Windigo First Nations Council facts for kids
The Windigo First Nations Council is a group that helps seven First Nations in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It's like a support team for these communities. The council was started in 1983. It's led by the Chiefs (leaders) of the member First Nations, who make up its Board of Directors. The Windigo First Nations Council is also part of a larger group called the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which helps many First Nations in the area.
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What Windigo Council Does
The Windigo First Nations Council has different departments that work to help its member communities. They focus on things that make life better for people, like helping businesses grow and making sure kids get a good education.
Departments Helping Communities
- Economic Development: This department helps communities create jobs and businesses.
- Education: They support schools and learning for children and adults.
- Finance: This team manages the money for the council and helps with financial planning.
- Musslewhite: This might relate to specific projects or resources in the area.
- Health: They work to improve health services and well-being for everyone.
- Windigo Community Development Corporation: This group helps build and improve things in the communities.
- Policy: This department helps create rules and guidelines for how things are done.
- Technical: They provide technical support, like help with computers or building projects.
How Windigo Council Started
The Windigo First Nations Council grew from an idea to help communities connect and grow.
Building Roads and Community Support
In August 1977, four First Nations – Bearskin Lake First Nation, Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation, North Caribou Lake First Nation, and Sachigo Lake First Nation – started a company called the Windigo Lake Transportation Company. Their main goal was to build winter roads, which are temporary roads made of ice and snow, to help people travel and transport goods.
In 1979, the company started doing more than just building roads. It began helping communities with many different projects and services. Because of this, they changed the company's name to the Windigo Project Development Area.
Forming the Council
From these early efforts, the Windigo Tribal Council was officially created in 1983. Soon after, Slate Falls, Cat Lake, and Mishkeegogamang First Nation joined the council. In 1985, the Ojibway Nation of Saugeen First Nation also joined.
Over the years, some First Nations left the council, and new ones joined. For example, Muskrat Dam left in 1988, and Mishkeegogamang left in 1993. In 1994, Koocheching First Nation became an "associate member," meaning they received some services but not all. Saugeen left in 1995. In 2000, Whitewater Lake First Nation joined the council.
First Nations in the Council
The Windigo First Nations Council works with several First Nations. Some have been members since the beginning, and others have joined more recently.
Current Members
- Bearskin Lake First Nation‡
- Cat Lake First Nation
- Koocheching First Nation
- North Caribou Lake First Nation‡
- Sachigo Lake First Nation‡
- Slate Falls First Nation
- Whitewater First Nation
Former Members
‡ These were the First Nations that helped start the council.
