Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory facts for kids

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory (called Saukiing Anishnaabekiing in the Ojibway language), also known as the Saugeen Ojibway Nation or SON, is a group made up of two First Nations: the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and the Saugeen First Nation. These two groups work together through a joint council.

The people of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation are mainly Ojibway (also known as Anishinaabe). They live on the eastern shores of Lake Huron on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, Canada. After the War of 1812, many people from other nations moved into this area. Because of this, the descendants of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation also have family ties to the Odawa and Potawatomi peoples.

Even though there are only two main First Nation governments today, seven different First Nation communities once lived, fished, hunted, and traded in the Saugeen Ojibway Territory. Each community has its own unique stories, passed down through generations.

History of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation

Where did the Saugeen Ojibway Nation come from?

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." This land was rich with hunting and fishing opportunities.

Archaeologists, who study ancient cultures, have found tools and pottery from the Early Woodland period (from 1000 BCE to 1000 CE). They call the people who lived here during that time the Saugeen Culture. A special type of spearhead, 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 near Owen Sound, Cape Croker, and the Collingwood area. Their summer camps were in places like Walkerton, Wiarton, Goderich, Tobermory, and Red Bay. Their traditional lands also included all the land around the Saugeen River. This means places like Tobermory, Meaford, Goderich, Cape Croker, Owen Sound, and Orangeville are part of 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 Neighbors

The Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory were part of the Council of Three Fires. This was an important alliance of the Ojibway, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. This group worked together and 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 is where Lake Huron gets its name.

New Arrivals and Changing Lands

After the War of 1812, many people from other nations moved into the Saugeen Ojibway Territory. They came from places like Ohio and New York. In the 1830s, more people arrived from Michigan and Wisconsin because of policies that forced Indigenous peoples to move. Some were heading to Manitoulin Island, while others came from Coldwater or the Toronto and Niagara regions. These areas were changing due to new settlers from Europe and United Empire Loyalists.

Because so many different groups moved into the Saugeen Ojibway Territory, the history of the original Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory can sometimes be mixed up with the stories of other Anishinaabeg who settled there after the American Revolution. For example, the history of those who settled in Cape Croker in 1854 is sometimes confused with the history of the original Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory.

Agreements and Land Changes

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

Later, because more European Canadians wanted land for farming, parts of the Saugeen and Owen Sound Indian Reserve were given to the Crown. This was part of the Saugeen Surrenders. However, five smaller areas were kept for the Chippewas of the Saugeen Ojibway Territory.

First Nations in the Saugeen Ojibway Nation

Saugeen First Nation Community

The Saugeen First Nation is a main group that continues the traditions of the original Chippewas of Saugeen Ojibway Territory. Their stories are often 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 Community

The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation shares some history with the Saugeen First Nation, but their recent history is separate.