Nishnawbe Aski Nation

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓈᐯ ᐊᔅᑭ ᐃᔥᑯᓂᑲᓇᓐ ᐅᑭᒫᐎᓐ (Anishinaabe-aski Ishkoniganan Ogimaawin), unpointed: ᐊᓂᔑᓇᐯ ᐊᔅᑭ ᐃᔥᑯᓂᐊᓇᓐ ᐅᑭᒪᐎᓐ; NAN for short) is a political organization representing 49 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of Northern Ontario, Canada. Re-organized to its present form in 1981, NAN's original objective was "to represent the social and economic aspirations of our people at all levels of government in Canada and Ontario until such time as real effective action is taken to remedy our problems."[1]

Nishnawbe Aski Nation
ᓂᔑᓈᐯ ᐊᔅᑭ ᐅᑭᐎᓐ
NAN Logo
AbbreviationNAN
FormationNishnawbe Aski Nation (known as Grand Council Treaty No. 9 until 1983) was established in 1973.
HeadquartersThunder Bay, Ontario
Region served
Treaty 9, Northern Ontario
Official language
English, Cree, Ojibwe, Oji-cree
Grand Chief
Alvin Fiddler
Websitenan.on.ca

Its member-First Nations are Ojibwa, Oji-Cree and Cree, and thus the languages within NAN include Ojibwe, Oji-cree and Cree. NAN's administrative offices are located in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The current Grand Chief is Alvin Fiddler of Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation.

History

Founded as Grand Council of Treaty 9 in February, 1973, after a large anticipated deficit resulting from the anti-Reed Campaign and the Hart Commission of 1978, members of the Grand Council Treaty 9 re-organized in 1981 to become the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. After the first executive council of NAN was elected in March 1984, Grand Council Treaty No. 9 ceased to exist.

Current Leadership

Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler - Portfolio - Administration, Infrastructure and Housing, Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Governance[2]

Deputy Grand Chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum - Portfolio - Social Services, Women and Youth, Justice, Community Wellness Initiatives [3]

Deputy Grand Chief Derek Fox - Portfolio - Health Policy and Advocacy, Environment, Energy, Education, Languages [4]

Deputy Grand Chief Jason Smallboy - Portfolio - Economic Development, Sports and Recreation, Forestry [5]

Demographics and Geography

Nishnawbe Aski Nation represents 49 First Nation communities within northern Ontario. The total land-mass under James Bay Treaty No. 9 and Ontario’s portion of Treaty No. 5, which is covered by Nishnawbe Aski Nation, covering 2/3 of the province of Ontario. The land area is around 210,000 square miles, 544,000 square km, which is around the same size as Yemen.[6]

The population of membership (on and off reserve) estimated around 45,000 people.[7]

Departments
  • Administration
  • Centennial Commemoration
  • Communications and Media
  • Crisis and Suicide Prevention
  • Education
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Executive Council
  • Fiscal Relations
  • Governance Secretariat
  • Harvesting Unit
  • Health
  • Land Rights and Treaty
  • Lands and Resources
  • Residential School Project
  • Social Services
  • Treaty Discussion Forum
  • Treaty Education Process
  • Women's Council
  • Youth

Programs
  • Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative
  • Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Strategy
  • AIDS and Healthy
  • Chiropody Program
  • Decade for Youth and Development
  • Family Violence Project
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder/Child Nutrition Program
  • Healthy Babies / Healthy Children Program
  • NAN Crisis Team Funding and Training
  • Peer Helping Program
  • Recreation
  • Residential School Project

Affiliated First Nations

The 49 communities are grouped by Tribal Council according to region. They are Windigo First Nations Council, Wabun Tribal Council, Shibogama First Nations Council, Mushkegowuk Council, Matawa First Nations, Keewaytinook Okimakanak, and Independent First Nations Alliance. Six of the 49 communities are not affiliated with a specific Tribal Council.[8]

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2007-10-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/grand-chief-alvin-fiddler-820.asp
  3. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/deputy-grand-chief-anna-betty-achneepineskum--819.asp
  4. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/deputy-grand-chief-derek-fox-125.asp
  5. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/deputy-grand-chief-jason-smallboy-821.asp
  6. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/about-us-3.asp
  7. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/about-us-3.asp
  8. http://www.nan.on.ca/article/about-us-3.asp
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