Nibinamik First Nation Explained

Summer Beaver
Official Name:Summer Beaver Indian Settlement
Settlement Type:Indian settlement
Native Name:ᓃᐱᓇᒥᐦᐠ
Pushpin Map:Canada Ontario
Pushpin Mapsize:200
Coordinates:52.75°N -118°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Kenora
Subdivision Type3:First Nation
Subdivision Name3:Nibinamik
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Land Km2:15.53
Population Total:382
Population As Of:2016
Population Density Km2:24.6
Website:nibinamik.ca

Nibinamik First Nation (Ojibway language: ᓃᐱᓇᒥᐦᐠ (Niibinamik, "Summerbeaver"); unpointed: ᓂᐱᓇᒥᐠ), also known as Summer Beaver Band, is a small Oji-Cree First Nation reserve in Northern Ontario, located on the Summer Beaver Settlement that is connected to the rest of the province by its airport, and a winter/ice road that leads to the Northern Ontario Resource Trail.

Nibinamik First Nation is a member of the Matawa First Nations, a regional Chiefs council, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a Tribal Political Organization representing majority of First Nations in Northern Ontario.

Summer Beaver was policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal-based service, until its detachment was condemned and closed down.

History

Summer Beaver began as an intentional community in 1975 when a group of Anglican people, related by kinship, decided to leave Lansdowne House, a Catholic settlement. Violence had reached epic proportions in Lansdowne House in the 1970s and the community was divided along religious lines. The Summer Beaver people felt that they could make a better life for themselves and their children back at Nibinamik Lake. The Canadian government was wary of this move, and offered nothing in the way of support for quite some time.[2] Nibinamik was not recognized as a reserve until recently.

In 2017, the provincial government of Ontario pledged support for the construction of a road that would connect Nibinamik, Webequie and the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire to Ontario Highway 599 at Pickle Lake.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census Profile, 2016 Census . Statistics Canada . . 2017-04-14 . 2017-07-08.
  2. Driben P. & Trudeau, R. When Freedom Is Lost: The Dark Side of the Relationship between Government and the Fort Hope Band. 1983. (University of Toronto Press.)
  3. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/kathleen-wynne-thunder-bay-1.4255390 "Ontario pledges 'support' for year-round road access to 3 remote First Nations"