Wasauksing First Nation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wasauksing First Nation Waaseyakosing
Indian reserve
Parry Island First Nation Indian Reserve
Aerial view of Parry Island, with the town of Parry Sound visible at the top.
Wasauksing First Nation Location in Southern Ontario
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
District	Parry Sound
First Nation	Wasauksing
Area
• Land	72.36 km2 (27.94 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	419
• Density	5.8/km2 (15/sq mi)
Website	www.wasauksing.ca

The Wasauksing First Nation is a group of Indigenous people in Canada. They are made up of the Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatomi peoples. Their traditional name is Waaseyakosing, which means "Place that shines brightly in the reflection of the sacred light."

This First Nation has its own special area of land called a reserve. It is located near a town called Parry Sound in Ontario, Canada. The reserve is on Parry Island, which is in Georgian Bay.

Parry Island is a very large island, covering about 72 square kilometers. It has about 125 kilometers of shoreline. This makes it one of the biggest islands in the Great Lakes region. The Wasauksing First Nation lives on the whole island today. Long ago, there was a non-Indigenous settlement called Depot Harbour on the island, but it is now a ghost town.

Life in the Wasauksing Community

The Wasauksing First Nation has its own local radio station, called CHRZ-FM. This station helps keep the community connected. They also have a magazine called MUSKRAT, which shares Indigenous stories and culture. Another magazine, Spirit, used to be published there.

Getting Around Wasauksing

The main road on the reserve connects Parry Island to the mainland. It crosses a special bridge called the Wasauksing Swing Bridge. This bridge leads to Rose Point Road in Seguin Township. From there, the road continues to Parry Sound, where it becomes Emily Street.

Famous People from Wasauksing

Many notable people have come from the Wasauksing First Nation.

• Basil Johnston was a well-known historian and writer who shared many stories about Indigenous culture.
• Francis Pegahmagabow was a very brave soldier. He is known as the most decorated Indigenous soldier in Canadian history.
• Waubgeshig Rice is a talented writer and broadcaster. He tells stories and shares news with many people.

Dick King, a Potawatomi man, was photographed in 1928 on Parry Island. He is holding a war club and dance rattles, which are now in the National Museum of the American Indian.