Bearskin Lake
Indian reserve
Bearskin Lake Indian Reserve
Aerial view of Bearskin Lake First Nation on Michikan Lake
Aerial view of Bearskin Lake First Nation on Michikan Lake
Bearskin Lake is located in Ontario
Bearskin Lake
Bearskin Lake
Coordinates: 53°55′29″N 90°58′10″W / 53.92472°N 90.96944°W / 53.92472; -90.96944[1]
Country Canada
Province Ontario
DistrictKenora
First NationBearskin Lake
Area
[2]
 • Land125.78 km2 (48.56 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
230 m (750 ft)
Population
 (2006)[2]
 • Total459

Bearskin Lake First Nation (Severn Ojibwa: ᒥᒋᑲᐣ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ)[4] is an Oji-Cree First Nation reserve in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada, located 425 kilometres (264 mi) north of Sioux Lookout. Bearskin First Nation's total registered population as of March 2014 was 900, of which their on-reserve population was 461.

Three settlements make up the Bearskin Lake First Nation. Originally located on Bearskin Lake 50 kilometres (31 mi) to the southwest, their main community moved to its present site on Michikan Lake ("Fish Trap Lake") in the 1930s and is accessible only by air from Bearskin Lake Airport or winter road. The main village is situated on the west shore of the lake[1] and all three settlements are linked to one another by all weather gravel roads. The First Nation still retains the 12,626.3-hectare (31,200-acre) Bearskin Lake Indian Reserve[5] in which all three lie. The reserve also contains a segment of the Severn River, into which Michikan Lake flows, and of Severn Lake.

Prior to achieving full Band and reserve status in 1975, Bearskin was a satellite community of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (Big Trout Lake First Nation), 72 kilometres (45 mi) to the east. Today, Bearskin Lake First Nation is a member of the Windigo First Nations Council, a regional tribal council that is a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

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

Governance

Bearskin First Nation is governed by Chief Rosemary McKay and her Deputy Chief Leonard "Wayne" Brown; their 3-year term began on April 1, 2014. In addition, the First Nation's Council is four councillors: Stuart Kamenawatamin, Gary Kamenawatamin, George Kamenawatamin, and Roderick Kamenawatamin.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bearskin Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2016-03-10. (settlement)
  2. 1 2 "Bearskin Lake census profile". 2011 Census of Population. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2015-05-20. The census profile only gives figure for 2006.
  3. ↑ Taken from Google Earth at geographic coordinates. Accessed 2016-03-10.
  4. ↑ Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation - Annual Report 2013-2014, https://nanlegal.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/nalsc-annual-report-2013-14.pdf
  5. ↑ "Bearskin Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2016-03-10. (reserve)
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