Missinipe (Woodland Cree: Misi-nipiy or Mahttawi-sipiy), meaning "big water" or "difficult river", is a northern settlement in northern Saskatchewan along the western shore of Otter Lake. The hamlet is situated 80 km north of La Ronge along Highway 2 within the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and the provincial Census Division No. 18.

Etymology

There are two similar explanations for the name of the settlement. According to Bill Barry's Geographic Names of Saskatchewan, the name Missinipe comes from the word Misi-nipiy, which is the Woodland Cree name for the nearby Churchill River and means "big water". Tourism Saskatchewan confirms that the hamlet's etymological origins come from the Churchill River but states that the word is instead Mahttawi-sipiy, meaning "difficult river".

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Missinipe had a population of 27 living in 10 of its 29 total private dwellings, a change of NaN% from its 2016 population of 5. With a land area of 1.5 km2, it had a population density of in 2021.

Access and nearby communities

The community may be accessed by Highway 102 or by float plane. Missinipe is situated 80 km north of La Ronge and 320 km north of the nearest city, Prince Albert. Along Highway 102, the hamlet is located between Sucker River Indian Reserve 156C and Brabant Lake. The community of Grandmother's Bay, an extension of the Lac La Ronge First Nation, lies approximately 5 miles to the northeast, directly across Otter Lake.

Camping and recreation

As a result of its status as a main access point to the Churchill River, Missinipe is home to a float plane service, a canoe outfitter, and fishing outfitters. While generally empty during winter, the community is home to a seasonally operated general store, tourist cabins and other accommodations in the summer months. Tourism brings in seasonal campers, birdwatchers, and fishers, among others. There are provincial campgrounds 5 km north at Otter Rapids, 7 km north at the Devil Lake Provincial Recreation Site, and 1.5 km south of the hamlet. There is also a provincial campground within the community itself, as the hamlet is nearby Lac La Ronge Provincial Park.