Neskantaga
First Nation
~ an isolated Community located about 500km north of Thunder Bay Ontario ~
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
Neskantaga First Nation is an Ojibwe community located 436 kilometers northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and 180 kilometers northeast of Pickle Lake, Ontario. Travel to and from the community is possible by way of air travel, winter road, and for the more adventurous, boat and paddle. The population of Neskantaga First Nation is about 400 people of whom 300 people live on the reserve.
Once part of a major trade route, the Attawapiskat and Otoskwin rivers surrounding Neskantaga merge into a delta with significant brackish tidal marshes. History is rich in this area, with ancient Anishnawbe communities dating back to at least 3000 BC, and fur-trading sites from the early 1800s.
The Neskantaga First Nation community is defined by rich culture and tradition. Closely tied to the land, many members participate in traditional harvesting of wildlife and fish, plants, bark, trees, berries and water from the cool, fresh springs located throughout the surrounding areas.
The community is full of industrious people creating art, crafts and other goods. Continuing the practice of sharing oral history, many to this day share legends, and stories (such as the creation story which binds members with a shared history and purpose). Traditional healing and ceremony are actively and passively practiced through an intrinsic relationship with, and responsibility to, the land.
