George Atkinson was born at Moose Factory in February 1839 to Samuel Atkinson and Sara Mary Atkinson (nee Moore), whose Métis family had rich connections throughout the Métis Homeland from Moose Factory to Red River.
When he was just 15 years old, George joined the Hudson’s Bay Company, following in his father’s footsteps and those of his Métis grandfather, George Moore Jr., who had originally joined the HBC in 1812 and served within the Company for several decades.
In his first seven years with the Company, George Atkinson worked as an apprentice labourer in Rupert’s River. He was eventually promoted to middleman.
During his time at the HBC, George married Margaret Chilton. Margaret likely accompanied George during his travels—and worked in and around the posts where he was employed—as all four of their children were born and baptized in locations around James Bay.
As a middleman, George traveled throughout Abitibi and Moose Factory during his decades-long career with the HBC, before retiring in 1881.