Sandy Lake First Nation
Encyclopedia
Sandy Lake First Nation is an independent Oji-Cree First Nation. The First Nation community, in the west part of Northern Ontario
, is located in the Kenora District
, 227 kilometres (141.1 mi) northeast of Red Lake
, Ontario
. Its registered population in June 2007 was 2,474. Sandy Lake First Nation maintains an affiliation with Nishnawbe Aski Nation
, as a signatory to the Treaty 5
.
Sandy Lake is police
d by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
, an Aboriginal based service.
The community is linked to the rest of the province by winter
ice road
s that travel south towards Deer Lake and Pikangikum.
Five doodem are found at Sandy Lake First Nation. They are Suckers, Pelicans, Crane, Caribou and Sturgeon clans.
and uses the western Ojibwe Syllabics.
In addition to the Governance Council, the Sandy Lake First Nation mainains an Elder Council to advise the Governance Council. Working with the Governance Council, six boards carry out the Council's operations: Community Development Services, Education, Health, Housing, Radio Station, and Recreation.
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...
, is located in the Kenora District
Kenora District, Ontario
Kenora District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1907 from parts of Rainy River District. It is, geographically, the largest division in that province; at 407,192.66 km2 it comprises almost 38 percent of the province's land area...
, 227 kilometres (141.1 mi) northeast of Red Lake
Red Lake, Ontario
Population trend:* Population in 2006: 4526* Population in 2001: 4233* Population total in 1996: 4778** Golden : 2248** Red Lake : 2277* Population in 1991:** Golden : 2355** Red Lake : 2268-Climate:...
, 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....
. Its registered population in June 2007 was 2,474. Sandy Lake First Nation maintains an affiliation with 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...
, as a signatory to the Treaty 5
Treaty 5
Treaty 5 is a treaty that was first established in September, 1875, between Queen Victoria and Saulteaux and Swampy Cree non-treaty tribes and peoples around Lake Winnipeg in the District of Keewatin. Much of what is today central and northern Manitoba was covered by the treaty, as were a few small...
.
Sandy Lake is police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
d by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is the police force for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation . Created in 1994, the force has 175 sworn officers at 35 detachments in NAN communities. The Chief of Police is vacant with Robin Jones Acting Chief of Police...
, an Aboriginal based service.
Reserve
The First Nation's land base is the 4,266 hectare (10541.47 acre) Sandy Lake 88 Reserve. Within this reserve is the community of Sandy Lake, which during the mid-1900s was known as Wabitigweyaang. Associated with the community, the Sandy Lake First Nation maintains seven neighbourhoods grouped into five districts:- Airport / Big Rock
- Centre
- Ghost Point / Old Sawmill
- River
- R.C. side
The community is linked to the rest of the province by winter
Winter road
Winter roads are temporary highways carved out of snow and ice. They facilitate transportation to and from communities without permanent roads, and are commonly seen in isolated regions in Canada's north....
ice road
Ice road
Ice roads are frozen, human-made structures on the surface of bays, rivers, lakes, or seas in the far north. They link dry land, frozen waterways, portages and winter roads, and are usually remade each winter. Ice roads allow temporary transport to areas with no permanent road access...
s that travel south towards Deer Lake and Pikangikum.
Clans
Language
The Sandy Lake First Nation speaks the Oji-Cree languageOji-Cree language
The Severn Ojibwa or the Oji-Cree language is the indigenous name for a dialect of the Ojibwe language spoken in a series of Oji-Cree communities in northern Ontario and at Island Lake, Manitoba, Canada...
and uses the western Ojibwe Syllabics.
Government
The Sandy Lake First Nation governed by an elected Chief, a Deputy Chief and (8) eight councilors. The current Chief is Adam Fiddler, and the Deputy Chief is Bart Meekis. The Head Councillor is Robert Kakegamic; the other seven Councillors are Bob Linklater, Russell Kakepetum, Harvey Kakegamic, Teri Fiddler, Joe Kakegamic, Frankie Crowe and Sidney Fiddler.In addition to the Governance Council, the Sandy Lake First Nation mainains an Elder Council to advise the Governance Council. Working with the Governance Council, six boards carry out the Council's operations: Community Development Services, Education, Health, Housing, Radio Station, and Recreation.