Buffalo Point has always been a gathering place for the Anishinabe people. During the 1700's Chief Red Cloud and the Sioux frequented the area to supplement their primary food source of bison with wild rice and venison. Considered as an energy spot because of its lush beauty it was no wonder that the Point was frequented over the years.

The route that the Anishinabe used to move north and west into the Red River was through Buffalo Point and the Reed River and was explored by LaVerendrye and Gauthier after establishing the Fort St. Charles post in 1732. As the Ojibwa started to move into the area during the early 1800's from the east forcing the Sioux from the area. Many battles took place over control of Lake of the Sandhills, which was the original name of Lake of the Woods. In 1857 Gladman, Hind and Dawson explored this route with the assistance of the Ojibwa. Eventually it was Simon Dawson who found the route at the Northwest Angle known today as the Dawson Trail. John Tanner the Falcon also used this route during his years spent on Lake of the Woods.

Eventually Chief Ayashwash signed treaty number three for Buffalo Point at the Northwest Angle in 1873. This treaty was actually signed on the American side of the inlet at Harrison Creek. This treaty was supposed to make the Indians into farmers and provisions of a plow, oxen and farming implements were furnished. An area at the Point was fenced off and cattle were raised for about 10 years. The barbed wire fence and the reminisce of a pasture are still in existence today as well as the one furrowed plow. In 1900 Little Thunder the son of Ayashwash became Chief. Six years later he died and Old Jim Thunder took over as Chief until 1941. "Shorty" Warren Thunder was appointed next and in 1969 he resigned and appointed his nephew, Jim Thunder, Chief. In 1997 John Thunder was selected as the sixth hereditary Chief in the history of Buffalo Point First Nation.

Buffalo Point First Nation is a small Reserve and has always had a small population. In 1916 there was a total of 57 members, which was the highest count in the early years. The membership comprises of five families: Thunder's, Lighting's, Cobiness's, Handorgan's and Powasen's. Buffalo Point was flooded in 1890, as was all of Lake of the Woods. Later in the 1930's everyone had moved off the reserve onto the mainland and eventually disbursed throughout the U.S.A. with some staying on the Canadian side, because of the difficulty and remoteness. Over the course of many years Old Jim thunder was able to transfer the 1670 acres of lands flooded at Buffalo Point in exchange for new lands at Reed River. In 1930 the transaction was finally completed and transferred to Buffalo Point as their second reserve. The chief was quoted as saying we want the water of Reed River so that we can trap a few muskrats and continue to live our traditional ways.

In the 1950 and 1960's a few of the members, mainly the Thunders, started to talk about the possibility of developing the reserve as a tourist destination. Eventually there were offers to purchase the reserve from various groups and the other members started to take interest. In 1967 the Manitoba Government offered $72,500.00 for the primmest site on the reserve, this was the Southeast corner comprising of 968 acres. Tom Thunder notified his adopted son Jim Thunder who was stationed in Africa with the Air Force about this offer. He took a leave of absence and came home and put a stop to the sell of the reserve. Chief "Shorty" Warren Thunder was in poor health and started to talk to his nephew Jim about becoming Chief as Shorty had never been married or had any children. Over the next couple of years Jim finally agree and in 1969 became Chief with the support of the active community members. Shorty had his third heart attack and died in 1972.

In 1970 a meeting was held to start the developments. In 1973 and 1974 a comprehensive Master plan was put together and the land was designated for the development through a Community Referendum which was unanimously passed by all present. During Jim Thunder's early years as Chief he was also Vice President of the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood along with President Dave Courchene, Dave assisted Jim in getting the Department of Indian Affairs to build seven miles of road right-of-way on the reserve. The Department ran out of money and the road leading to the peninsula was never built. Jim then went to the bank to borrow money to build the road. The bank would not give the money to the First nation, but did lend it to Jim personally. Taking his trailer house, station wagon and boat for security. This money built one mile of road leading to the peninsula. Soon a number of investors started to show interest. K-Tel International was one of them. In the end Jim selected 21 Steinbach investors who leased 100 acres for Cottage Development.

Another part of this agreement was that Buffalo Point also had to build a marina within two years or the Steinbach investors would get another 100 acres to open a marina of their own. The investment money was used to finish the road on to the peninsula and to the investors property. The road was extended and built into the Buffalo Point Cottage Development. The revenues from cottage leases brought the needed revenues to build the community and its infrastructure. The Thunder family was given an opportunity to open the Marina and Resort by the other members, a no one else showed any interest. The Marina deadline was met and the agreement fulfilled with the Investors satisfied.

Over the years the First Nation built up the services with Maintenance Yard and construction equipment, Fire Hall, Police Office and Administration Office. In 1992 the Golf Course was started and now is being opened for its first season of operation. The Hotel Resort is the last phase in the Master Plan, feasibility study and business plans have been finalized and the plans to start construction on this facility will included Hotel, Conference Centre, Health Spa, Gaming Room, Recreation Centre, Daycare, Restaurant, Lounge and Clubhouse. In 1998 a Sewer and Water Study was done and this project is also a part of the proposed facilities. The fulfillment of this Master Plan is a 25-year commitment to the Tourism industry and a direction that is geared to the demographics of the aging population.