The first recorded European to reach the lake was Samuel Hearne in 1770, but it remained largely unknown to outsiders until it was explored by Joseph Tyrrell in 1893.

There are no permanent settlements but there are fly-in fish camps where large lake trout can be caught during the two month ice-free season.

In 1893 Joseph Tyrrell canoed from Lake Athabasca down the Dubawnt to Chesterfield Inlet.

East of the Dubawnt, the Kazan River also flows north to join the Thelon.

[3] Dubawnt Lake is home to many animals, including blackflies, foxes, wolves and many birds of prey.