Kichesipirini
Encyclopedia
The Kichesipirini are an Algonquin indigenous people
of Canada
. Their traditional homeland and primary village was located on Morrison Island (also called Morrison's Island) in the Ottawa River
(which the Kichesipirini refer to as "Kitcisìpi" or "Kichesippi"), as well as territory on both sides of the river in Ontario
and Quebec
, including L'Isle-aux-Allumettes
(Allumette Island) in the Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec
, located just to the east of Morrison Island. Most Kichesipirini today live in nearby Pembroke, Ontario
, with others living elsewhere in Canada as well as in the United States
. Some Kichesipirini still speak a dialect of the Algonquin language
.
Despite apparently being the first Algonquin nation encountered by French
explorers in the early 17th century (Samuel de Champlain
met their chief, Tessouat
, in the summer of 1603, and visited their village in May 1613), the Kichesipirini are not federally recognized by the Canadian government, and thus have no reserve
. Nevertheless, the group based in Pembroke is constituted as the Kichesipirini Algonquin First Nation, with the current chief sachem
being Paula LaPierre. The group is actively seeking to gain full participation rights in negotiations on the Algonquin Land Claim.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Their traditional homeland and primary village was located on Morrison Island (also called Morrison's Island) in the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
(which the Kichesipirini refer to as "Kitcisìpi" or "Kichesippi"), as well as territory on both sides of the river in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, including L'Isle-aux-Allumettes
L'Isle-aux-Allumettes, Quebec
L'Isle-aux-Allumettes is a municipality in the Outaouais region, part of the Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. The municipality consists primarily of Allumette Island , and also includes Morrison Island, Marcotte Island, and some minor islets, all in the Ottawa River north of...
(Allumette Island) in the Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Pontiac Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Pontiac is a county regional municipality MRC Pontiac in the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada. It should not be confused with the municipality of Pontiac, which is located inside the county regional municipality of Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais....
, located just to the east of Morrison Island. Most Kichesipirini today live in nearby Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
, with others living elsewhere in Canada as well as in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Some Kichesipirini still speak a dialect of the Algonquin language
Algonquin language
Algonquin is either a distinct Algonquian language closely related to the Ojibwe language or a particularly divergent Ojibwe dialect. It is spoken, alongside French and to some extent English, by the Algonquin First Nations of Quebec and Ontario...
.
Despite apparently being the first Algonquin nation encountered by French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
explorers in the early 17th century (Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain
Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....
met their chief, Tessouat
Tessouat
Tessouat was an Algonquin chief from the Kitchesipirini nation . His nation lived in an area extending from Lac des Deux-Montagnes to Pembroke, Ontario.Tessouat lived in L'Isle-aux-Allumettes, in a neck of the Ottawa River...
, in the summer of 1603, and visited their village in May 1613), the Kichesipirini are not federally recognized by the Canadian government, and thus have no reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
. Nevertheless, the group based in Pembroke is constituted as the Kichesipirini Algonquin First Nation, with the current chief sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
being Paula LaPierre. The group is actively seeking to gain full participation rights in negotiations on the Algonquin Land Claim.
Notable Kichesipirini
- Timothy ArchambaultTimothy ArchambaultTimothy Archambault is an American Native American flutist, architect, and composer.-Background:...
, Native American flutistNative American fluteThe Native American flute has achieved some measure of fame for its distinctive sound, used in a variety of New Age and world music recordings. The instrument was originally very personal; its music was played without accompaniment in courtship, healing, meditation, and spiritual rituals. Now it...
and architect - Paula LaPierre, chief sachem
- TessouatTessouatTessouat was an Algonquin chief from the Kitchesipirini nation . His nation lived in an area extending from Lac des Deux-Montagnes to Pembroke, Ontario.Tessouat lived in L'Isle-aux-Allumettes, in a neck of the Ottawa River...
, 17th century chief