Nicickousemenecaning First Nation

Nicickousemenecaning First Nation or "Nigigoonsiminikaaning" First Nation, is a Saulteaux First Nation located on the banks of Rainy Lake of the Rainy River District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. As of January, 2008, the First Nation had a population of 290 registered people, of which their on-Reserve population was 137.

Name

The name "Nigigoonsiminikaaning" means "Place abundant with Little-Otter berries"

Governance

The First Nation have an electoral system of government, consisting of a Chief and two councillors forming their council. Chief Gary Allen, and Councillors Jason Jones and Tracy Allan are serving their two-year term that began on July 17, 2008.

The First Nation is a member of the Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services, a regional Chiefs Council, which in turn is a member of the Grand Council of Treaty 3, a Tribal Political Organization serving many of the First Nations in northwest Ontario and southeast Manitoba.

Services

The community has its own voluntary organizations, including a volunteer fire department, Recreation, Education, Housing and Economic Development committees. The Band Administration services the community in the areas of community health, education, social services, policing, housing and economic development. In addition, the First Nation has also made arrangements with the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to setup seasonal language camps at the mouth of the Ottertail River.

Reserve

The First Nation have reserved themselves four Indian Reserves: 1909.7 ha Rainy Lake 26A, which serves as their main Indian Reserve, 1068.4 ha Rainy Lake 26B, 1107.6 ha Rainy Lake 26C and 14 ha Agency 1, which is shared with three other First Nations.

Official address

Nicickousemenecaning First Nation
PO Box 68
Fort Frances, ON P9A 3M5
:Phone: [phone]
:Fax: [phone]
[http://www.nigigoonsiminikaaning.ca/home.php Website]

References

* [http://pse2-esd2.ainc-inac.gc.ca/fnprofiles/FNProfiles_DETAILS.asp?BAND_NUMBER=129 INAC profile]