Webequie First Nation

Webequie First Nation is located on the northern peninsula of Eastwood Island on Winisk Lake, 540 km (336 mi) north of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Webequie is a fly-in community with no summer road access. The primary way into the community is by air or winter road, which connects to the Northern Ontario Resource Trail. The First Nation have the 34,279 ha Webequie Indian Reserve. The Webequie or Webiqui Indian Settlement also have reserve status. Webequie First Nation is a member of the Matawa First Nations, a Regional Chiefs' Council and a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

The registered population of Webequie was 714 persons in September of 2007, of which the on-reserve population was 253.

Webequie is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal based service.

History

When the Treaties were created between the Canadian government and the Aboriginal people of Canada, Webequie was mistakenly listed as part of the community of Fort Hope. They lived under this error until May 1985, when they were recognized as a distinct band. Despite this, the people of Webequie had to fight until February 15, 2001, to achieve full reserve status.

The name "Webequie" comes from the Anishinini word "webikwe" meaning "shaking Head."

Official address

:Webequie First Nation
General Delivery
Webequie, Ontario P0T 3A0
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

External links

* [http://www.webequie.net/page.asp?DocumentID=HomePage Webequie First Nation's official website]
* [http://sdiprod2.inac.gc.ca/fnprofiles/FNProfiles_DETAILS.asp?BAND_NUMBER=240 INAC profile]
* [http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/site.nsf/en/ON80001.html#B240 Aboriginal Canada Portal profile of the First Nation]