Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation
Encyclopedia
The Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario
. They reside on the 1939.7 hectares (4,793.1 acre) Muskrat Dam Lake reserve
, located on Muskrat Dam Lake in the Kenora District
. The community of Muskrat Dam, Ontario, is located on this reserve. In June 2008, their total registered population was 387 people, of which their on-reserve population was around 195.
The reserve's primary transportation link is the Muskrat Dam Airport
.
Muskrat Dam Lake is police
d by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
, an Aboriginal based service.
.
The Muskrat Dam people have historical links to the people of Bearskin Lake
, and several families have relocated from Bearskin Lake to Muskrat Dam Lake. These families that relocated to Muskrat Dam were that of Tommy and Victoria Beardy who were joined by Jeremiah and Juliet Duncan, Moses and Eunice Fiddler, Jake and Esther Beardy and Roderick and Effie Fiddler. Later, Fiddlers' son Billy and Moses Fiddler's mother Nainee also joined the little settlement.
Due to abundance of natural resources in the area, the small community started living off the land: fishing, hunting, trapping and logging. Weagamow Lake, Ontario helped them start a sawmill operation, as well as to fly-in tools, gas and grocery supplies.
Until the reserve was officially gained reserve status in 1976, Muskrat Dam was a satellite community of the Big Big Trout Lake
.
The First Nation is part of the Independent First Nations Alliance
of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
.
P.O. Box 140
Muskrat Dam, ON P0V 3B0
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
. They reside on the 1939.7 hectares (4,793.1 acre) Muskrat Dam Lake 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...
, located on Muskrat Dam Lake in the Kenora District
Kenora District, Ontario
Kenora District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1907 from parts of Rainy River District. It is, geographically, the largest division in that province; at 407,192.66 km2 it comprises almost 38 percent of the province's land area...
. The community of Muskrat Dam, Ontario, is located on this reserve. In June 2008, their total registered population was 387 people, of which their on-reserve population was around 195.
The reserve's primary transportation link is the Muskrat Dam Airport
Muskrat Dam Airport
Muskrat Dam Airport, , is located north of the First Nations community of Muskrat Dam, Ontario, Canada.-External links:*...
.
Muskrat Dam Lake is police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
d by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is the police force for Nishnawbe-Aski Nation . Created in 1994, the force has 175 sworn officers at 35 detachments in NAN communities. The Chief of Police is vacant with Robin Jones Acting Chief of Police...
, an Aboriginal based service.
History
The Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation is part of the 1929-30 Adhesion to the James Bay Treaty of 1905 - Treaty 9Treaty 9
Treaty 9 was an agreement established in July, 1905, between the Government of Canada in the name of King Edward VII and various First Nations in northern Ontario. One First Nation community in the bordering Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec is included in this treaty...
.
The Muskrat Dam people have historical links to the people of Bearskin Lake
Bearskin Lake First Nation
Bearskin Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Kenora District 425 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout. Bearskin First Nation's total registered population in September, 2007, was 831, of which their on-reserve population was 423.Three...
, and several families have relocated from Bearskin Lake to Muskrat Dam Lake. These families that relocated to Muskrat Dam were that of Tommy and Victoria Beardy who were joined by Jeremiah and Juliet Duncan, Moses and Eunice Fiddler, Jake and Esther Beardy and Roderick and Effie Fiddler. Later, Fiddlers' son Billy and Moses Fiddler's mother Nainee also joined the little settlement.
Due to abundance of natural resources in the area, the small community started living off the land: fishing, hunting, trapping and logging. Weagamow Lake, Ontario helped them start a sawmill operation, as well as to fly-in tools, gas and grocery supplies.
Until the reserve was officially gained reserve status in 1976, Muskrat Dam was a satellite community of the Big Big Trout Lake
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug , also known as Big Trout Lake First Nation or KI for short, is a First Nations community in Northwestern Ontario. Part of Treaty 9...
.
Governance
The current electoral leadership of the council consists of Chief Vernon Morris and his Deputy Chief Roy Fiddler and three councillors: Charlie Beardy, Spencer Morris and Irene Ross. Their two-year term began on July 28, 2007.The First Nation is part of the Independent First Nations Alliance
Independent First Nations Alliance
Independent First Nations Alliance is a non-profit Regional Chiefs' Council representing Ojibway and Oji-Cree First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada...
of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political organization representing 49 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of northern Ontario, Canada...
.
Official address
Muskrat Dam Lake First NationP.O. Box 140
Muskrat Dam, ON P0V 3B0
- Phone: 1-807-471-2573
- Fax: 1-807-471-2540
Notable people
- Gordon BeardyGordon BeardyGordon Beardy is a retired Anglican bishop.Beardy was a suffragan bishop of Diocese if Keewatin from 1993 to 1996 and then its diocesan bishop from 1996 until 2001.-References:...
—former KeewatinAnglican Diocese of KeewatinThe Diocese of Keewatin is a diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada. It straddles the border of the civil provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, comprising over 900,000 square kilometres. The diocese is geographically isolated, consisting of mainly small, and mostly First Nations communities. The...
Bishop for the Anglican Church of CanadaAnglican Church of CanadaThe Anglican Church of Canada is the Province of the Anglican Communion in Canada. The official French name is l'Église Anglicane du Canada. The ACC is the third largest church in Canada after the Roman Catholic Church and the United Church of Canada, consisting of 800,000 registered members...
who was the first Native diocesan bishop in Canada; also elected and served as the First Nation's Chief in 2002.