Long Lake 58 First Nation
Encyclopedia
Long Lake 58 First Nation (informally the Little Long Lake First Nation) is a small Anishinaabe
(Ojibwa
y) First Nation located in Northern Ontario
, located approximately 40 km east of Geraldton, Ontario, Canada
, on the northern shore of Long Lake
, immediately north of Ginoogaming First Nation
and west of the community of Longlac, Ontario. As of January, 2008, their total registered population was 1,248 people, of which their on-Reserve population was 427.
(CNR) tracks passing through the 537-acre (217.3 ha) Long Lake 58 Indian reserve
. The blockade was mounted both to support the Indian stand during the Oka crisis
and to draw attention to the fact that the community's traditional lands have never been the object of treaty negotiations with the Crown.
The First Nation maintains the key requirements of the Royal Proclamation of 1763
have never been met by the governments of Ontario and Canada making the CNR Crown Corporation one of a number of trespassers on the community's unceded hunting ground. Because of the Crown's failure to deal with the community in the making of both the Robinson Superior Treaty in 1850 and in Treaty 9
in 1905, the citizens of Long Lake 58 were never able to negotiate a fair apportionment of land for their reserve. The Canadian government maintains that the First Nation ceded their lands to the Crown at the 1850 Robinson Superior Treaty.
In the course of the blockade Long Lake 58 leaders demanded that officials of the Crown, including those overseeing the CNR, must show evidence to prove the legal basis for non-Aboriginal claims to the territory in question. The leadership asserted the unfairness of the principle that the onus of proof always lies with the Indigenous peoples to demonstrate the basis of their land claims. In the course of the dispute the leadership also pointed to the contradiction between the government's position that Long Lake 58 lands have been ceded in the 1850 treaty covering the northern watershed
of Lake Superior whereas the community itself is situated in lands naturally drained by rivers flowing northward into Hudson Bay
. Regardless of land ownership clearcutting
, the spraying of vast tree farms with toxic pesticides and herbicides, and overfishing
have left the community's traditional lands polluted and incapable of supporting hunting, trapping and other forms of traditional practice. Moreover, the community's town site had been relegated to a swampy lowland because the CNR tracks and the train yard on the reserve command the high ground of the Indian Reserve.
Throughout this episode the blockade's elder statesman, Rayno Fisher, encouraged those in the protest camp to heed his interpretation. This experienced trapper extorted. "We're not trespassing the CNR, the CNR has been trespassing us for 75 years." Elder Frances Abraham also provided inspirational leadership throughout ten-day blockade. When Indian OPP officials arrived on the reserve to read out in the Anishinaabe language an injunction obtained by the CNR, Abraham emplored, "Why do we always have to show the proof that our land has been taken but those who stole our land never have to prove anything." No charges pressed by the Crown against the protesters suggests the veracity of Mr. Fisher's characterization. Long Lake 58's blockade of the CNR main line was backed up by simultaneous blockades of the Canadian Pacific Railway
's main line led by members of Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation
, Pic Mobert First Nation
, and Pays Plat First Nation
further to the south. Of all the actions during the Indian summer
of 1990 the train blockades initiated by Long Lake 58 in northern Ontario impacted most seriously on transnational flows of commerce.
The First Nation is a member of Matawa First Nations
, a Regional Chiefs Council.
and by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
. Services include:
Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
(Ojibwa
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...
y) First Nation located in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
, located approximately 40 km east of Geraldton, Ontario, 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...
, on the northern shore of Long Lake
Long Lake (Ontario)
-Algoma:*Long Lake *Long Lake *Long Lake *Long Lake *Long Lake *Long Lake...
, immediately north of Ginoogaming First Nation
Ginoogaming First Nation
Ginoogaming First Nation is a small Anishinaabe First Nation located in Northern Ontario, located approximately 40 km east of Geraldton, Ontario, Canada, on the northern shore of Long Lake, immediately south of Long Lake 58 First Nation and the community of Longlac, Ontario...
and west of the community of Longlac, Ontario. As of January, 2008, their total registered population was 1,248 people, of which their on-Reserve population was 427.
Long Lake Blockade
In late August 1990, members of Long Lake 58 First Nation blocked the Canadian National RailwayCanadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
(CNR) tracks passing through the 537-acre (217.3 ha) Long Lake 58 Indian reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
. The blockade was mounted both to support the Indian stand during the Oka crisis
Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the town of Oka, Quebec, Canada which began on July 11, 1990 and lasted until September 26, 1990. At least one person died as a result...
and to draw attention to the fact that the community's traditional lands have never been the object of treaty negotiations with the Crown.
