Nipissing First Nation
Encyclopedia
The Nipissing First Nation
consists of first nation (i.e. aboriginal) people of Ojibwa
and Algonquin descent who have lived in the area of Lake Nipissing
in the Canadian province of Ontario
for about 9,400 years. Though in history known by many names, they are generally considered part of the Anishinaabe
peoples, a grouping which includes the Odaawaa
, Ojibwe and Algonquins. This broad heritage is likely the result of the Nipissings living at a geographical crossroads - in fact at a watershed divide.
drains via the French River
into Georgian Bay
and, to the east of Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake
drains via the Mattawa River
into the Ottawa River
. Thus the Nipissings lived at the crossroads between two watersheds, and were key to trade to the East, West, North and South of Lake Nipissing. This watershed divide was later portaged extensively by the French
in accessing the Great Lakes by canoe from settlements around Montreal
.
To the west their trade routes extended as far as Lake Nipigon
and their Ojibwa neighbours, and to the north as far James Bay
where they traded with the Cree
and, later, the English. Their trade network to the east extended as far as present day Quebec City
. The Hurons lived nearby to the South, and there is archaeological evidence that the Nipissings integrated some Huron styles and techniques in their pottery.
They obtained food primarily through hunting, fishing, and gathering although their extensive trading likely allowed them to supplement their diets with corn, beans and squash as well. Certainly the land in the lake valleys would have supported some horticulture.
Nipissing First Nation lies between the city of North Bay
and the municipality of West Nipissing
in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Most members of the First Nation reside on the First Nations reserve
of Nipissing Indian Reserve 10
.
executed military campaigns against the Huron and Bruce and, by 1647, the Nipissing regrouped in the Lake Nipigon
area. The Nipissing nonetheless continued to use their historical trade routes, but at greater risk to themselves. By 1670, the Nipissing are documented to have returned to Lake Nipissing.
The noted Cherokee leader Attakullakulla (d. 1775) was originally a Nipissing before being adopted as a Cherokee after having been orphaned at their hands during a raid north.
By the early 19th century, the Europeans were actively trapping the area in and around Lake Nipissing themselves, which lead to a sharp reduction in the amount of pelts available to the Nipissings and other first nation peoples in the area.
In 1850 the Nipissing signed the Robinson Huron Treaty, in part to solidify their claim to the north shores of Lake Nipissing and its main waterways in the face of increasing European encroachment.
Each clan was based on family lines, with each family consisting of about thirty people and the "head man" usually being the patriarch of the family. The head men of these semi-autonomous doodem met in council to decide on the rules by which the nation would operate, governing themselves independently of each other but at the same time cooperatively as part of Nipissing Nation as a whole. There was nonetheless a great respect for an individual's right to decide their own path, whether they be a man or a woman.
The Nipissings are a very spiritual people, and traditionally used many natural medicines and had an extensive spiritual life that also encompassed interment ceremonies.
The Nipissing First Nation's council is a member of Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations
, which is a regional chiefs' council. The First Nation is also a member of the Union of Ontario Indians
, a tribal political organization representing many of the Anishinaabe First Nations in central and southern Ontario.
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...
consists of first nation (i.e. aboriginal) people of Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
and Algonquin descent who have lived in the area of Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...
in the Canadian province of 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....
for about 9,400 years. Though in history known by many names, they are generally considered part of the Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe or Anishinabe—or more properly Anishinaabeg or Anishinabek, which is the plural form of the word—is the autonym often used by the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Algonquin peoples. They all speak closely related Anishinaabemowin/Anishinaabe languages, of the Algonquian language family.The meaning...
peoples, a grouping which includes the Odaawaa
Ottawa (tribe)
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
, Ojibwe and Algonquins. This broad heritage is likely the result of the Nipissings living at a geographical crossroads - in fact at a watershed divide.
Geography
Lake NipissingLake Nipissing
Lake Nipissing is a lake in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has a surface area of , a mean elevation of above sea level, and is located between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay. Excluding the Great Lakes, Lake Nipissing is the fifth-largest lake in Ontario. It is relatively shallow for a...
drains via the French River
French River
French River may refer to:*Any river within the country of France -Rivers named "French":*In Canada:**French River, Colchester, Nova Scotia**French River, Pictou, Nova Scotia**French River *In the United States:...
into Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
and, to the east of Lake Nipissing, Trout Lake
Trout Lake (Ontario)
Trout Lake is a lake in municipalities of East Ferris and North Bay, Nipissing District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, approximately east of the much larger Lake Nipissing. Trout Lake is the source of the Mattawa River and a significant body of water on a well-known historic North American...
drains via the Mattawa River
Mattawa River
The Mattawa River is a river in central Ontario, Canada. It flows east from Trout Lake east of North Bay and enters the Ottawa River at the town of Mattawa. Counting from the head of Trout Lake, it is 76 km in length...
into 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:...
. Thus the Nipissings lived at the crossroads between two watersheds, and were key to trade to the East, West, North and South of Lake Nipissing. This watershed divide was later portaged extensively by the 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...
in accessing the Great Lakes by canoe from settlements around Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
To the west their trade routes extended as far as Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of the Canadian province of Ontario . It is sometimes described as the sixth Great Lake. Lying 260 metres above sea level, the lake drains into the Nipigon River and thence into Nipigon Bay of Lake Superior...
and their Ojibwa neighbours, and to the north as far James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
where they traded with the Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and, later, the English. Their trade network to the east extended as far as present day Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. The Hurons lived nearby to the South, and there is archaeological evidence that the Nipissings integrated some Huron styles and techniques in their pottery.
