Statutory Holidays and Office Closures

We are hosting Canada’s first National Aboriginal VIRTUAL Recruitment Fair onJanuary 26-27, 2012. All Aboriginal people, regardless of their education level, will have an opportunity to utilize this online fair to meet with inclusive employers from the comfort of their own home, school, community centre or office.  These employers are looking to hire, or speak with, Aboriginal people about pursuing a career path within their organization/school. Your school is welcome to join the list of organizations that have already registered for a virtual booth.

• Job Seeker Online Registration by January 26, 2012
  http://www.aboriginalhr.ca/en/products/Virtual_Recruitment_Fair.
• School Registration by January 19, 2012
  Kory Goulais – e: virtualfair@aboriginalhr.ca - p: 613.237.3315 (ext 237)

Inclusion Works’12 National Aboriginal Recruitment Fair

For the fourth consecutive year we will bring up to 100 top post-secondary grads to our Inclusion Works ’12 National Aboriginal Recruitment Fair for mentorship and job interviews with inclusive employers-of-choice from our Leadership Circle partnership program that want to hire them. This year’s event will take place at The Westin, Edmonton, AB – April 30 – May 3, 2012.

Successful grad applicants will be brought to Edmonton in May, expenses paid, where they will receive mentorship in the areas of networking and interviewing before undergoing job interviews with some of Canada’s leading inclusive employers.  Your school is welcome to join our Leadership Circle group and participate in the recruitment fair.

Click here  to read the entire article.

The Municipality of Wawa, with the support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund and Fednor, constructed the Pavilion and Boardwalk to Sandy Beach, which is  an eco sensitive environment.  Besides providing decorative panels depicting the rich  history of the area, a focal point of the Pavilion is the Michipicoten First Nation story board and medicine wheel.

The information was provided courtesy of Michipicoten First Nation and tells the history of the early settlements and subsequent relocations over several hundred years of Michipicoten First Nation and its ancestors. The celebrations opened with a prayer given in thanks to the Creator by Councillor Linda Peterson in her native Ojibwe language, welcoming speeches by Chief Joe Buckell and Councillor Ron Rody of the Municipality of Wawa, an honor song by Allan Syrette and a closing prayer by Elder Dave Swanson, appointed caretaker of the community Eagle Staff.

DO NOT LOSE OUT ON BENEFITS BY NOT CLAIMING.

As of June 25, 2010 you may submit claims for the new policy year 2010/11. You will have a full year and some to submit new claims.

We get many claims during the first few months of the new policy year, so please be patient, as it can take between 4 and 6 weeks to process on a first come, first served basis.

Please submit any questions and claims to:

Kara Heffell, Ext 212

Sherrie Clement, Ext 233

705-856-1993 or toll free 1-888-303-7723

Where Members rightfully come together and virtuously establish a strong sense of self-esteem, respect for each other and who work together for the well being of all. A First Nation in which the youth have a positive future and the Elders hand over a strong and thriving community to the next generation.

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Dog Lake Survey

The Dog Lake Survey plan was duly recorded in the Canada Lands Surveys Records in May 2011.  Chief and Council  anticipate the development of a policy for the allotment of surveyed lots by spring of 2012 in order to be fair and equitable to its citizens who may be interested in  developing vacation properties on Dog Lake. This reserve will not be funded by Indian Affairs and no programs will be available for assistance to members. If you wish to have your name added to the list of inquiries on Dog Lake, please contact Carol Sanders, Band Manager at 705-856-1993, ext. 213 or toll free 1-800-303-7723, if you have not already done so. THIS INFORMATION IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY.

MFN Privately Owned Lands

MFN owns (lands held in trust by the First Nation of Michipicoten Cultural Association) several parcels of land in the vicinity of IR69/69A reserves on Lake Superior.   There are two parcels of land on each side of Michipicoten Harbour, as well as lands which include the abandoned rail bed acquired some years back and  another parcel of land, approximately 225 acres adjacent to the abandoned rail bed, an area which  closes the gap between a portion of the rail bed and what will be reserve lands (through the Boundary Claim settlement). The First Nation acquired both the surface and mining rights to all parcels of land.

