frame, Map of York Region showing Fox, Snake, and Georgina islands. Georgina Island, Lake Simcoe, Ontario The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation ( oj, Waaseyaagmiing Anishinaabek) are an

Ojibwa The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...

(or

Anishinaabe The Anishinaabeg (adjectival: Anishinaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples present in the Great Lakes region of Canada and the United States. They include the Ojibwe (including Saulteaux and Oji-Cree), Odawa, Potawa ...

g) people located on Georgina Island in

Lake Simcoe Lake Simcoe is a lake in southern Ontario, Canada, the fourth-largest lake wholly in the province, after Lake Nipigon, Lac Seul, and Lake Nipissing. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century the lake was called ''Ouentironk' ...

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. In 2008, of the First Nation's registered population of 666 people, 181 lived on, and 485 lived outside, their

reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US ...

. As of 2020, the band has a total population of 923 members. They are one of a handful of First Nations in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area.

Geography

The First Nation has three reserves: the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Indian Reserve, the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation 33A Indian Reserve and the shared

Chippewa Island Chippewa Island is a First Nations reserve consisting of two islands in Twelve Mile Bay of Georgian Bay. The islands are adjacent to the Moose Deer Point First Nation. The islands are shared between the Beausoleil First Nation, the Chippewas of ...

Indian Reserve. The main reserve consists of a small parcel of land near

Virginia Beach Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous ci ...

and three islands on the southern shores of

: * Georgina Island * Snake Island * Fox Island The Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation 33A reserve is a parcel of land separated from the mainland portion of the Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation reserve by Black River Road and the private properties along it. The Chippewa Island reserve is a reserve consisting of two islands near the

Moose Deer Point First Nation Moose Deer Point First Nation is a Potawatomi First Nation in the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario. It has a reserve called Moose Point 79. The reserve is located along Twelve Mile Bay. The First nation is a member of the Anishinabek ...

in Twelve Mile Bay of

Georgian Bay Georgian Bay (french: Baie Georgienne) is a large bay of Lake Huron, in the Laurentia bioregion. It is located entirely within the borders of Ontario, Canada. The main body of the bay lies east of the Bruce Peninsula and Manitoulin Island. T ...

. It is shared with the

Chippewas of Rama First Nation Chippewas of Rama First Nation, also known as Chippewas of Mnjikaning and Chippewas of Rama Mnjikaning First Nation ( oj, Mnjikaning Anishinaabek, also alternatively Rama Anishinaabek), is an Anishinaabe ( Ojibway) First Nation located in the pr ...

and the

Beausoleil First Nation Beausoleil First Nation ( oj, G'Chimnissing) is an Ojibwe First Nation band government located in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. The main settlement of the Beausoleil First Nation is on Christian Island, Ontario, Canada in southern Georgian Bay. ...

Government

The reserve government consists of a five-member band council with four councillors and a Chief. Fire and emergencies services consists of a single fire truck and ambulance. The department is staffed by two full time firefighters (one is the chief) and volunteer responders. Policing is provided by Georgina Island Police Service with assistance from the

Ontario Provincial Police The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is the provincial police service of Ontario, Canada. Under its provincial mandate, the OPP patrols provincial highways and waterways, protects provincial government buildings and officials, patrols unincorp ...

. The force has three officers, and replaced the community officers from the

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; french: Gendarmerie royale du Canada; french: GRC, label=none), commonly known in English as the Mounties (and colloquially in French as ) is the federal and national police service of Canada. As poli ...

(primarily from Orillia Detachment and secondary from Toronto) in 1978. GIPS are part of the First Nations Police Service.

Transportation

Access to Georgina Island is by boat to and from the mainland. A marina is located on the southern tip of the island for the ferry and smaller vessels. Built in 1999, the ferry Aazhaawe can carry 18 cars and 50 passengers. Ferry service is seasonal and not provided when

is frozen over. Fan boats provide access to Georgina (Fox and Snake) during the winter. Georgina Water Taxi's Ahneen provides alternate travel to Georgina Island. There are a few paved roads on Georgina Island (nine in total) with residents using personal vehicles. There are only unpaved roads on Snake Island and no roads on Fox Island. Primary means of transport to Fox and Snake Islands is by vessels docking on private docks around the islands. Roads are maintained by the band. There is no airport or heliport on any of the islands.

Economy

The main employers on the reserve beyond the band are geared to tourism on the island. The island has a driving range, bed and breakfast and marina facilities.

Education

Primary education (from kindergarten to Grade 6) is found at a single school, Waabgon Gamig, on Georgina Island.

York Region District School Board The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) is the English-language public school board for the Regional Municipality of York in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is the province's third-largest school board after Toronto' ...

(YRDSB) provides staffing and assistance.Georgina Island
Students from Grades 6 to 12 are required to attend schools on the mainland with YRDSB.

Health

Basic health services are provided at the Georgina Island Health Building by local staff and medical staff visiting from York Region.

References

External links

Website of the First NationAboriginal Canada Portal profile of the First NationChippewas of Georgina Island First Nation Land Management Code
{{Authority control First Nations governments in Ontario Ojibwe governments Ojibwe reserves in Ontario Lake Simcoe