Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways facts for kids
The Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways (called Obaajiwan Anishinaabek in their language) is a First Nation group of Ojibwe people in northern Ontario, Canada. Their traditional lands are along the eastern shore of Lake Superior, stretching from Batchawana Bay to Whitefish Island. In 1850, the Robinson Huron Treaty set aside this land for them. However, in 1859, they gave up most of it through the Pennefather Treaty. Over time, by buying land and making land claims, they have gotten some of their territories back. These include Goulais Bay 15A, Obadjiwan 15E, Rankin Location 15D, and Whitefish Island.
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History of the Batchewana First Nation
For a very long time, people have been attracted to the eastern part of Lake Superior. The St. Marys Rapids were especially important because of the many lake whitefish found there. This made it a great place for fishing and trading. Old discoveries show that people lived on Whitefish Island as far back as 200 BCE.
The first Europeans to write about the area were French explorers in 1621. They wrote about Indigenous people living on Whitefish Island. Around 1670, Jesuit missionaries also noted how much fishing was done in the rapids.
Standing Up for Their Land (Mica Bay Incident, 1849)
In November 1849, Chief Nebenaigoching and members of the Batchewana First Nation worked with other local Indigenous groups. They wanted to protect their rights to their traditional lands at Mica Bay. This event, known as the Mica Bay Incident, showed that Indigenous people were asserting their control over their land and its resources.
The Robinson Huron Treaty (1850)
The Robinson Huron Treaty was signed in 1850 at Sault Ste. Marie. Representatives of the Ojibways living along Lake Huron's eastern and northern shores signed it. The bands gave up some of their territories to the Crown (the government). But they kept certain areas called "reserves."
Reserve No. 15 was given to Chief Nebenaigoching and his group. It included land west of Gros Cap to the boundary of other Ojibway lands. It also included Batchawana Bay and Whitefish Island. Whitefish Island was important as their fishing station.
The Pennefather Treaty (1859)
The Pennefather Treaty was signed on June 9, 1859, at Gros Cap. It was between the "Chiefs and Warriors of Batchewananny Bay and Goulais Bay Band of Indians" and the Crown. The chiefs agreed not to give up the reserved lands from the Robinson Treaty (Reserve No. 15), except for Whitefish Island.
In return, the Crown promised to sell the land. The money earned from the sale was supposed to be given to band members each year. Each family was also promised 40 acres of land on the Garden River reserve. They could also buy 80 acres of the land being sold. Sadly, despite these promises, the band members never received the land from the Crown.
Losing Whitefish Island (1902)
In 1887, work began on the Sault Ste. Marie International Railroad Bridge. This led to a legal fight between railway companies. In 1902, Whitefish Island was taken from the band under the Railway Act. The people living there were forced to move to Goulais Bay in 1905. Their traditional burial ground was moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1906.
Even though the land was taken for a railroad, no railway was ever built on the island. The government took control of the island in 1913. The band was given a small 5-acre reserve at Gros Cap. This was called Goulais Bay 15C. This land was later sold in 1956 for $3,600.
Getting Their Lands Back
The Batchewana First Nation worked hard to get their lands back.
- In 1939, the band bought 3,763.9 acres of land in Sault Ste. Marie. This included some waterfront property.
- In 1949, they bought another 8.25 acres.
- On July 8, 1952, this land was officially recognized as a reserve, called Rankin Location 15D.
On January 23, 1964, the government gave two small pieces of land (115.8 acres) at Corbeil Point to the Department of Indian Affairs. This land became the Obadjiwan 15E reserve on December 6, 1966.
In 1979, the band council bought 6.47 square kilometers of land near Goulais Mission. This became the Goulais Bay 15A reserve.
In 1982, the band started a land claim to get Whitefish Island back. The island was then part of Parks Canada as a National Historic Site. After talks didn't work, hereditary Chief Edward James Sayers Nebenaigoching stayed on the island from 1989 until the claim was settled in 1992. The band received $3.5 million for damages. The island was returned to reserve status in 1997.
Protecting Traditional Rights (Gargantua Harbour)
When Lake Superior Provincial Park was created in 1944, it included the traditional Ojibwe village at Gargantua Harbour. In August 2007, Chief Dean Sayers and about 200 band members rebuilt a road from Ontario Highway 17 to Gargantua Harbour. This road followed a park trail.
After talks failed, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources charged Chief Sayers and the band in 2008. They were accused of damaging park property.
On March 24, 2015, a judge ruled that the band had treaty rights to access natural resources on their traditional lands. The judge cleared Chief Sayers and the band of almost all charges. They were found guilty of one charge related to threats. The charge against Chief Sayers was dropped, but the band was fined $10,000.
Claim for Lost Fishing Rights
On January 29, 2013, Chief Dean Sayers and band councillors filed a claim for money. They said they had a "catastrophic" loss of their historic whitefish fishery. This was due to canals, hydroelectric dams, and pollution at the St. Marys Rapids. The rapids were once the center of their fishing. They are seeking $150 million, saying the government should have protected this important resource. This claim is still being discussed.
Batchewana First Nation Reserves
The Batchewana First Nation has several reserves.
Rankin Location 15D
The Rankin Location 15D reserve is the main reserve for the band. It is a 15.66 square kilometer piece of land. It is located between Sault Ste. Marie and Garden River 14. The land was bought in 1939 from the Rankin Mining Company. The government officially recognized it as a reserve in 1952. In 2006, 566 people lived on this reserve.
Goulais Bay 15A
The Goulais Bay 15A reserve is on the western shore of Goulais Bay. It is a 6.47 square kilometer area that includes most of the community of Goulais Mission. In 2006, 82 people lived on this reserve.
Obadjiwan 15E
The Obadjiwan 15E reserve has two separate pieces of land at Corbeil Point on Batchawana Bay. Together, they total 0.68 square kilometers. The Corbeil Point Lighthouse is located on this reserve.
Whitefish Island
Whitefish Island is an island in the St. Marys River. It is south of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. This 0.17 square kilometer island was a very important place for fishing and trading for a very long time. This was because of the many lake whitefish found there every year.
However, the island was taken from the band in 1902 to build a railroad. The railroad was never built. In 1981, the island became a National Historic Site because of its history and old discoveries. The band filed a land claim the next year. The island was returned to reserve status in 1997.
Goulais Bay 15C
A 5-acre reserve at Gros Cap, called Goulais Bay 15C, was given to the band. This happened after Whitefish Island was taken by the Crown. The band sold this land in 1956, and it is no longer a reserve.
Governance
For many years, the Batchewana First Nation had a hereditary chief. This chief was a descendant of Nebenaigoching. Since the early 1900s, the Chief and Council have been elected by the band members for 2-year terms.
- Past Chiefs:
* Joe Tom Sayers (?–1949) * August Boyer (1949–?) * Lawrence Syrette (?–?) * August Boyer (?–1956) * Gus Boyer (1956–1964) * J.M. Corbiere (1966–1978)
- Current Chief and Council (2015–present):
* Chief: Dean Sayers * Council: Harvey Bell, Stacy Tijerina, Lynn Tegosh, Adele Madigan, Greg Joseph Agawa, Vernon Syrette, Patricia Anne Lesage, Peter Sewell
Notable people
- Sarain Fox, a broadcaster and filmmaker
- ShoShona Kish, a musician
- Denny Lambert, an NHL hockey player
