Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation


Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation is an Anishinaabek First Nation from the Bruce Peninsula region in Ontario, Canada. Along with the Saugeen First Nation, they form the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation had a registered membership of 2758 individuals, as of December 2020. Approximately 700 members live on the main reserve, Neyaashiinigmiing 27. The First Nation has 3 reserves: Neyaashiinigmiing 27, Cape Croker Hunting Ground 60B and Saugeen and Cape Croker Fishing Islands 1. The size of all reserves is 8083.70 hectares.

Etymology

The name Chippewas of Nawash is from Chief Nawash who fought with Tecumseh during the War of 1812.

History

Neyaashiinigmiing has always been the home of the Chippewas of Nawash. Their traditional lands included the entire Bruce Peninsula and roughly south of it. In 1993, the First Nation won a court battle giving them the right to fish for trade and commerce in their traditional waters surrounding the Bruce Peninsula.

Reserves

Chippewas of Nawash have three reserves in perpetuity, amassing to. Of these three, the Neyaashiinigmiing 27 is considered the main reserve, and Saugeen & Cape Croker Fishing Island 1 is shared with Saugeen First Nation.

Neyaashiinigmiing 27

Formerly known as Cape Croker 27, this reserve is located within Bruce County, Ontario. It is big. It is the largest reserve of the three.

Cape Croker Hunting Ground 60B

The reserve is surrounded by Bruce Peninsula National Park and Saugeen Hunting Grounds 60A.

Saugeen and Cape Croker Fishing Islands

The reserve consist of 89 island shared with Saugeen First Nation.

Government

Leaders of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation are elected every two years by the population registered on the band list. The next election date has not yet been set however it will be held around the same time in 2025.
The current Chief and Council are:
  • Chief Greg Nadjiwon
  • Anthony Chegahno
  • Arlene Chegahno
  • Carlene Keeshig
  • Norma Tobey
  • Beverly Nadjiwon
  • Nick Saunders
  • Jessica Keeshig-Martin
  • Theron Solomon
  • Paul Jones

    Media

FM Radio

  • 100.1 - CHFN - The Chippewas of Nawash operate a low power FM station that plays an eclectic mix of Rock, country, gospel, and pow wow.

    Local newspaper

  • Community Newsletter Eziwehbak
  • Winter Count: Neyaashiinigmiing's History Newsletter
  • ''Dibaudjimoh''

    Culture

The Chippewas of Nawash hold a traditional powwow every year. The Chippewas of Nawash is also the home of musician Ira Nadjiwon, Marc Merilainen, Jacques Pigeon, Kevin Lavalley, and Bryden "Gwiss" Kiwenzie who grew up on Nawash. They are also home to an award-winning powwow singers group called "Chippewa Travellers".

Land claims

In 1994, the Nawash and the Saugeen First Nations filed a lawsuit against the Government of Canada; the claims for land, and payment of rent on lands, discussed in early treaties are significant. "The two First Nations are claiming aboriginal title to the lands under the water covering an area of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay from south of Goderich, west to the international border and north to the mid-point between the tip of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island; then east to the mid-point of Georgian Bay and south to the southernmost point of Nottawasaga Bay." This suit has yet to be resolved.
The Official Plan for the Town of Saugeen Shores includes the following comment about this issue: "The Chippewas of the Saugeen First Nation and the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation have filed a Native Land Claim for the islands in the Saugeen River, the lands that border the north side of the Saugeen River and the shoreline from the mouth of the Saugeen River northerly around the Bruce Peninsula."

Notable members