Union of Ontario Indians
Encyclopedia
The Union of Ontario Indians is an Aboriginal
political organization representing 42 member First Nations
in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. It was formed in 1919 and incorporated in 1949, to serve as a political advocate and secretariat for the Anishinabek Nation. The head office for the Union of Ontario Indians is located at Nipissing First Nation
near North Bay, Ontario
.
The union is guided by a board of directors
, who meet at least four times a year. For administrative purposes, the organization has divided Ontario into four regions: Northern Superior
, Lake Huron
, Southeast, and Southwest. Each region elects, every two years, a regional grand chief and a board member to the board of directors. Additionally an elder may appointed to the board of directors by a region, and this appointment is for life. They represent about 42,000 members, about one-third of the aboriginal population within the borders of Ontario. Leading the organization are a grand council chief (currently Patrick Madahbee), a deputy grand chief (currently Glen Hare), and a grand council elder (currently Flora Tobobondung).
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....
political organization representing 42 member First Nations
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...
in the Canadian
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...
province of 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....
. It was formed in 1919 and incorporated in 1949, to serve as a political advocate and secretariat for the Anishinabek Nation. The head office for the Union of Ontario Indians is located at Nipissing First Nation
Nipissing First Nation
The Nipissing First Nation consists of first nation people of Ojibwa and Algonquin descent who have lived in the area of Lake Nipissing in the Canadian province of Ontario for about 9,400 years. Though in history known by many names, they are generally considered part of the Anishinaabe peoples,...
near North Bay, Ontario
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
.
The union is guided by a board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
, who meet at least four times a year. For administrative purposes, the organization has divided Ontario into four regions: Northern Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
, Southeast, and Southwest. Each region elects, every two years, a regional grand chief and a board member to the board of directors. Additionally an elder may appointed to the board of directors by a region, and this appointment is for life. They represent about 42,000 members, about one-third of the aboriginal population within the borders of Ontario. Leading the organization are a grand council chief (currently Patrick Madahbee), a deputy grand chief (currently Glen Hare), and a grand council elder (currently Flora Tobobondung).