Wunnumin Lake First Nation
Encyclopedia
Wunnumin Lake First Nation (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...

: ᓇᒪᐣᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓃᕽ (Wanaman-zaaga'iganiing, "At Wunnumin Lake"); unpointed: ᓇᒪᐣᓴᑲᐃᑲᓂᐠ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation located 360 km northeast 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...

 in 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...

. Its registered population in January 2007 was 565.

The Wunnumin Lake community can be accessed primarily through air transportation; however, during certain seasons one can also travel to this community using either the winter trails, winter road system or waterways.

Wunnumin 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

Wunnumin Lake is called Wanaman-zaaga'igan meaning "Vermillion Lake", in reference to the vermillion-coloured clay about the lake. Legend says that Wiisagejaak (the "Crane
Crane (bird)
Cranes are a family, Gruidae, of large, long-legged and long-necked birds in the order Gruiformes. There are fifteen species of crane in four genera. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back...

 manidoo") used to hunt for food, found "Big Beaver" that lived on the Pipestone River and chased "Big Beaver" and its baby beaver to the this area. When Wiisagejaak caught up with "Big Beaver" and its baby beaver, he killed the baby beaver and put it aside in this particular area with foliage; as the baby beaver laid there in this foliage, it bled from its wound. The blood from the baby beaver's wound seeped into the ground, staining the clay to this colour.

Residents of Wunnumin Lake originated from Big Beaver House, Ontario. After a large forest fire, the community at Big Beaver House relocated to two separate location, of which one was Wunnumin Lake. During 1929–1930 the leaders of Wunnumin Lake First Nation were summoned to 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...

. Its current government obtained their Reserve status on March 2, 1976.

Government

The current Chief is Rod Winnepetonga, and the Deputy Chief is Simon Winnepetonga. Gordon McKoop, Enus Mckay and Sharon McKay serve as Band Councillor. Wunnumin Lake First Nation is affiliated with 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...

.

Wunnumin Lake First Nation have two reserves: a 5855.1 hectares (14,468.3 acre) Wunnumin 1 Reserve and a 3794.4 hectares (9,376.2 acre) Wunnumin 2 Reserve.

The current departments and programs offered by Wunnumin Lake First Nation are:
  • Administration
  • Crisis Prevention
  • Economic Development
  • Education Authority
  • Health Authority
  • Lands & Resources
  • Public Works
  • Social Workers
  • Welfare

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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