McDowell Lake First Nation

MacDowell Lake Misi-zhaaga'igan
Indian settlement
MacDowell Lake Indian Settlement
MacDowell Lake
Coordinates: 52°13′N 92°44′W / 52.217°N 92.733°W / 52.217; -92.733Coordinates: 52°13′N 92°44′W / 52.217°N 92.733°W / 52.217; -92.733
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
District	Kenora
First Nation	McDowell Lake
Area^[1]
• Land	1.94 km² (0.75 sq mi)
Population (2011)^[1]
• Total	0
• Density	0.0/km² (0/sq mi)
Website	mcdowelllake.firstnation.ca

McDowell Lake First Nation (Oji-Cree: Misi-zhaaga'iganiing) is a small Oji-Cree First Nation band government located in Northern Ontario, located approximately 155 km northeast of Red Lake, Ontario, Canada, on the central western shore of McDowell Lake. As of December, 2007, their total registered population was 52. It is part of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council (Northern Chiefs) and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

The First Nation's MacDowell Lake Indian Settlement, also known as MacDowell Lake, Ontario, is accessible by float and ski equipped aircraft. Though no winter/ice roads connect this community in the winter, a person can use either snowmobiles or snowshoes to trail off from winter/ice roads and head towards the community. Nearest winter/ice roads from the community connect Red Lake, Ontario, to North Spirit Lake, Deer Lake and Sandy Lake First Nations.

History

The small community of Misi-zhaaga'iganiing was established by trapper Johnny Kenequanash in the 1940s on the central western shore of McDowell Lake, known in Oji-Cree language as Misi-zhaaga'igan, meaning "the grand lake." Misi-zhaaga'igan was the main water way for people travelling by canoes leading North to Windigo Lake or going east towards Cat Lake. Kenequanash and his family was soon joined by the James family. Most Band members were former North Caribou Lake (Weagamow Lake) members and also have close ties with Cat Lake members. For many years the prime economic activity is either trapping or commercial fishing. In 1985, McDowell Lake along with six other community was awarded official Band status. The Governments of Canada, Ontario, the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and six of its member First Nations (Aroland, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, New Slate Falls, Saugeen and Wawakapewin) signed an agreement in December 1991 to make lands available to establish Indian reserves in the six communities and to provide basic community facilities. In June 1992, the 4455 ha MacDowell Lake Indian Settlement was remitted, but Census Canada records only 2750 ha in 1996 and 1940 ha in 2006.

Government

Governance

The leadership of the First Nation is determined through a Custom Electoral System. The current Chief is Eli James, with Head Councillor Albert James and Councillor Ellen Keno. Their elected terms began on December 28, 2001.

The First Nation is a member of Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council (Northern Chiefs), a local non-political Chiefs Council. McDowell Lake is also a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a Tribal Political Organization representing many of the First Nations in northern Ontario.

Services

Government services are provided by the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council and by the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Services include:

KO Telemedicine
K-Net ISP service
NAN Police Service

External links

References

1 2 "MacDowell Lake census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 3 June 2015.

Unorganized Kenora
McDowell Lake

Unorganized Kenora

McDowell Lake / Unorganized Kenora

MacDowell Lake

Unorganized Kenora

Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Independent First Nations Alliance	Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug Lac Seul Muskrat Dam Pikangikum Whitesand

Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council	Deer Lake Fort Severn Keewaywin McDowell Lake North Spirit Lake Poplar Hill

Matawa First Nations	Aroland Constance Lake Eabametoong Ginoogaming Hornepayne Long Lake 58 Marten Falls Neskantaga Nibinamik Webequie

Mushkegowuk Council	Attawapiskat Chapleau Cree Fort Albany Kashechewan Missanabie Cree Moose Cree Taykwa Tagamou Weenusk

Shibogama First Nations Council	Kasabonika Lake Kingfisher Wapekeka Wawakapewin Wunnumin Lake

Wabun Tribal Council	Beaverhouse Brunswick House Chapleau Ojibway Flying Post Matachewan Mattagami Wahgoshig

Windigo First Nations Council	Bearskin Lake Cat Lake Koocheching North Caribou Lake (Weagamow Lake) Sachigo Lake Slate Falls Whitewater

Independent NAN Communities	Mishkeegogamang Mocreebec Council Sandy Lake

The Numbered Treaties: Treaty Nine

Numbered Treaties	Treaty 1 Treaty 2 Treaty 3 Treaty 4 Treaty 5 Treaty 6 Treaty 7 Treaty 8 Treaty 9 Treaty 10 Treaty 11

Treaty Nine Nations	Abitibiwinni First Nation (Quebec) Albany First Nation Aroland First Nation Attawapiskat First Nation Bearskin Lake First Nation Brunswick House First Nation Cat Lake First Nation Chapleau Cree First Nation Chapleau Ojibway First Nation Constance Lake First Nation Eabametoong First Nation Flying Post First Nation Fort Severn First Nation Ginoogaming First Nation Kasabonika First Nation Keewaywin First Nation Kingfisher First Nation Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation Marten Falls First Nation Matachewan First Nation Mishkeegogamang First Nation Missanabie Cree First Nation Neskantaga First Nation Nibinamik First Nation Mattagami First Nation Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation McDowell Lake First Nation Moose Cree First Nation North Caribou Lake First Nation Sachigo Lake First Nation Slate Falls Nation Taykwa Tagamou Nation Wahgoshig First Nation Wapekeka First Nation Wawakapewin First Nation Webequie First Nation Weenusk First Nation Wunnumin Lake First Nation

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