Wapekeka First Nation facts for kids

Wapekeka First Nation (also known as Angling Lake First Nation) is a community of First Nations people in Ontario, Canada. It is an Oji-Cree community located in the Kenora District, about 450 kilometers northeast of Sioux Lookout. In January 2008, there were 375 registered members, with 355 living on their reserve lands.

The First Nation has two special land areas called reserves: the 3605 hectare Wapekeka 1 Indian Reserve and the 2026.5 hectare Wapekeka 2 Indian Reserve. These lands were expanded in 1996 and 1997. The community uses Eastern Standard Time in winter and Eastern Daylight Time in summer.

Getting Around

The Wapekeka community cannot be reached by road from other parts of Ontario. However, there are local roads within Angling Lake and to the nearby airport. Regular air service is available through Wasaya Airways at Angling Lake/Wapekeka Airport.

Important Services

From 2013, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has been providing police services to Wapekeka from their office in Sioux Lookout. Before that, the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service helped the community. Fire services are provided by five trained local residents.

Local Media

Wawaytay Radio System is the local FM radio station. TV Ontario also provides educational programs through cable services in the community.

Learning and School

The Reverend Eleazar Winter Memorial School is the only school on the reserve. It opened in 1990 and teaches students from Junior Kindergarten up to Grade 8. Students who want to continue their high school studies must leave the community. The school building was damaged by fire in 2015 but reopened in a temporary building in early 2016.

Church and Faith

Wapekeka has one church, which is called St Paul's Anglican Church.

Making a Living

Basic goods and supplies can be bought from either the community store or a convenience store. There is also a local hostel where visitors can stay overnight in Wapekeka.

Our History

The lands of the Wapekeka reserves are part of the territory described in the 1929-30 addition to Treaty 9 (also known as the James Bay Treaty of 1905).

In 1947, the Angling Lake community started as a winter camp for families from Big Trout Lake. These families used the area for their traditional hunting and trapping. Starting in 1960, several communities became permanent and separate from the Big Trout Lake Band. These included Kingfisher Lake, Wunnumin Lake, Bearskin Lake, Kasabonika, Muskrat Dam, Sachigo Lake, and Wapekeka.

Wapekeka officially became a First Nation Band and received its two reserves in 1979. On August 28, 1981, the Angling Lake Band officially changed its name to Wapekeka First Nation.

Our Leaders

The current chief of Wapekeka First Nation is Chief Brennan Sainnawap. The Deputy Chief is Ananias Winter. The councillors are Georgina Winter, Russel Brown, and Henry Roundsky. Chief Sainnawap took over from Norman Brown, who was chief for 21 years and passed away in 2014 while serving as Deputy Chief.

Wapekeka First Nation was first a member of the Kayahn Area Tribal Council from 1977 to 1983. When that council ended, Wapekeka joined with other communities like Kasabonika Lake, Kingfisher Lake, Wunnumin Lake, and Wawakapewin to form the Shibogama First Nations Council. Wapekeka is still a part of this council today.