The abandoned CN Rail bed that MFN  is ideal as a future base for the development of arterial access to reserve lands and Michipicoten Harbour; an economic opportunity for future community development and shipping access.  For the past four years MFN has endeavoured to access various sources for funding partners on a project which spans three privately owned properties.  Indian Affairs did initially express an interest in the project through its First Nations Infrastructure Fund but those funds were deferred for a period of three years and as announced recently, will not be available in future for the consideration of  the construction of the road as  this was the  final year of funding (2011-2012) and only upgrading of existing infrastructure will be considered for capital submissions.  MFN continues to pursue other avenues and resources for the development of the alternateaccess road.

Boundary Claim Settlement

Registered members turning 18 years of age you may be entitled to receive benefits through the land claim settlement. Please notify Kara Heffell at 705-856-1993 Ext. 212 or kheffell@michipicoten.com. KEEP YOUR ADDRESS & PHONE NUMBER UP TO DATE.

Boundary Claim lands – As a result of the settlement of the Boundary Claim, Canada agreed that up to 6,335 acres of land be set apart as reserve land for the use and the benefit of the First Nation, which included parcels to the west and east of the reserve and other lands that might be of interest to the First Nation in areas provided in the Boundary Claim negotiations. The implementation process for the return to reserve of the lands to the east and west  began approximately three  years ago. In the meantime, the land is still considered Crown Land during the transition period (see article below).

Boundary Claim Settlement in 2008 January 12, 2008, marked an historic day for Michipicoten First Nation Members who voted on a land claim settlement on their Boundary Claim with Canada and Ontario. Chief Joe Buckell and Council of the day Myrtle Swanson, Denise Churchill, William Swanson Sr., Emile Neyland, Evelyn Stone and Patti Goodfellow passed a resolution authorizing the signing of the Settlement Agreement between all three governments after a successful ratification vote. Of the 499 ballots cast, both mail in and on reserve voting, that went into the ballot box, 484 (97%) were in favour of acceptance, with only 8 (2%) voting no and 7 (1%) spoiled ballots. Over 80% of the voting membership voted on this land claim, the numbers of which are reminiscent of the 2003 Algoma Claims Settlement between Michipicoten First Nation and Canada. In March 2000, Michipicoten First Nation submitted a specific land claim to Canada and Ontario that the Gros Cap Indian Reserve #49 as surveyed in 1899 did not reflect the 1853 agreement regarding the boundary of the reserve. Canad accepted the claim for negotiation in late 2003 and Ontario agreed to enter discussions in early 2005. Michipicoten First Nation is located 24 km south of Wawa, Ontario along beautiful Whitesands beach on the north east shore of Lake Superior. The community is registered under Gros Cap Indian Reserve #49 under the 1850 Robinson Superior Treaty. In addition, Michipicoten First Nation has reserve lands located  Missanabie and Chapleau, Ontario.

After three years the parties negotiated the proposed settlement of the boundary claim which included financial compensation from Canada and about 3,000 acres of provincial Crown land to be added to reserve from Ontario. A written offer was received from Canada in the summer of 2007 for the compensation package with Settlement and Trust Agreements then drafted and the First Nation requested Indian Affairs to
conduct a ratification vote on January 12, 2008. By overwhelming results Members of Michipicoten First Nation voted for acceptance of the negotiated land claim settlement package which, combined with monetary compensation and land value, amounts $58.8 million dollars, which is the 2nd largest specific land claim settlement in Ontario to date.

The Boundary Claim was the final of six claims settled between Michipicoten First Nation and Canada within an unprecedented time frame. Under the Michipicoten Pilot Project, initiated just a little over ten years ago, a cooperative non confrontational approach to land claims settlements was utilized to great success. Had each claim been filed separately under the normal land claim process it would have taken many
decades, if not more than a century, to reach all of these settlements. Chief and Council, the Michipicoten negotiating team and the negotiators for Canada and Ontario were applauded for their efforts in this regard and especially the Michipicoten Members.

The Trust Fund established for this settlement will provide ongoing benefits for Michipicoten Members for over 100 years. Chief Joe Buckell was quoted as saying, “This is a proud moment in the history of our First Nation and for our people, and an example of what can be accomplished through dedication and cooperation. A celebration was held at a Signing Ceremony on Reserve in May 2009 ceremony with Canada and Ontario, our Members and invited guests, dignitaries and the media. Chi Miigwetch”.