Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Encyclopedia
The Aamjiwnaang First Nation (or also known as Chippewas of Sarnia First Nation) is a First Nations
community of about 850 Chippewa (Ojibwe)
Aboriginal peoples
. They live on the Sarnia 45 Indian Reserve, located on the shores of the St. Clair River
directly south of Sarnia
in southwestern Ontario
, Canada
– just across the United States
border from Port Huron, Michigan
.
The name Aamjiwnaang, or more fully vocalised as Aamijiwanaang, means "at the spawning stream."
The Aamjiwnaang community has expressed concern regarding its proximity to chemical plant
s in the area, as birth rates of their people have been documented by the American journal Environmental Health Perspectives
as deviating from the normal ratio of close to 50% boys, 50% girls. The ratio as found between 1999 and 2003 by the journal was roughly 33% boys, and 67% girls. The First Nation is concerned that this abnormal trend is due to adverse effects of maternal and fetal exposure to the effluent
and emissions of the nearby chemical plants. This is the first community in the world to have a birth rate of two girls to every boy.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
community of about 850 Chippewa (Ojibwe)
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
Aboriginal peoples
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
. They live on the Sarnia 45 Indian Reserve, located on the shores of the St. Clair River
St. Clair River
The St. Clair River is a river in central North America which drains Lake Huron into Lake St Clair, forming part of the international boundary between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Michigan...
directly south of Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
in southwestern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
– just across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
border from Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
.
The name Aamjiwnaang, or more fully vocalised as Aamijiwanaang, means "at the spawning stream."
The Aamjiwnaang community has expressed concern regarding its proximity to chemical plant
Chemical plant
A chemical plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures chemicals, usually on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical plant is to create new material wealth via the chemical or biological transformation and or separation of materials. Chemical plants use special equipment,...
s in the area, as birth rates of their people have been documented by the American journal Environmental Health Perspectives
Environmental Health Perspectives
Environmental Health Perspectives is a peer-reviewed open-access medical journal published monthly by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 2009 impact factor of 6.191....
as deviating from the normal ratio of close to 50% boys, 50% girls. The ratio as found between 1999 and 2003 by the journal was roughly 33% boys, and 67% girls. The First Nation is concerned that this abnormal trend is due to adverse effects of maternal and fetal exposure to the effluent
Effluent
Effluent is an outflowing of water or gas from a natural body of water, or from a human-made structure.Effluent is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as “wastewater - treated or untreated - that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or industrial outfall. Generally refers...
and emissions of the nearby chemical plants. This is the first community in the world to have a birth rate of two girls to every boy.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 706
- Population in 2001: 695
- Population in 1996: 621
- Population in 1991: 494
External links
- Aamjiwnaang First Nation - Home
- 2001 Community Profiles for Sarnia 45 from Statistics CanadaStatistics CanadaStatistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....