arrogant in their own power believed the Ojibway's, so the Iroquois slept. As the Ojibway were approaching the waterfalls, they slipped out of the canoes, taking the paddles with them. The Iroquois were sent on their final journey over the falls. That is, according to the Ojibway legend, how Iroquois Falls came to be names after an Indian tribe that lived hundreds of miles away.

THE DE TROYES EXPEDITION

 In 1686, the most successful and spectacular raid in Canadian history was completed by the French military strategist, Pierre Chevalier de Troyes. He was instructed by, his  French superiors, to occupy the English posts of James Bay. On March 30 th, Pierre led a detachment of one hundred men, five officers, and one chaplain, from Montreal, by birch bark canoes, to James Bay to seize the fort at Moose Factory. Not all the men were trained soldiers, but "Des coureur de bois." On June 21 st they overran the fort at Moose Factory and  captured forts  Monsoni, Rupert, and Quichicouaneand. They began their journey home on August 19, after only losing three men in battle, and arrived back in Montreal in late October.