Fur trade
Fur trade posts were established at or near the community as early as 1792. Reindeer River Post (1792, 1795) at Southend was a North West Company Post. Reindeer Lake Post (or Clapham House) (1798–1892) at Southend was a Hudson's Bay Company post. South Reindeer Lake Post (1936–1941) was a Hudson's Bay Company post located south of Southend on the Reindeer River.