In 1915 a local man built a log warehouse and turned it into a trading post. Fifty years later in 1964-65 the Hudson Bay Company opened a competing store and in 1965 the Co-op opened a sawmill.
Today the traditional Slavey arts and crafts porcupine quill and moosehair tufting, are important to the economy. Hunting, trapping and fishing are other vital parts along with the sawmill that still provides timber for fuel and construction.
The population of Jean Marie River is 53 (1996 Census).