Caldwell First Nation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caldwell First Nation
Zaaga'iganiniwag
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| Caldwell First Nation Indian Reserve | |
 Caldwell First Nation
Location in Southern Ontario
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| County | Essex |
| Time zone | EST |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT |
| Postal Code |
N8H
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| Area code(s) | 519 and 226 |
| Website | www.caldwellfirstnation.ca |
The Caldwell First Nation is a group of First Nations people. Their name in the Ojibwe language is Ojibwe: Zaaga'iganiniwag, which means "people of the Lake." Their community is located in Leamington, Ontario, Canada.
The Caldwell First Nation is part of a larger group called the Anishinaabe people. They are also part of the Three Fires Confederacy. This group includes the Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwa nations. Members of the Caldwell First Nation originally belonged to the Turtle (Mikinaak) and Bear (Makwa) clans (family groups).
The Caldwell First Nation is officially recognized by the Canadian government as a distinct First Nation. In the past, they were known by names like "Chippewas of Pelee" or "Point Pelee Indians." The Chippewa, also called Ojibwa in Canada, are a large Indigenous nation. They live in both Canada and the United States. The Anishinaabe are one of the biggest Native American/First Nation groups north of Mexico. There are nearly 78,000 Anishinaabe people across different groups in Canada. They live from western Quebec to British Columbia.
History of the Caldwell First Nation
The Caldwell First Nation has lived in the Point Pelee area for a very long time. They were there even before the year 1763. Their traditional homeland covered a large area in what is now Ontario. This land stretched from the Detroit River near Amherstburg to Long Point and the Lake Erie Islands.
The most important part of their ancestral land includes the Essex and Kent county areas. This especially includes the Point Pelee Peninsula and Pelee Island. The Caldwell First Nation sees Point Pelee as "our home." The nearby Walpole Island First Nation also considers Point Pelee as part of "our house."
The Caldwell First Nation helped the British during the War of 1812. Because of their help, they were promised land at Point Pelee. The First Nation continued to live in Point Pelee. The Canadian government supported them until the late 1850s.
In the 1920s, many members of the community were forced to leave Point Pelee. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and local police burned their homes. This was an effort to make them leave their traditional lands.
Understanding the Land Claim
In May 1790, leaders from some Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatomi, and Huron groups gave up a large area of land. This land was in southwestern Ontario, including Point Pelee. However, the Caldwell First Nation did not sign this treaty. They also did not receive any benefits from it.
The government at the time did not realize this. Later, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada publicly agreed that the Caldwell First Nation was not part of that treaty. Members of the Caldwell First Nation Council worked to settle this land claim. This claim had been unresolved for over 220 years.
The Caldwell First Nation is the only officially recognized First Nation in southern Ontario that does not have its own reserve land. A reserve is a special area of land set aside for a First Nation community. The Nation is working hard to establish a reserve. This will finally give their members a permanent land base.
