Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation facts for kids

The Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation is a group of Anishinaabe/Ojibway people. They are a First Nation located in Kenora District, Ontario, about 15 kilometers north of Lake of the Woods.

As of November 2021, there are 493 registered members of the Nation. In 2016, 190 members lived on their reserve land. The Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation is part of Treaty 3. They also work with groups like the Bimose Tribal Council and Kenora Chiefs Advisory.

Land and Reserves

The Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation has two special areas of land called reserves:

• The Dalles Indian Reserve 38C is their main reserve. It is about 3,257 hectares (that's like 8,000 football fields!). The community of Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation is right next to it.
• Agency Indian Reserve 30 is a smaller reserve, about 379 hectares. This land is shared with 12 other First Nations.

Working Through Challenges

The Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation has recently resolved two important issues with large electricity companies, Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation.

Dealing with Hydro One

The problem with Hydro One started when the company cut down trees and used land on the reserve without asking the Nation. They did this to put up huge steel towers for electricity. Hydro One agreed they were responsible and settled the issue with the Nation.

Addressing Ontario Power Generation

The issue with Ontario Power Generation was much bigger. Many years ago, without telling the Nation, the company (then called Ontario Hydro) flooded over 1,000 acres (about 4 square kilometers) of the Nation's reserve land. They also flooded thousands more acres of traditional hunting and gathering areas. This happened when they built the Whitedog Dam to make electricity.

The flooding and changes to the river flow caused a great loss for the Nation's people. They lost important cultural activities like hunting and harvesting wild rice. Ontario Power Generation also agreed they were responsible. Unlike Hydro One, they officially apologized to the community for the harm caused.

Some issues still remain. For example, Canada's Federal Government allowed Ontario Power Generation to change the path of the Winnipeg River through the reserve. This involved blasting a new channel. Sadly, a rock that was sacred to the people of Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation was completely destroyed by these explosives.

How the Nation is Governed

The Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation chooses its leaders using a special system called the Custom Electoral System. They elect a council for a two-year term. This council includes a Chief and four Councillors.

The Nation actually prefers an older, traditional way of governing called the 'Customary Council' system. In this system, a respected elder or speaker from each family group is chosen. These leaders then work together to give advice and help solve problems. The Chief and Council system is newer. The plan is for the current council to slowly move back towards the Customary Council system.