History
The Batchewana First Nation is an Ojibway First Nation in northern Ontario with traditional territory along the eastern shore of Lake Superior from Batchawana Bay to Whitefish Island.
Today Batchewana First Nation includes the four reserve communities of Goulais Bay, Obadjiwan, Rankin, and Whitefish Island, as well as multiple uninhabited areas, with a total population of approximately 3,400 people.
The people of the Batchewana First Nation have lived from time immemorial at Bawahting, in and near what is now commonly known as Sault Ste. Marie. Bawahting was a meeting place of many tribal nations for trading, hunting, fishing of abundant whitefish, harvesting of other natural resources, and ceremonies.
Relations with France and Great Britain
In 1671, lands were claimed for the King of France at Sainte Marie du Sault. In 1759, the British defeated the French. Relations with European Nations were based on the Two Row Wampum of mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and nationhood.
War of 1812
The 1812-1814 War Alliance Agreement was made between the Crown and the Ojibway. Chief Shingwaukonse lead 700 Ojibway warriors from the Great Lakes into the War of 1812. Alliance promises included recognition of the rights of Ojibway nations to their territories, and assurances of housing, schools and prosperity. Wabechechake, father of Nebenaigoching, was killed in 1813 at the battle of Fort George.
Agreements and Treaties
Sovereignty and nationhood were expressed in nation-to-nation agreements or treaties. These included wampum belt agreements, treaties in the United States, the 1850 Robinson Huron Treaty and the 1859 Pennefather treaty. In 1849, Batchewana’s Chief Nebenaigoching led a party of warriors to halt the operations of the Quebec Mining Company on Batchewana land at Mica Bay. The “Mica Bay Incident” precipitated the signing of the Robinson Huron Treaty in the following year.
Today, treaty texts are largely misaligned with Batchewana’s view of the original intent of the nation-to-nation agreements.
