Anishnabek Nation

The Anishnabek Nation, also known as the Union of Ontario Indians, is a First Nations political organization representing 40 member First Nations in the province of Ontario, Canada.[1] The organization's roots predate European contact in the 16th century, in the Council of Three Fires. The Union of Ontario Indians was incorporated in 1949 to serve as a political advocate and secretariat for the Anishinabek First Nations, the indigenous peoples speaking Anishinaabe languages in Ontario.[2] In 2017, the Council changed its identification using the name "Union of Ontario Indians" only for legally-binding agreements but for all other purposes referred to themselves as Anishinabek Nation.[2] The head office for the Union of Ontario Indians is located at Nipissing First Nation near North Bay, Ontario.

The Anishnabek Nation is guided by a Leadership Council, consisting of a Grand Council Chief, a Deputy Grand Council Chief and grand chief, and council members and elders representing four geographic regions: Southeast, Southwest, Lake Huron and Northern Superior. In 2018, an organizational restructuring introduced four regional deputy grand council chiefs.[3][4] In 2007 the organization appointed an Anishinabek Women's Water Commission to advise on water issues and management of the Great Lakes.[5][6]

In the early 21st century, there are about 60,000 citizens of the Anishinabek Nation member communities, accounting for about one-third of the total First Nations population in the province of Ontario.