 In the early 1800s, perhaps 1810, the Northwest Company established a post at Tulita (Fort Norman) at the junction of the Mackenzie and Great Bear Rivers.The site changed several times but the community of Tulita is located on the original site today.Franklin's Coppermine expedition of 1819–1822 had as its goal the exploration of the northern coast of Canada, which was accessed by way of the Coppermine River.