They obtained food primarily through hunting, fishing, and gathering although their extensive trading likely allowed them to supplement their diets with corn, beans and squash as well. Certainly the land in the lake valleys would have supported some horticulture.
Nipissing First Nation lies between the city of North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
and the municipality of West Nipissing
West Nipissing, Ontario
West Nipissing is a town in northeastern Ontario, Canada, on Lake Nipissing in the Nipissing District. It was formed on January 1, 1999, with the amalgamation of seventeen and a half former towns, villages, townships and unorganized communities....
in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Most members of the First Nation reside on the First Nations 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...
of Nipissing Indian Reserve 10
Nipissing 10, Ontario
Nipissing 10 is a First Nations reserve in northeastern Ontario, Canada located on the north shores of Lake Nipissing in Nipissing District, serving as the land base for the Nipissing First Nation. The reserve is located west of North Bay and east of West Nipissing.The reserve comprises the...
.
History
The trade routes that had been under the Nipissings' control became increasingly desirable during the early colonial period, as the French proved a large market for the inland pelts. As a result, the IroquoisIroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
executed military campaigns against the Huron and Bruce and, by 1647, the Nipissing regrouped in the Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon
Lake Nipigon is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of the Canadian province of Ontario . It is sometimes described as the sixth Great Lake. Lying 260 metres above sea level, the lake drains into the Nipigon River and thence into Nipigon Bay of Lake Superior...
area. The Nipissing nonetheless continued to use their historical trade routes, but at greater risk to themselves. By 1670, the Nipissing are documented to have returned to Lake Nipissing.
The noted Cherokee leader Attakullakulla (d. 1775) was originally a Nipissing before being adopted as a Cherokee after having been orphaned at their hands during a raid north.
By the early 19th century, the Europeans were actively trapping the area in and around Lake Nipissing themselves, which lead to a sharp reduction in the amount of pelts available to the Nipissings and other first nation peoples in the area.
In 1850 the Nipissing signed the Robinson Huron Treaty, in part to solidify their claim to the north shores of Lake Nipissing and its main waterways in the face of increasing European encroachment.
Society
Traditionally, the Nipissing nation was structured around families and clans (or doodems). The five doodems were: Blood (Miskwaa'aa (recorded as "Miskouaha")), Birch bark (Wiigwaas), Heron (Ashagi (recorded as "Outchougai")), Beaver (Amikwaa (recorded as "Amicois" or as "Nez Percez")) and Squirrel. During the early contact period with the Europeans, Blood, Birch bark and Squirrel were located on and about Lake Nipissing, Heron located on Lake Nipissing but extending southward to eastern Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, while Beaver was located on the northern Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, adjacent to Heron territory.Each clan was based on family lines, with each family consisting of about thirty people and the "head man" usually being the patriarch of the family. The head men of these semi-autonomous doodem met in council to decide on the rules by which the nation would operate, governing themselves independently of each other but at the same time cooperatively as part of Nipissing Nation as a whole. There was nonetheless a great respect for an individual's right to decide their own path, whether they be a man or a woman.
The Nipissings are a very spiritual people, and traditionally used many natural medicines and had an extensive spiritual life that also encompassed interment ceremonies.
Demographics
As of February, 2009, Nipissing First Nation had a total registered population of 2,201 people, of which 886 Nipissing First Nation registrants lived on their own Reserve. The 2001 Canadian Census recorded 1,378 people lived on Nipissing 10 Indian Reserve.Governance
The current governance of the Nipissing First Nation is elected under the custom electoral system, consisting of a chief, deputy chief and six councillors. The current council consists of Chief Marianna Couchie and Deputy Chief June Commanda, along with Councillors Doug Chevrier, Arnold May, Darrell McLeod, Brian Couchie, Zachary Beaudette and Eric "Ric" Stevens. Their three-year term ends July 31, 2012.The Nipissing First Nation's council is a member of Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations
Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations
The Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations is a tribal council of First Nations in the Georgian Bay region of Ontario, Canada. The council consists of the Dokis, Henvey Inlet, Magnetawan and Wasauksing First Nations in the Parry Sound District, the Wahnapitae First Nation near Sudbury and...
, which is a regional chiefs' council. The First Nation is also a member of the Union of Ontario Indians
Union of Ontario Indians
The Union of Ontario Indians is an Aboriginal political organization representing 42 member First Nations in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was formed in 1919 and incorporated in 1949, to serve as a political advocate and secretariat for the Anishinabek Nation...
, a tribal political organization representing many of the Anishinaabe First Nations in central and southern Ontario.
Notable Nipissing
- Wayne KeonWayne KeonWayne Keon is a Nipissing First Nation author and poet and member of Nipissing First Nation, an Ojibway tribe.-Background:The Nipissing First Nation has lived in the area of Lake Nipissing in Ontario, Canada for about 9,400 years....
, b. 1946, prolific poet and short story writer - Dan Frawley (ice hockey)Dan Frawley (ice hockey)William Daniel Frawley . During his junior hockey years, Frawley played for the Sudbury Wolves of the OHA and the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL, before being drafted by the Chicago Black Hawks, 204th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. Frawley spent most of the next two years playing in the AHL...
, b. 1962, NHL hockey player, captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins 1987
