Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation

Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation, formerly known as the Nicickousemenecaning First Nation and as the Red Gut First Nation, is a Saulteaux First Nation band government who inhabit 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 three Councillors forming their council. Chief Will Wendigo, and Councillors Don Jones, Clayton Wendigo and Sue Boshey are serving their two-year term that began on in June 2014

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.

History

Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) is an Aboriginal-owned and controlled post-secondary institution co-founded by the ten bands in the Rainy Lake Tribal area in 1985. The ten bands are: Big Grassy, Big Island, Couchiching, Lac La Croix, Naicatchewenin, Nicickousemenecaning, Ojibways of Onigaming, Rainy River, Seine River and Mitaanjigaming. Each of the ten bands appointed one member to a Board of Directors of Seven Generations Education Institute, which functions with the leadership of the Executive Director.

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, housing and economic development. In addition, the First Nation has also made arrangements with the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis to set up seasonal language camps at the mouth of the Ottertail River.

Reserves

The First Nation have reserved themselves four Indian Reserves:

• 1,909.7 hectares (4,719 acres) Rainy Lake 26A, which serves as their main reserve,
• 1,068.4 hectares (2,640 acres) Rainy Lake 26B,
• 1,107.6 hectares (2,737 acres) Rainy Lake 26C and
• 14 hectares (35 acres) Agency 1, which is shared with three other First Nations.

References

• INAC profile
• Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation

The Numbered Treaties: Treaty Three
Numbered Treaties	Treaty 1 Treaty 2 Treaty 3 Treaty 4 Treaty 5 Treaty 6 Treaty 7 Treaty 8 Treaty 9 Treaty 10 Treaty 11
Anishinabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council	Animakee Wa Zhing 37 (Northwest Angle 37) Big Grassy Naongashiing (Big Island) Northwest Angle 33 Onigaming Wauzhushk Onigum
Bimose Tribal Council	Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) Eagle Lake Iskatewizaagegan (Shoal Lake) 39 Lac des Mille Lacs Naotkamegwanning (Whitefish Bay) Obashkaandagaang Bay Ochiichagwe'Babigo'Ining Shoal Lake 40 Wabaseemoong (Whitedog) Wabauskang Wabigoon Lake
Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services	Couchiching Lac La Croix Mitaanjigamiing Naicatchewenin Nigigoonsiminikaaning Rainy River Seine River
Other Treaty 3 Nations	Buffalo Point Lac Seul Saugeen

Rainy River District, Ontario
Towns	Fort Frances Rainy River
Townships	Alberton Atikokan Chapple Dawson Emo La Vallee Lake of the Woods Morley
First Nations	Animakee Wa Zhing 37 Big Grassy Couchiching Lac La Croix Mitaanjigamiing Naicatchewenin Naongashiing Nigigoonsiminikaaning Onigaming Rainy River Seine River
Indian reserves	Agency 1 Assabaska Big Grassy River 35G Big Island 31D Big Island 31E Big Island 31F Big Island 37 Big Island Mainland 93 Couchiching 16A Lake of the Woods 31H Lake of the Woods 34 Long Sault 12 Manitou Rapids 11 Naongashing 31A Neguaguon Lake 25D Rainy Lake 17A Rainy Lake 17B Rainy Lake 18C Rainy Lake 26A Rainy Lake 26B Rainy Lake 26C Sabaskong Bay 32C Sabaskong Bay 35C (part) Sabaskong Bay 35F (part) Sabaskong Bay 35H Saug-a-Gaw-Sing 1 Seine River 23A Seine River 23B Sturgeon Falls 23
Unorganized areas	Unorganized Rainy River
See also Communities in Rainy River District Census divisions of Ontario

Coordinates: 48°44′17″N 92°55′19″W / 48.73806°N 92.92194°W / 48.73806; -92.92194