The First Nation maintains the key requirements of the Royal Proclamation of 1763
Royal Proclamation of 1763
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was issued October 7, 1763, by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War...
have never been met by the governments of Ontario and Canada making the CNR Crown Corporation one of a number of trespassers on the community's unceded hunting ground. Because of the Crown's failure to deal with the community in the making of both the Robinson Superior Treaty in 1850 and in Treaty 9
Treaty 9
Treaty 9 was an agreement established in July, 1905, between the Government of Canada in the name of King Edward VII and various First Nations in northern Ontario. One First Nation community in the bordering Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec is included in this treaty...
in 1905, the citizens of Long Lake 58 were never able to negotiate a fair apportionment of land for their reserve. The Canadian government maintains that the First Nation ceded their lands to the Crown at the 1850 Robinson Superior Treaty.
In the course of the blockade Long Lake 58 leaders demanded that officials of the Crown, including those overseeing the CNR, must show evidence to prove the legal basis for non-Aboriginal claims to the territory in question. The leadership asserted the unfairness of the principle that the onus of proof always lies with the Indigenous peoples to demonstrate the basis of their land claims. In the course of the dispute the leadership also pointed to the contradiction between the government's position that Long Lake 58 lands have been ceded in the 1850 treaty covering the northern watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of Lake Superior whereas the community itself is situated in lands naturally drained by rivers flowing northward into Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
. Regardless of land ownership clearcutting
Clearcutting
Clearcutting, or clearfelling, is a controversial forestry/logging practice in which most or all trees in an area are uniformly cut down. Clearcutting, along with shelterwood and seed tree harvests, is used by foresters to create certain types of forest ecosystems and to promote select species that...
, the spraying of vast tree farms with toxic pesticides and herbicides, and overfishing
Overfishing
Overfishing occurs when fishing activities reduce fish stocks below an acceptable level. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans....
have left the community's traditional lands polluted and incapable of supporting hunting, trapping and other forms of traditional practice. Moreover, the community's town site had been relegated to a swampy lowland because the CNR tracks and the train yard on the reserve command the high ground of the Indian Reserve.
Throughout this episode the blockade's elder statesman, Rayno Fisher, encouraged those in the protest camp to heed his interpretation. This experienced trapper extorted. "We're not trespassing the CNR, the CNR has been trespassing us for 75 years." Elder Frances Abraham also provided inspirational leadership throughout ten-day blockade. When Indian OPP officials arrived on the reserve to read out in the Anishinaabe language an injunction obtained by the CNR, Abraham emplored, "Why do we always have to show the proof that our land has been taken but those who stole our land never have to prove anything." No charges pressed by the Crown against the protesters suggests the veracity of Mr. Fisher's characterization. Long Lake 58's blockade of the CNR main line was backed up by simultaneous blockades of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
's main line led by members of Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation
Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation
Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation is an Ojibwa First Nation band on the north shore of Lake Superior at the mouth of the Pic River. Pic River is not a signatory to the Robinson Superior treaty. The community is located on 316.6 ha Pic River 50 Indian reserve...
, Pic Mobert First Nation
Pic Mobert First Nation
The Pic Mobert First Nation is an Ojibwa First Nation in Northwestern Ontario, Canada.They have reserved for themselves two small Reserves: Pic Mobert North, which serves as their primary reserve, and the Pic Mobert South, both located east of Marathon, Ontario...
, and Pays Plat First Nation
Pays Plat First Nation
Pays Plat First Nation is a small reserve community located about 175 km Northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Pays Plat reserve is in the boundaries of the territory described the Robinson-Superior Treaty in 1850...
further to the south. Of all the actions during the Indian summer
Indian summer
An Indian summer is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs in the autumn. It refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost...
of 1990 the train blockades initiated by Long Lake 58 in northern Ontario impacted most seriously on transnational flows of commerce.
Governance
The leadership of the First Nation is determined through the Act Electoral System. The current Chief is Veronica Waboose, who is serving along with twelve Councillors: Judy Desmoulin, Scott Desmoulin, Max Finlayson, Narcisse Kakegabon, Patrick Kakegabon, Anthony Legarde, Herbert Legarde, Frank Onabigon, Arthur Shebagabow, Rosanna Shebagabow, Ervin Waboose Jr. and Mary Waboose. Their two-year elected terms began on January 22, 2008.The First Nation is a member of Matawa First Nations
Matawa First Nations
Matawa First Nations , officially as the Matawa First Nations Management, Inc., is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada...
, a Regional Chiefs Council.
Services
Government services are provided by the First Nation, the Matawa First NationsMatawa First Nations
Matawa First Nations , officially as the Matawa First Nations Management, Inc., is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada...
and by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political organization representing 49 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of northern Ontario, Canada...
. Services include:
- Eagle Nest Elementary School (Migizi Wazisin Elementary School)
- Long Lake #58 General Store
- Subway
- Thunder Eagle Secondary School (Nimiki Migizi Secondary School)