Hiawatha First Nation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hiawatha First Nation
Hiawatha Misi-zaagiwininiwag
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| Hiawatha First Nation Indian Reserve | |
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 Hiawatha First Nation
Location in Southern Ontario
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| Country |  Canada |
| Province |  Ontario |
| County | Peterborough |
| First Nation | Mississaugas of Hiawatha First Nation |
| Area | |
| • Land | 8.07 km2 (3.12 sq mi) |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 362 |
| • Density | 44.9/km2 (116/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Website | www.hiawathafirstnation.com |
The Hiawatha First Nation is a community of First Nations people in Ontario, Canada. It used to be known as the Mississaugas of Rice Lake. This community is part of the Mississauga Ojibwe group.
The Hiawatha First Nation is located on the north shore of Rice Lake. This is east of the Otonabee River in Ontario. It's found in Otonabee Township. The community is less than 15 kilometres south of Peterborough. The name "Hiawatha" comes from Hiawatha, a co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. This First Nations reserve covers about 1952 acres (7.9 km2) of land.
Discovering Hiawatha First Nation's Past
People have lived in this area for thousands of years. This was long before Europeans arrived. About 2000 years ago, people from the Point Peninsula complex built special mounds. These earthen mounds were used for ceremonies, religious events, and burials.
Archaeologists have studied these sites. They found that the ancient people had amazing skills. They knew how to build these huge earthworks. Nine mounds or burial places have been found. They are at the south end of what is now Serpent Mounds Park. This park includes a special mound shaped like a serpent. It is four to six feet high and almost two hundred feet long. There is also an egg-shaped mound near its mouth.
Population of the Community
In 2006, the Hiawatha First Nation had a population of 483 people. This was a big increase of 62.6% since 2001. At that time, there were 195 private homes in the community.
Understanding Indian Reserves
An Indian reserve is land set aside for First Nations people. The Hiawatha First Nation has two main reserves:
- Hiawatha First Nation Indian Reserve: This reserve is about 6 km southeast of Peterborough. It covers 868.20 hectares.
- Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A: This reserve is in Peterborough County. It includes islands in Pigeon, Buckhorn, and Stony Lakes. It covers 139.60 hectares. This reserve is shared with two other First Nations communities.
