Neskantaga First Nation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neskantaga
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| Neskantaga Indian Reserve | ||
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 Neskantaga
Location in Ontario
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| Country |  Canada |
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| Province |  Ontario |
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| District | Kenora | |
| First Nation | Neskantaga | |
| Area | ||
| • Land | 8.30 km2 (3.20 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 244 | |
| Website | neskantaga.com | |
The Neskantaga First Nation is a community of Ojibway people in northern Ontario, Canada. It used to be called the Lansdowne House Indian Band. The community is located by Attawapiskat Lake in the Kenora District.
The Neskantaga First Nation signed Treaty 9. This treaty set aside land for them, known as the Neskantaga Indian reserve. This reserve is about 831.5 hectares (2,055 acres) in size. The main community, Lansdowne House Indian Settlement, is on the west side of Attawapiskat Lake. This lake is also where the community gets its water. The Neskantaga First Nation shares another settlement, Summer Beaver Indian Settlement, with the Nibinamik First Nation.
The community is connected to the rest of Ontario by the Lansdowne House Airport. In winter, they can also use special winter roads and ice roads. These roads link them to places further south. Neskantaga is a "fly-in" community. This means you can only get there by plane for most of the year. As of November 2011, there were 414 registered members. About 304 of these members lived on the reserve.
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How Neskantaga First Nation is Governed
The Neskantaga First Nation chooses its leaders using its own special system. The leaders are elected for two-year terms. The community has a Chief and several Councillors.
The First Nation's council is part of the Matawa First Nations. This is a group of local Chiefs' Councils. They are also part of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. This is a larger organization that represents most First Nations in northern Ontario.
Where is Neskantaga First Nation Located?
Neskantaga First Nation is about 450 kilometres (280 miles) north of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is located at the start of the Attawapiskat River. This area is known for its beautiful natural environment. It has many lakes and rivers, and is home to animals like bears and wolverines. People also enjoy fishing there.
In the late 1980s, the community moved to a new spot. This new location is on a piece of land called Grandmother's Point. It is on the west side of Attawapiskat Lake.
A Look at Neskantaga's History
The Neskantaga people, known as the Anishnawbe, have lived in this area for a very long time. Their history goes back to at least 3000 BC. The rivers around Neskantaga were once part of important trade routes. There were also places for fur trading in the early 1880s.
For many years, community members lived in log cabins in a place called Lansdowne House. The government agency had an office there. This office was the only building with running water. People had to go there to get water. Because of problems with buildings and flooding, the community moved in the 1980s. They moved about 20 kilometres (12 miles) from their old location. People gave up their old cabins, which were then taken down. They were promised a better life with improved services, including clean water in every home.
The Ring of Fire Mining Area
The Neskantaga First Nation is one of three First Nations affected by the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire. This is a large area where mining is planned. The other First Nations are Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation. A company called Cliffs wanted to build an open pit mine. This mine would be on land covered by Treaty 9. The Webequie First Nation is closest to this proposed mine.
In 2009, the Ontario government announced plans for the Ring of Fire. The Neskantaga First Nation felt these plans would harm their Treaty 9 land. They said the government was trying to expand its power illegally. The community also felt they did not have enough time to give their ideas about the Ring of Fire plans.
By December 2020, there were disagreements between the Ontario government and the Neskantaga and Webequie First Nations. The Webequie First Nation was leading a study on a road to the mining area. But Neskantaga First Nation worried they were not truly included in this study. This was especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, Neskantaga members even had to leave their homes. This was because of problems with their water supply.
On April 5, 2021, the Attawapiskat, Fort Albany, and Neskantaga First Nations said they would stop any Ring of Fire development for now.
Challenges with Drinking Water
The Neskantaga community gets its water from Attawapiskat Lake. The lake water often has a natural color from plants and trees. It needs to be filtered before people can drink it.
Since 1995, Neskantaga First Nation has had a Long-term Drinking Water Advisory. This means their water is not safe to drink without boiling or special treatment. This is the longest water advisory in Canada. The community's 300 members rely on a special machine called a Reverse Osmosis (RO) machine for water. It is a lot of work for families to get water. They have to pull sleds to a local hotel several times a week to use the machine. They also depend on bottled water shipments.
The problem with unsafe water started getting national attention around 2004. In 2006, a government plan to improve water supplies was cancelled. Near Neskantaga, a diamond mine called Victor Diamond Mine operated from 2009 to 2020. This mine provided clean water for hundreds of its workers. Community members see this as proof that providing clean water is possible. They believe it is a political issue, not a technical one.
In 1993, the government paid for a water treatment plant to be built. But by 1995, it was clear the plant was not built correctly. It was not cleaning the water enough. That's when the "boil water advisory" started, and it has been in place ever since.
In 2016, a government minister visited Neskantaga. She announced that the government would spend about $8.8 million. This money was to upgrade the water treatment system. It included adding new technology and more water storage.
In October 2020, everyone in Neskantaga had to leave the reserve. This happened after tests showed high levels of chemicals in the water. A faulty pump caused this problem. By December 21, 2020, over 250 members were able to return home.
By December 2020, a new water treatment plant was ready to be used. By March 2021, the upgrades were almost finished. At that time, 374 people lived on the reserve. The boil water advisory affected 76 homes and 6 community buildings.
Neskantaga's Climate
Neskantaga First Nation has a subarctic climate. This means it has very cold winters and mild summers. Summers can have warm days with cool nights. Rain usually falls on more than half of all summer days. Winters are extremely cold. Nights can reach very dangerous temperatures. Snowfall averages about 241.6 cm (95.1 inches) each year. Winter usually starts in October and can last until April.
