Aamjiwnaang First Nation

The Aamjiwnaang First Nation (formerly known as Chippewas of Sarnia First Nation) is an Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) First Nations Band located on reserve land by the St. Clair River, three miles south of the southern tip of Lake Huron. The reserve is located across from the United States border from Port Huron, Michigan, and is a result of treaties that were negotiated with the Crown in the 1820s. There are approximately 2,000 band members with about 850 living on the reserve. Their heritage language is Ojibwe.

Aamjiwnaang
Indian Reserve
Sarnia Indian Reserve No.45
Nickname(s): 
The Rapids
Aamjiwnaang
Coordinates: 42°55.5′N 82°24′W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
CountyLambton
Indian ReserveSarnia 45
Government
 • TypeCouncil
 • ChiefChristopher Plain
 • Federal ridingSarnia—Lambton
 • Prov. ridingSarnia—Lambton
Area
 • Land12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total639
 • Density50.8/km2 (132/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code
N7T
Area code(s)519 and 226
Websitewww.aamjiwnaang.ca

The word Aamjiwnaang (am-JIN-nun) means "meeting place by the rapid water", which describes the surrounding communities.

Environmental issues
Main article: Environmental impact of the chemical industry in Sarnia

The Aamjiwnaang community has expressed concern regarding its proximity to petrochemical, polymer, and chemical plants in the area, as birth rates of their people have been documented by the American journal Environmental Health Perspectives as deviating from the normal ratio of close to 50% boys, 50% girls.[2] The ratio as found between 1999 and 2003 by the journal was roughly 33% boys, and 67% girls.[3] The First Nation is concerned that this abnormal trend is due to adverse effects of maternal and fetal exposure to the effluent and emissions of the nearby chemical plants. This is the first community in the world to have a birth rate of two girls to every boy.

Demographics
Canada census – Sarnia 45 community profile
2016 2011 2006
Population: 639 (-0.2% from 2011) 640 (-9.3% from 2006) 706 (1.6% from 2001)
Land area: 12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi) 12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi) 12.57 km2 (4.85 sq mi)
Population density: 50.8/km2 (132/sq mi) 50.9/km2 (132/sq mi) 56.2/km2 (146/sq mi)
Median age: 38.0 (M: 36.7, F: 39.3) 32.8 (M: 30.9, F: 36.1)
Total private dwellings: 255 254 253
Median household income:
References: 2016[4] 2011[5] 2006[6] earlier[7]
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1991494—    
1996621+25.7%
2001695+11.9%
2006706+1.6%
2011640−9.3%
2016639−0.2%
[8][1]

Prominent Members
  • Christopher Plain - Current Chief [9]
  • June Simon - Band Manager [10]
  • Carolyn Nahmabin - Membership [11]
  • Fred Plain - Former President of the Union of Ontario Indians
  • David D. Plain - Author of The Plains of Aamjiwnaang:Our History [12]

See also

References
  1. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Sarnia 45, Indian reserve (Census subdivision), Ontario and Lambton, County (Census division), Ontario". Canada 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  2. C. A. Mackenzie; A. Lockridge & M. Keith (2005). "Declining Sex Ratio in a First Nation Community". Environmental Health Perspectives. 113 (10): 1295–8. doi:10.1289/ehp.8479. PMC 1281269. PMID 16203237.
  3. "Aamjiwnaang First Nations concerned about chemical exposure". CBC News. 2005-09-02. Archived from the original on 2010-05-02. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  4. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  5. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
  6. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. March 30, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  7. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  8. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  9. Plain, Chris. "Current Chief" (PDF). Directory Administration. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  10. Simon, June. "Band Manager" (PDF). Directory Administration. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  11. Nahmabin, Carolyn. "Membership" (PDF). Directory Administration. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  12. Plain, David D. (August 9, 2007). The Plains of Aamjiwnaang: Our History. Victoria, British Columbia. ISBN 978-1425122737. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
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