Windigo First Nations Council is a non-political Chiefs Council in northwestern

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, serving its seven member-

First Nation Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

s. The council was organized in 1983. The organization is directed by the Chiefs of the member First Nations who form the Board of Directors. Like many of the regional tribal councils, Windigo First Nations Council is a member of the

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 orga ...

Departments

* Economic Development * Education * Finance * Musslewhite * Health * Windigo Community Development Corporation * Policy * Technical

History

In August, 1977, Windigo Lake Transportation Company was established by Bearskin Lake First Nation,

Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation The Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation ( ojs, ᐗᒐᐡᑾᓂᒥᐠ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Northern Ontario. They reside on the Muskrat Dam Lake reserve, located on Muskrat Dam Lake in the Kenora District. ...

, North Caribou Lake First Nation and

Sachigo Lake First Nation Sachigo Lake First Nation ( ojs, ᓴᒋᑯ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on Sachigo Lake, part of the Sachigo River system and Hud ...

to build winter roads to benefit the four First Nations. In 1979, the scope of the company expanded in its range of projects undertaken and services provided to the communities and to reflect this change, the company became the Windigo Project Development Area. From these venture, in 1983, the Windigo Tribal Council was established. Shortly afterwards, Slate Falls, Cat Lake and

Mishkeegogamang First Nation Mishkeegogamang First Nation is an Ojibway band government (First Nation) in the Canadian province of Ontario. Until 1993, the band was called the Osnaburgh First Nation, with various settlements at times being called New Osnaburgh, Osnaburgh Hous ...

s joined the Council.

Ojibway Nation of Saugeen First Nation The Ojibway Nation of Saugeen is an Ojibwa First Nation in the Canadian province of Ontario. The Nation is located in the Thunder Bay District, approximately 20 kilometres northwest of Savant Lake. In December, 2007, its total registered pop ...

joined in 1985. In 1988, Muskrat Dam left the Council. In 1993, Mishkeegogamang left the Council. In December 1994, Koocheching First Nation was recognized as an associate member of the Council — associate members received limited services delivery and participation in the Council. In 1995, Saugeen withdrew from membership in all political organizations, including Windigo First Nations Council. In 2000, Whitewater Lake First Nation joined the Council.

Member First Nations

Current members * Bearskin Lake First Nation^‡ *

Cat Lake First Nation Cat Lake First Nation ( oj, Bizhiw-zaaga'igan, ᐱᔕᐤ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ) is an Ojibway First Nation reserve approximately 180 kilometres northwest of Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on the central north shore of Cat L ...

* Koocheching First Nation * North Caribou Lake First Nation^‡ *

^‡ *

Slate Falls First Nation Slate Falls First Nation ( oj, Shakopaatikoong) is an Ojibwe First Nation band government in Ontario. It has a settlement at Slate Falls in Kenora District Kenora District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The ...

* Whitewater First Nation Former members *

^‡ *

^‡ founding First Nations {{coord, 50, 5, 58, N, 91, 54, 2, W, region:CA, display=title First Nations governments in Ontario Oji-Cree Ojibwe in Canada