Whitesand First Nation
Encyclopedia
The Whitesand First Nation is an Ojibwa
First Nation in Northern Ontario
. They have reserved for themselves the 249 hectares (615 acre) Whitesand reserve
. The community of Armstrong Settlement is their main community, located coterminously with Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, Ontario
. In June 2008, their total registered population was 1086 people, of which their on-reserve population was 311.
Originally located along the northwest shore of Lake Nipigon
near Mount St. John, and near the Whitesand River
which gives name to the group, Whitesand First Nation was without a home from 1942 when high water levels began eroding the shoreline and flooding out their buildings and burial grounds. Due to the economic influence of the Canadian National Railway
, many Whitesand First Nation members settled along the CNR rail line. Largest of these settlements took place in Armstrong. Consequently, when a new Reserve was negotiated, it was located immediately north of that community.
Whitesand is policed by the OPP an agreement made between chief and council and OPP (OPP: Ontario Provincial Police)
The First Nation is part of the Independent First Nations Alliance
of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
, though Whitesand First Nation is located within the Robinson Superior Treaty area. The First Nation is also a member of Waaskiinaysay Ziibi Inc., an economic development corporation made up of five Lake Nipigon First Nations.
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...
First Nation 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...
. They have reserved for themselves the 249 hectares (615 acre) Whitesand 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 community of Armstrong Settlement is their main community, located coterminously with Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, Ontario
Armstrong, Thunder Bay District, Ontario
Armstrong is a community and divisional point on the Canadian National Railway in the unorganized portion of Thunder Bay District, Ontario. The Whitesand First Nation's Armstrong Settlement is coterminous to this community....
. In June 2008, their total registered population was 1086 people, of which their on-reserve population was 311.
Originally located along the northwest shore of Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of the Canadian province of Ontario . It is sometimes described as the sixth Great Lake. Lying 260 metres above sea level, the lake drains into the Nipigon River and thence into Nipigon Bay of Lake Superior...
near Mount St. John, and near the Whitesand River
Whitesand River (Lake Nipigon)
The Whitesand River is a river in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada, that flows south into the northwest side of Lake Nipigon. Another river in Thunder Bay District with the same name, Whitesand River , lies further southeast and flows into Lake Superior via the Hewitson River.-Course:The river...
which gives name to the group, Whitesand First Nation was without a home from 1942 when high water levels began eroding the shoreline and flooding out their buildings and burial grounds. Due to the economic influence of the Canadian National Railway
Canadian 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"....
, many Whitesand First Nation members settled along the CNR rail line. Largest of these settlements took place in Armstrong. Consequently, when a new Reserve was negotiated, it was located immediately north of that community.
Whitesand is policed by the OPP an agreement made between chief and council and OPP (OPP: Ontario Provincial Police)
Governance
The current electoral leadership of the council consists of Chief Allan Gustufson and six councillors: Barbara Doblej, Jim Doblej, Raymond Kwandibens, Yvette Kwandibens-Toset, Wayne Matchiendagos and James Nayanookeesic. Their term began on October 27, 2007. There will be an election held this year on the 28th and 29th of October, 2011.The First Nation is part of the Independent First Nations Alliance
Independent First Nations Alliance
Independent First Nations Alliance is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Oji-Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada...
of 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...
, though Whitesand First Nation is located within the Robinson Superior Treaty area. The First Nation is also a member of Waaskiinaysay Ziibi Inc., an economic development corporation made up of five Lake Nipigon First Nations.