Kingfisher First Nation
Encyclopedia
Kingfisher First Nation (Oji-Cree language
: ᑭᒪᓂᐦᓰᐋᐧᐴᕽ (Giishkimanisiiwaaboong, "At Kingfisher-waters"); unpointed: ᑭᒪᓂᓯᐊᐧᐳᐠ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation located 350 kilometres (217.5 mi) north of Sioux Lookout
, Ontario
. It is accessible by air all year round, waterways during summer and ice road
s in winter. As of December, 2009, the First Nation had a total registered population of 500 people, of which their on-Reserve population was 462. The community speaks the Oji-Cree language
, with majority of the population being fluent in English
as well.
Kingfisher Lake is police
d by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
, an Aboriginal based service.
established an outpost at Big Beaver House, which is located approximately 12 kilometres southwest of the present Kingfisher Lake reserve. Big Beaver House was frequented by Kingfisher Lake people for trading fur
, community activity and freight hauling employment.
During 1929-1930 the leaders of Kingfisher Lake First Nation were required to gather at Big Trout Lake to participate in the signing of the adhesion to Treaty 9
. As the result of this document, Kingfisher Lake was consider a part of Big Trout Lake Band.
In 1947, Ontario
enacted the Trapline Registration and Fee Program which eventually forced the Kingfisher Lake people to outline their ancestral hunting areas into trapping boundaries and also to pay for the land use requirements.
In 1964 the leaders of Kingfisher Lake decide to establish permanent community and moved to the current location of the reserve lands. As Kingfisher Lake was already included in the Big Trout Lake Band and thus had reserve status, formality of gaining band status was achieved in 1975.
In 2011, many of the residents were temporarily housed in Ottawa due to forest fires in the surrounding area.
The First Nation is part of the Shibogama First Nations Council
, a Regional Chiefs Council, and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation
, a Tribal Political Organization representing majority of the First Nations
in northern Ontario
.
: Kingfisher Lake Indian Reserve 1, which serves as their main Reserve, containing the community of Kingfisher Lake, Ontario. Kingfisher Indian Reserve 2A Kingfisher Indian Reserve 3A
Oji-Cree language
The Severn Ojibwa or the Oji-Cree language is the indigenous name for a dialect of the Ojibwe language spoken in a series of Oji-Cree communities in northern Ontario and at Island Lake, Manitoba, Canada...
: ᑭᒪᓂᐦᓰᐋᐧᐴᕽ (Giishkimanisiiwaaboong, "At Kingfisher-waters"); unpointed: ᑭᒪᓂᓯᐊᐧᐳᐠ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation located 350 kilometres (217.5 mi) north of Sioux Lookout
Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Sioux Lookout is a town in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It has a population of 5,336 and an elevation of 1280 ft / 390 m. Known locally as the "Hub of the North", it is serviced by the Sioux Lookout Airport, Highway 72, and the Sioux Lookout railway station...
, 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....
. It is accessible by air all year round, waterways during summer and ice road
Ice road
Ice roads are frozen, human-made structures on the surface of bays, rivers, lakes, or seas in the far north. They link dry land, frozen waterways, portages and winter roads, and are usually remade each winter. Ice roads allow temporary transport to areas with no permanent road access...
s in winter. As of December, 2009, the First Nation had a total registered population of 500 people, of which their on-Reserve population was 462. The community speaks the Oji-Cree language
Oji-Cree language
The Severn Ojibwa or the Oji-Cree language is the indigenous name for a dialect of the Ojibwe language spoken in a series of Oji-Cree communities in northern Ontario and at Island Lake, Manitoba, Canada...
, with majority of the population being fluent in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as well.
Kingfisher 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
In 1808 the Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
established an outpost at Big Beaver House, which is located approximately 12 kilometres southwest of the present Kingfisher Lake reserve. Big Beaver House was frequented by Kingfisher Lake people for trading fur
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
, community activity and freight hauling employment.
During 1929-1930 the leaders of Kingfisher Lake First Nation were required to gather at Big Trout Lake to participate in the signing of the adhesion to Treaty 9
Treaty 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...
. As the result of this document, Kingfisher Lake was consider a part of Big Trout Lake Band.
In 1947, 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....
enacted the Trapline Registration and Fee Program which eventually forced the Kingfisher Lake people to outline their ancestral hunting areas into trapping boundaries and also to pay for the land use requirements.
In 1964 the leaders of Kingfisher Lake decide to establish permanent community and moved to the current location of the reserve lands. As Kingfisher Lake was already included in the Big Trout Lake Band and thus had reserve status, formality of gaining band status was achieved in 1975.
In 2011, many of the residents were temporarily housed in Ottawa due to forest fires in the surrounding area.
Governance
The officials of Kingfisher First Nation are elected for a two-year term through the Custom Electoral System. Their council consists of Chief James Mamakwa, Deputy Chief Amos Mamakwa and three Councillors: Eddy Mamakwa, Hezekiah Sakakeep and Noah Winter.The First Nation is part of the Shibogama First Nations Council
Shibogama First Nations Council
Shibogama First Nations Council , is a regional tribal council located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Like many of the other regional councils, Shibogama is a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation...
, a Regional Chiefs Council, and 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...
, a Tribal Political Organization representing majority of the First Nations
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...
in northern 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....
.
Reserve
The First Nation have reserved three tracts for their Indian ReserveIndian 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...
: Kingfisher Lake Indian Reserve 1, which serves as their main Reserve, containing the community of Kingfisher Lake, Ontario. Kingfisher Indian Reserve 2A Kingfisher Indian Reserve 3A