Sachigo Lake First Nation
Encyclopedia
Sachigo Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern
Ontario
, Canada
. It is located on Sachigo Lake
, part of the Sachigo River
system and Hudson Bay
drainage basin
, approximately 425 kilometres (264 mi) north of the town of Sioux Lookout. , the First Nation had a registered population of 814 people, of which the on-reserve population was 443.
Sachigo Lake is police
d by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service
, an Aboriginal based service.
As a signatory to Treaty 9
, Sachigo Lake First Nation is a member of the Windigo First Nations Council
, a Regional Chiefs Council, and Nishnawbe Aski Nation
, a Tribal Political Organization that represents majority of First Nation governments in northern Canada.
The concept, “Two Schools, One Spirit,” links the primary and secondary programs through the spirit of the Thunderbird. The primary and secondary schools are individual wings with two separate entrances, which allows for a division of students by age and maturity levels. Shared community use of facilities such as the gymnasium, multipurpose room and library, provides a central focus.
. It has winter road
access south via Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation
to the all-weather Northern Ontario Resource Trail
and thereby to Ontario Highway 599.
Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located on Sachigo Lake
Sachigo Lake
Sachigo Lake is a lake in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is on the Sachigo River and is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin....
, part of the Sachigo River
Sachigo River
The Sachigo River is a river in the Hudson Bay drainage basin in Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is a tributary of the Severn River.-Course:...
system and Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, approximately 425 kilometres (264 mi) north of the town of Sioux Lookout. , the First Nation had a registered population of 814 people, of which the on-reserve population was 443.
Sachigo 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.
Governance
The First Nation elect their officials through a Custom Electoral System, consisting of a Chief and four councillors. The current Chief is Titus Tait and the four councillors elected for the same term are Richard Mekanak, Jack Tait, Stanley Tait, and Gideon Thunder; their two-year terms all began on April 20, 2011.As a signatory 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...
, Sachigo Lake First Nation is a member of the Windigo First Nations Council
Windigo First Nations Council
Windigo First Nations Council is a non-political Chiefs Council in northwestern Ontario, Canada, serving its seven member-First Nations. The council was organized in 1983. The organization is directed by the Chiefs of the member First Nations who form the Board of Directors...
, a Regional Chiefs Council, and 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 that represents majority of First Nation governments in northern Canada.
Reserve
The First Nation have reserved for themselves the 3588 hectares (8,866 acre) Sachigo Lake Indian Reserve 1, which serves as their main reserve, containing the community of Sachigo Lake. In addition, the First Nation have reserved the 1723.6 hectares (4,259 acre) Sachigo Lake Indian Reserve 2 and the 2833 hectares (7,000 acre) Sachigo Lake Indian Reserve 3.Education
The new 2381 square metres (25,629 sq ft) Martin McKay Memorial School, offering Kindergarten through Grade 8 programming accommodates approximately 103 students. The new school contains a total of eight classrooms, a computer room, a public-school library, a gymnasium, multipurpose and change room facilities, as well as play areas for kindergarten and elementary students. INAC provided $9.45 million to Sachigo Lake First Nation, which managed design and construction of the school. Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated consulted extensively with the community and were winners of the Architectural Excellence for Design Awards, by the Ontario Association of Architects, for the Martin McKay Memorial School.The concept, “Two Schools, One Spirit,” links the primary and secondary programs through the spirit of the Thunderbird. The primary and secondary schools are individual wings with two separate entrances, which allows for a division of students by age and maturity levels. Shared community use of facilities such as the gymnasium, multipurpose room and library, provides a central focus.
Recreation
Over 1.1 million dollars has been invested in upgrades and the rehabilitation of the Sachigo Lake First Nation Arena. This new facility enriches the recreation for youth in the community and surrounding communities.Transportation
The community is served by Sachigo Lake AirportSachigo Lake Airport
Sachigo Lake Airport, , is located north of the First Nations community of Sachigo Lake, Ontario, Canada.Because Sachigo Lake First Nation is a "dry" community that forbids alcohol, each arriving passenger has their luggage searched in a separate arrivals building to make sure they are not...
. It has winter road
Winter road
Winter roads are temporary highways carved out of snow and ice. They facilitate transportation to and from communities without permanent roads, and are commonly seen in isolated regions in Canada's north....
access south via Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation
Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation
The Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario. They reside on the Muskrat Dam Lake reserve, located on Muskrat Dam Lake in the Kenora District. The community of Muskrat Dam, Ontario, is located on this reserve...
to the all-weather Northern Ontario Resource Trail
Northern Ontario Resource Trail
The Northern Ontario Resource Trail is a mainly gravel road in the Canadian province of Ontario, which travels north from Pickle Lake to the northern shore of Windigo Lake...
and thereby to Ontario Highway 599.