Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation facts for kids
The Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation, also known as Nizaatikoong, is a group of Ojibwe people from the Saulteaux branch. Their name, Nizaatikoong, means "At a Point of Land Abundant with Poplars". This First Nation is a self-governing community in Canada.
They own two special areas of land, called reserves, in the Thunder Bay District of Ontario. One is named Lac des Mille Lacs 22A1 and is located on the northeastern shore of Lac des Mille Lacs. The other is Lac des Mille Lacs 22A2, found where the Seine and Firesteel Rivers meet.
Because of past flooding from dam projects, the people of Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation do not live on their reserves. Instead, they are spread out across Northwestern Ontario. Some members also live in other parts of Canada or the United States. Their main office, where they manage their community, is located on the land of the Fort William First Nation, close to Thunder Bay.
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About the Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation
The Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation has its own special rules for how it is governed. This is different from being governed by the Indian Act, which is a Canadian law that affects many First Nations.
Goals for the Future
The First Nation has a big goal: they want to rebuild their own community. They plan to do this on the Seine River site. In 2006, they even released a study to see if this plan was possible.
They also have an ongoing land claim. This means they are working with the Canadian and provincial governments to discuss who rightfully owns certain lands.
A March for Justice
In 2012, a member of the Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation named Leo Baskatawang did something amazing. He is a veteran from Dryden. He walked 4,400 kilometers (about 2,734 miles) from Vancouver to Ottawa.
He called his journey the "March for Justice." To show his message, he carried a copy of the Indian Act chained to his body. His goal was to make people more aware of the challenges faced by his community and other First Nations people.
Population and Connections
In 2013, the Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation had 579 registered members. This information came from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, which is a government department.
The First Nation is also connected to larger groups. They work with the Bimose Tribal Council and the Grand Council of Treaty 3. These groups help different First Nations work together and support each other.
