Wabaseemoong Independent Nations
Encyclopedia
Wabaseemoong Independent Nations or more fully as the Wabaseemoong Independent Nations of One Man Lake, Swan Lake and Whitedog, is a Ojibway First Nation located 120 km northwest of Kenora, Ontario
and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of the Ontario-Manitoba
border of northwestern Ontario
, Canada
. As of February, 2009, the First Nation had a population of 1,732 registered people, of which their on-Reserve population was 837 registered members and approximately 100 non-Band members.
In the 1960s and 1970's, the First Nation was severely affected by acute mercury poisoning
, known as the Ontario Minamata disease
due to mercury contamination affecting the English River
In 1983, the Islington Agreement was signed between the Province of Ontario and the Islington Band. The agreement established opportunities for the Islington Band in relation to forestry and resource development on the Traditional Land Use Area. The Agreement came as a result of the fluctuating water levels on the English River caused by Manitoba Hydro
. A Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) was signed in 1991, introducing the concept of co-management of the Islington Traditional Land Use Area between the Province and the Band, but Ontario have not implemented their responsibilities under the MOU.
Islington Band changed their name to the Wabaseemoong Band of Saulteaux on November 13, 1991. Band again changed their name to Wabaseemoong Independent Nations on March 20, 1992, to better reflect their composition. The largest of the communities is "Wabaseemoong" or Waabasimong, which means "Whitedog" in the Anishinaabe language, so the First Nation is also commonly known as Whitedog First Nation.
The First Nation is a member of the Bimose Tribal Council, a regional Chiefs Council, which in turn is a member of the Grand Council of Treaty 3
, a Tribal Political Organization serving many of the First Nations in northwest Ontario and southeast Manitoba
.
s: Wabaseemoong Indian Reserve (formerly the Islington Indian Reserve 29) located 48 kilometres (29.8 mi) northwest of Kenora and which serves as their main Indian Reserve
One Man Lake Indian Reserve (formerly the One Man Lake Indian Reserve 29) located 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) northwest of Kenora Swan Lake Indian Reserve (formerly the Swan Lake Indian Reserve 29) located 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) northwest of Kenora Agency Indian Reserve 30 on the Aulneau Peninsula in the Lake of the Woods in Ontario
, which is shared with 12 other First Nations.
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....
and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) east of the Ontario-Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
border of northwestern 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...
. As of February, 2009, the First Nation had a population of 1,732 registered people, of which their on-Reserve population was 837 registered members and approximately 100 non-Band members.
History
Prior to hydroelectric development in the 1950s, the First Nation was composed of three separate communities of One Man Lake, Swan Lake and Whitedog. The three communities were then amalgamated into a unified Band called the Islington Band of Saulteaux when the hydroelectric development flooding debased all their membership and significant portions of their Islington Traditional Land Use Area were made inaccessible.In the 1960s and 1970's, the First Nation was severely affected by acute mercury poisoning
Mercury poisoning
Mercury poisoning is a disease caused by exposure to mercury or its compounds. Mercury is a heavy metal occurring in several forms, all of which can produce toxic effects in high enough doses...
, known as the Ontario Minamata disease
Ontario Minamata disease
Ontario Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning. It occurred in the Canadian province of Ontario in 1970 and severely affected two First Nation communities located in Northwestern Ontario following consumption of local fish that were contaminated with mercury...
due to mercury contamination affecting the English River
English River (Ontario)
The English River flows through Lac Seul to join the Winnipeg River. The river is 615 km in length. There are several hydroelectric plants on this river.Tributaries of this river include the Vermilion River and the Wabigoon River...
In 1983, the Islington Agreement was signed between the Province of Ontario and the Islington Band. The agreement established opportunities for the Islington Band in relation to forestry and resource development on the Traditional Land Use Area. The Agreement came as a result of the fluctuating water levels on the English River caused by Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is the electric power and natural gas utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board and the Manitoba Hydro Act. Today the company operates 15 interconnected generating stations. It has...
. A Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
(MOU) was signed in 1991, introducing the concept of co-management of the Islington Traditional Land Use Area between the Province and the Band, but Ontario have not implemented their responsibilities under the MOU.
Islington Band changed their name to the Wabaseemoong Band of Saulteaux on November 13, 1991. Band again changed their name to Wabaseemoong Independent Nations on March 20, 1992, to better reflect their composition. The largest of the communities is "Wabaseemoong" or Waabasimong, which means "Whitedog" in the Anishinaabe language, so the First Nation is also commonly known as Whitedog First Nation.
Governance
The First Nation have an Act Electoral System of government, consisting of a Chief and four Councillors forming their council. Chief Eric Fisher, and Councillors began serving their two-year term on April 15, 2009. The Councillors are Glenn Cameron, Leonard Fisher, Roanna Jourdain and Glen Kent.The First Nation is a member of the Bimose Tribal Council, a regional Chiefs Council, which in turn is a member of the Grand Council of Treaty 3
Grand Council of Treaty 3
Grand Council of Treaty 3 is a political organization representing 24 First Nation communities across Treaty 3 areas of northern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba, Canada, and additional 4 First Nations in specific regards to their Treaty rights....
, a Tribal Political Organization serving many of the First Nations in northwest Ontario and southeast Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Reserve
The First Nation have reserved themselves four Indian ReserveIndian 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...
s: Wabaseemoong Indian Reserve (formerly the Islington Indian Reserve 29) located 48 kilometres (29.8 mi) northwest of Kenora and which serves as their main 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...
One Man Lake Indian Reserve (formerly the One Man Lake Indian Reserve 29) located 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) northwest of Kenora Swan Lake Indian Reserve (formerly the Swan Lake Indian Reserve 29) located 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) northwest of Kenora Agency Indian Reserve 30 on the Aulneau Peninsula in the Lake of the Woods in 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....
, which is shared with 12 other First Nations.