Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining First Nation

Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining Ojibway Nation, formerly but still commonly known as the Dalles First Nation, is an Ojibwa or Ontario Saulteaux First Nation located in Kenora District, Ontario near Sioux Narrows of Lake of the Woods.

Total registered population in February, 2008, was 334, of which the on-reserve population was 127. Though a signatory to Treaty 3, the First Nation is independent and is not affiliated with any Regional Chiefs' Council or Tribal Political Organizations.

Reserves

The First Nation have reserved for themselves two reserves:
* 3257 ha The Dalles Indian Reserve 38C, which serves as their main Reserve, with the community of Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining, Ontario adjacent to it.
* 379 ha Agency Indian Reserve 30, which is shared with 12 other First Nations.

Grievances

The First Nation has recently settled two grievances against Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation. The grievance against Hydro One was started because the company arbitrarily cut down trees, and misappropriated land without making any effort to consult the First Nation to install huge steel electricity pylons across the reserve. Hydro One acknowledged liability (without an apology) by settling the claim for an undisclosed amount.

The grievance against Ontario Power Generation was a far bigger issue. Many years ago, again without notice or an effort to consult with the First Nation, what used to be called Ontario Hydro arbitrarily flooded a huge swathe of land on the reserve by building Norman and Whitedog Dams to provide electricity for sale by Ontario Hydro.

The detrimental affects of the flooding and use of explosives to blast a water channel encompass a huge loss of culture for the area's First Nation people, including but not limited to the loss of cultural activities such as hunting, and rice harvesting. A rock sacred to the community was also completely destroyed by explosives to clear way for the water channel.

Ontario Power Generation acknowledged liability by settling for an undisclosed amount. Also, unlike Hydro One, [http://www.intertribaltimes.ca/native-and-aboriginal-news/ontario-power-generation-apologizes-to-dalles-first-nation/ Ontario Power Generation officially apologised for the harm to the community] during a visit to the community by Jake Epp, Chairman of the Board.

Governance

Though the Custom Electoral System, Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining elects a council for a two-year term consisting of chief and four councillors. The current chief is Lorraine Cobiness. The four Councillors are Tania Cameron (currently the NDP candidate for the Kenora-Rainy River Federal Riding) , John Henry, Terry Greene and Ted Perrault.

Contact information

Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining Ojibway Nation
Rural Route 1, Dalles Road
Kenora, Ontario P9N 3W7
:Telephone: [phone]
:Fax: [phone]

External links

* [http://sdiprod2.inac.gc.ca/fnprofiles/FNProfiles_DETAILS.asp?BAND_NUMBER=147 INAC profile]