Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory facts for kids

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory (called Saukiing Anishnaabekiing in the Ojibway language) is also known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation or SON. It is the name for two main First Nations groups working together: the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Saugeen First Nation. These groups are part of the Ojibway (Anishinaabe) people. They live on the eastern shores of Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada.

While mostly Ojibway, many people in the Saugeen Ojibway Territory also have family ties to the Odawa and Potawatomi peoples. This is because many refugees came to the area after the War of 1812. Even though there are two main First Nation governments today, seven different First Nation communities have lived, fished, hunted, and traded in this territory for a very long time. Their stories are passed down through oral tradition by their own people.

A Look at Saugeen Ojibway History

Ancient Roots and Early Life

For a very long time, the entire Bruce Peninsula was home to the Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory. The Ojibway people called this area the "Saugeen Peninsula." Both oral stories and archaeological finds show that hunting and fishing were always plentiful here.

Archaeologists have found artifacts from the Early Woodland Period (1000 BCE to 1000 CE). They call the people who left these items the Saugeen Culture. Besides pottery, a special type of spear point called the Saugeen Point is a key sign of this culture.

The Saugeen Culture people, connected to the Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory, had winter camps around Owen Sound, Cape Croker, and Collingwood. They also had summer camps in places like Walkerton, Wiarton, Goderich, Tobermory, and Red Bay. Their traditional lands also included all the areas around the Saugeen River. This means places like Tobermory, Meaford, Goderich, Cape Croker, Owen Sound, and Orangeville are within the traditional Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory. The main settlement at the mouth of the Saugeen River was called Zaagiing, which means "at the river's outlet."

Alliances and New Arrivals

The Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory are part of the Council of Three Fires. This was a strong alliance of the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. This group helped in battles like the Battle of Skull Mound and the Battle of Blue Mountain.

While the Council of Three Fires often fought against the Iroquois Confederacy, the Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory shared their land peacefully with the Wyandotte/Wendat Nation. The Ojibway called the Wendat people Nii'inaa-Naadowe, meaning "The 'Nadowe' within our homeland." The French later called them "Huron," which gave the name to Lake Huron.

After the War of 1812, many people from different nations moved into Saugeen Ojibway Territory. They came from Ohio and New York. More people arrived from Michigan and Wisconsin in the 1830s due to American policies that moved Indigenous peoples. Some were heading to the Manitoulin Island project. Others moved from Coldwater or from the Toronto and Niagara regions. This happened after European and Loyalist newcomers affected their lands. Because so many people moved here, the history of the original Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory is sometimes mixed up with the stories of other Anishinaabeg who settled in the area later.

Important Treaties

The Royal Proclamation of 1763 was an early document that recognized the relationship between the Crown (the British government) and Indigenous peoples. It stated that "Indian land" could only be sold to the Crown. However, this document did not always tell the difference between the original residents of the land and those who settled there later as refugees. This has caused some disagreements among the Anishinaabe communities in the Saugeen Ojibway Territory.

Later, in the Saugeen Surrenders, a large area called the Saugeen and Owen Sound Indian Reserve was given to the Crown. This happened because European Canadians wanted more land for farming. However, five smaller areas were set aside for the Chippewas of the Saugeen Ojibway Territory.

Member First Nations

Saugeen First Nation

The Saugeen First Nation is a main group that continues the traditions of the original Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory. Their stories are told in the community known as Chippewa Hill. Today, the Saugeen First Nation includes people living in Chippewa Hill, Scotch Settlement, French Bay, and Chief's Point.

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation

The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation shares some history with the Saugeen First Nation. However, their recent history and current story are separate from the Saugeen First Nation.