Mississaugas facts for kids
The Mississaugas are a group of First Nations people. They live in southern Ontario, Canada. They are part of the larger Ojibwe Nation.
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What Does "Mississauga" Mean?
The name "Mississauga" comes from the Anishinaabe word Misi-zaagiing. This means "Those at the Great River-mouth." It is also linked to the Ojibwe word Miswe-zaagiing, which means 'a river with many outlets.'
A Look at Mississauga History
Early Journeys and Settlements
According to their oral stories, the Anishinaabe people traveled a lot. After leaving a place near Niagara Falls, they moved along Lake Erie. They ended up in what is now southern Michigan.
The Mississauga took a different path. They traveled along the Credit River to Georgian Bay. This area, near Lake Superior and northern Lake Huron, was their traditional homeland. It was also near the Mississagi River. The Mississauga encouraged the main Anishinaabe groups to return to a good way of life.
Later, other Anishinaabe groups formed the Council of Three Fires. They moved from near Detroit to Manitoulin Island. This island is along the eastern shores of Georgian Bay.
Moving into New Lands
The lands where the Mississaugas now live were once claimed by the Huron/Wyandot. But the Iroquois drove them out in the Beaver Wars around 1649-1650.
Then, around 1700, the Ojibwe Anishinaabe moved into this area. They pushed out the Iroquois. The French had already called an Anishinaabe group near the Mississagi River "Oumisagai" or "Mississauga." For some reason, they started using this name for the Ojibwe who settled north of Lake Ontario.
In 1675, a map called Carte du Mississippi showed the Mississauga as "Missisakingdachirinouek." This means "Regular-speakers of the Great River-mouth." This was not their original name for themselves. But over time, the Mississaugas adopted it and use it today.
Land Purchases and Treaties
Starting in 1781, during the end of the American Revolutionary War, the British Crown bought land from the Mississauga. This land covered much of what is now southern Ontario. The Crown bought this land for two main reasons. First, they had promised land to the Iroquois for helping them in the war. Second, they wanted to make up for the Iroquois losing land to American settlers.
The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation sold this land to the Crown. This deal was called the "Between the Lakes Treaty."
In 1848, the Iroquois gave some land to the Mississauga. This land was within the Iroquois' own Six Nations Reserve on Grand River. The Mississauga then settled on a new area called New Credit.
In the 1800s, the Mississauga tried to get paid for land that was given to them but then settled by others. In the 2000s, the Canadian government paid the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation almost $145 million. This settled their claim for the land.
Mississauga Legacy
Many places and things are named after the Mississauga people:
- The city of Mississauga is named after them.
- The Western and Eastern massasauga rattlesnake are named after them.
- Fort Mississauga is also named after them.
The Mississaugas Today
All the Mississaugas are part of the larger Ojibwe nation, which has about 200,000 people.
Historically, there were five main Mississauga Nations. Today, there are six. Here they are, along with their historical connections:
- Mississauga First Nation — They live on the Mississagi River 8 Reserve.
- Mississaugas of Chibaouinani (historical group)
- Alderville First Nation (formerly Mississaugas of Alnwick) — They live on the Alderville First Nation Reserve and Sugar Island 37A Reserve.
- Mississaugas of the Credit (historical group)
- Mississaugas of Beldom (historical group)
- Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation — They live on the New Credit 40A Reserve. This is one of the largest communities. In 2005, they had a population of 1,375 people.
- Mississaugas of Matchedash (historical group)
- Mississaugas of Rice Lake, Mud Lake and Scugog Lake (historical groups)
- Curve Lake First Nation (formerly Mississaugas of Mud Lake) — They live on the Curve Lake First Nation 35 Reserve, Curve Lake 35A Reserve, and Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A.
- Mississaugas of Grape Island (historical group)
- Hiawatha First Nation (formerly Mississaugas of Rice Lake) — They live on the Hiawatha First Nation Indian Reserve and Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A.
- Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation — They live on the Mississaugas of Scugog Island Reserve and Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A.
Notable People
- Peter Jones (1802–1856), a Mississauga missionary and writer.
- Edmonia Lewis (around 1844–1907), a sculptor who was part Mississauga Ojibwe and African-American.
- Quenippenon, a Mississauga Chief.
See also
