PROFILBARU.COM

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation
Band No. 122
	Chippewas of Nawash First Nation logo
Land
Main reserve	Neyaashiinigmiing 27
Other reserve(s)	Cape Croker Hunting Ground 60B; Saugeen and Cape Croker Fishing Islands 1;
Land area	71.83 km2
Population
On reserve	724
Off reserve	1958
Total population	2714
Government
Chief	Chief Greg Nadjiwon
Council size	9
Website
	www.nawash.ca

Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation (Ojibwe: Neyaashiinigmiing Anishinaabek) 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,^[1] as of December 2020. Approximately 700 members live on the main reserve, Neyaashiinigmiing 27 (formerly known as Cape Croker). 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 (31.21 sq. mi.).^[2]

Etymology

The name Chippewas of Nawash is from Chief Nawash who fought with Tecumseh during the War of 1812.^[3]

History

Neyaashiinigmiing has always been the home of the Chippewas of Nawash. Their traditional lands included the entire Bruce Peninsula and roughly 2 million acres (8,100 km²) 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.^[4]

Reserves

30km
20miles

Newiashmining 27

Saugeen and Cape Croker Fishing Islands 1

Cape Croker Hunting Ground 60B

Map of the reserves of Chippewa of Newash First Nation

Chippewas of Nawash have three reserves in perpetuity, amassing to 71.83 km² (27.73 sq mi). Of these three, the 63.81 km² (24.64 sq mi) 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 63.81 km² (24.64 sq mi) 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:^[5]

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 (what's happening)
Winter Count: Neyaashiinigmiing's History Newsletter
Dibaudjimoh (no longer publishing)

Culture

The Chippewas of Nawash hold a Traditional Pow Wow every year. Chippewas of Nawash is also the home of musician Ira Nadjiwon, Marc Merilainen (Nadjiwon), Jacques Pigeon, Kevin (The Hooch) 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.^[6]

The Official Plan for the Town of Saugeen Shores (2014) 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."^[7]

Notable members

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, poet, founder of Kegedonce Press
John Borrows (b. 1963), Professor Borrows, B.A., M.A., J.D., LL.M. (Toronto), Ph.D. (Osgoode Hall Law School), LL.D. (Hons.)(Dalhousie) F.R.S.C., is Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Victoria Law School.^[8]
Basil H. Johnston (1929-2015), writer and educator, residential school survivor
Verna Patronella Johnston, author (Tales of Nokomis) and community organizer in Toronto during the 1960s and 1970s
Lenore Keeshig-Tobias, author (Emma and the Trees and Bird Talk) and major advocate for Indigenous writers in Canada
Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie, musician
Michelle LaVallee, curator, artist, and educator
Naomi Smith, artist
Clifford Solomon, television actor
Mary Spencer (b. 1984), Canadian, World Champion, Pan AM, and Olympic middleweight boxer^[9]