| Group: | Ojibway |
| Native Name: | Neyaashiinigmiing |
| Location: | Bruce Peninsula, Ontario |
| Reserve: | |
| Area: | 71.83 |
| Chief: | Chief Greg Nadjiwon |
| Main Reserve: | Neyaashiinigmiing 27 |
| Council Size: | 9 |
| On Reserve: | 724 |
| Off Reserve: | 1958 |
| Band Number: | 122 |
| Total Pop: | 2714 |
Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation (Ojibwa: Neyaashiinigmiing Anishinaabek) is an Anishinaabek First Nation from the Bruce Peninsula region in Ontario, Canada. Along with the Saugeen First Nation, they form the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation had a registered membership of 2758 individuals,[1] as of December 2020. Approximately 700 members live on the main reserve, Neyaashiinigmiing 27 (formerly known as Cape Croker). The First Nation has 3 reserves, Neyaashiinigmiing 27, Cape Croker Hunting Ground 60B and Saugeen and Cape Croker Fishing Islands 1. The size of all reserves is 8083.70 hectares (31.21 sq. mi.).[2]
The name Chippewas of Nawash is from Chief Nawash who fought with Tecumseh during the War of 1812.[3]
Neyaashiinigmiing has always been the home of the Chippewas of Nawash. Their traditional lands included the entire Bruce Peninsula and roughly 2e6acre south of it. In 1993, the First Nation won a court battle giving them the right to fish for trade and commerce in their traditional waters surrounding the Bruce Peninsula.[4]
Chippewas of Nawash have three reserves in perpetuity, amassing to . Of these three, the Neyaashiinigmiing 27 is considered the main reserve and Saugeen & Cape Croker Fishing Island 1 is shared with Saugeen First Nation.
See main article: Neyaashiinigmiing 27.
Formerly known as Cape Croker 27, this reserve is located within Bruce County, Ontario. It is big. It is the largest reserve of the three.
See main article: Cape Croker Hunting Ground 60B.
The reserve is surrounded by Bruce Peninsula National Park and Saugeen Hunting Grounds 60A.
See main article: Saugeen and Cape Croker Fishing Islands 1.
The reserve consist of 89 island shared with Saugeen First Nation.
Leaders of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation are elected every two years by the population registered on the band list. The next election date has not yet been set however it will be held around the same time in 2025.
The current Chief and Council are:[5]
The Chippewas of Nawash hold a Traditional Pow Wow every year. Chippewas of Nawash is also the home of musician Ira Nadjiwon, Marc Merilainen (Nadjiwon), Jacques Pigeon, Kevin (The Hooch) Lavalley, and Bryden "Gwiss" Kiwenzie who grew up on Nawash. They are also home to an award-winning powwow singers group called "Chippewa Travellers".
In 1994, the Nawash and the Saugeen First Nations filed a lawsuit against the Government of Canada; the claims for land, and payment of rent on lands, discussed in early treaties are significant. "The two First Nations are claiming aboriginal title to the lands under the water covering an area of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay from south of Goderich, west to the international border and north to the mid-point between the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island; then east to the mid-point of Georgian Bay and south to the southernmost point of Nottawasaga Bay." This suit has yet to be resolved.[6]
The Official Plan for the Town of Saugeen Shores (2014) includes the following comment about this issue: "The Chippewas of the Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation have filed a Native Land Claim for the islands in the Saugeen River, the lands that border the north side of the Saugeen River and the shoreline from the mouth of the Saugeen River northerly around the Bruce Peninsula."[7]