Brunswick House First Nation facts for kids
Brunswick House First Nation is a community of First Nations people in Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Ojibway and Cree cultures. This community is located in the Sudbury District, about 157 kilometers (97 miles) northeast of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario.
The Brunswick House First Nation has two special areas of land called reserves. These are the Mountbatten 76A Indian Reserve, which is about 9,054 hectares (22,374 acres) in size, and the Duck Lake 76B Indian Reserve, which is about 260 hectares (642 acres). In June 2008, the community had 639 registered members. Of these, 171 people lived on their reserves. The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, a police force for Aboriginal communities, helps keep the community safe.
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Understanding Brunswick House First Nation
The Brunswick House First Nation was once known as the New Brunswick House Band of Ojibway. The Ojibway people in this group were very active in the fur trade long ago. They often traded at posts near Brunswick Lake and Missinaibi Lake. These trading posts were called New Brunswick House. The community later became a part of Treaty 9. This was an agreement signed between First Nations and the Canadian government.
How the Reserves Were Formed
The community first had a reserve called New Brunswick House 76 Indian Reserve, which was about 17,280 acres (6,993 hectares). But in 1925, the Ontario government created the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve. This was a large area where hunting and trapping were not allowed, and it surrounded the reserve.
Because of this, the Ontario government bought land from the reserve in 1928. Later, in 1947, the Canadian government bought land in Mountbatten Township from Ontario. This land became the Mountbatten 76A Indian Reserve. The community then moved to its current location at Duck Lake 76B Indian Reserve. This happened in 1973 after some land from Mountbatten 76A was traded for land closer to Chapleau, Ontario.
How Brunswick House First Nation is Led
The Brunswick House First Nation chooses its leaders using a system called the Act Electoral System. This system helps them elect a Chief and six Councillors. These leaders work together to make decisions for the community.
Current Leaders
The current Chief of Brunswick House First Nation is Renae Vanbuskirk. The Councillors who work with her are Kevin Tangie, Melanie Quackegesic, Andrew Neshawabin, Angela Saunders, and Lorraine Tangie.
Community Connections
Brunswick House First Nation is part of a larger group called the Wabun Tribal Council. This council brings together several First Nations communities in the region. The Wabun Tribal Council is also a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. This is a big organization that represents many First Nations in Northern Ontario. They work to protect the rights and interests of their member communities.
