Atikameksheng Anishnawbek

Atikameksheng Anishnawbek
Type	First Nation government

Atikameksheng Anishnawbek is a First Nation community with a comprehensive economic plan.

In Anishinabek News

• October 2013: This community is the home of Ken Wabegijig's mother. The community lands contain a cranberry bog where families historically harvested berries to sell in burlap bags.
• March 2014: The community sent representatives to the First Nations Northern Housing Conference in 2014 to study environmental policies and solar energy. The First Nation has utilized the First Nation Market Housing Fund to benefit its local housing initiatives.
• March 2015: The community's hockey association sent condolences to the family of Ember Wynne in March 2015. The First Nation set up a roadside memorial in Magnetawan First Nation for the victims of a fatal collision.
• May 2015: The community indicated its support for the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement through a formal council resolution.
• August 2015: The community ratified its constitution on July 24, 2015. It spent ten years developing the document through community consultations and input from the Gimaa, Council, and a constitution committee. The community is the fourth within the Anishinabek Nation to ratify its own constitution.
• November 2015: The community is one of the five that have completed the ratification of their community constitutions as of November 2015.
• April 2016: Members of this community traveled to attend the fisheries symposium in March 2016.
• June 2016: The community was among those identified for participation in the Anishinabek Education System information sessions.
• September 2016: The 18th Annual Anishinabek Evening of Excellence was held on the territory of this community in 2016. Three community members, including Edna Carolyn Nootchtai, Cheryl Miller Martin, and Arthur Petahtegoose, received lifetime achievement awards in 2016.
• September 2016: Members of this community were encouraged to attend an information session regarding a new education agreement in September 2016.
• August 2017: The community approved the Anishinabek Nation Education Agreement with 83 percent support in July 2017.
• October 2018: An Elder from this community provided historical context and teachings during the Robinson Huron Treaty trial panel.
• February 2019: Valerie Richer served as the Gimaa Kwe of this community as of February 2019.
• June 2019: The community is the home of youth hockey player Liam-Juelz Nootchtai.
• September 2019: The community hosted a signing ceremony for a renewed Education Service Agreement on August 30, 2019. The First Nation is one of ten signatories to the educational agreement with the Rainbow District School Board.
• January 2020: The community was included as one of the six Anishinabek member First Nations surveyed for the national food study.
• January 2020: The independent accounting firm of Helen Bobiwash is located within this community. Helen Bobiwash provides professional services to Indigenous organizations from her base in this First Nation.
• March 2020: Laurentian University is located on the traditional lands of this First Nation.
• April 2020: The community ratified a custom election code on January 30, 2020, to move away from Indian Act election rules. Leadership is seeking federal approval for the code to allow citizens to vote online during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 2020, an election for the community is scheduled for June 27, 2020, with a nomination meeting set for April 23.
• June 2020: Laurentian University is situated on the traditional lands of this community.
• July 2020: On July 16, 2020, the community announced funding for a new five-kilometre by-pass road to improve resident access and safety. The First Nation is contributing over $327,490 toward the construction of the new road project. The project aligns with the community's Capital Plan and Comprehensive Community Plan to foster residential and economic growth.
• September 2020: The community held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 15, 2020, for a new housing project consisting of six units. The project utilizes local materials and labour to build two semi-detached homes and two three-bedroom bungalows. The community is situated at the east end of Whitefish Lake and west of Stuart Lake.
• February 2021: This community is one of the seven member nations represented by the North Shore Tribal Council.
• April 2021: The SNO lab website recognizes the traditional territory of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. The relationship with the First Nation is expected to be harmed by the discontinuation of the Indigenous studies program.
• April 2021: The community used federal funding to increase health personnel, establish a food bank, and create a pandemic response plan. Leadership installed a border checkpoint to control traffic and facilitate contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The First Nation provided technology to Elders to help them stay informed and participate in virtual community events.
• April 2021: The community of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek held its first traditional pow wow in July 1989. The 1989 pow wow at Atikameksheng Anishnawbek featured a dance arena and an arbour constructed from cedar boughs.
• March 2022: The community is the site of Manidoo Bineshii Dreams, an Indigenous-led garden and arts collective. Local Elders and community members receive traditional tobacco grown on the territory by Manidoo Bineshiihn.
• March 2022: The community's defense of its territory from the mid-1800s to 1930 is examined by Peter Krats in a 2021 book.
• March 2022: The community is one of the seven nations represented by the North Shore Tribal Council involved in the new safety initiative.
• June 2022: Tia Nootchtai represented this First Nation in the 2022 Miss North Ontario pageant.
• April 2023: The community is located approximately 19 kilometres west of Sudbury and has a population of 1,450 people as of April 2023. In 2023, the nation entered into a business partnership called Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin to pursue economic sovereignty. The nation has a claim in the Ontario Superior Court regarding the alienation of approximately 2,670 square kilometres of land promised under the Robinson Huron Treaty.
• April 2023: The community issued a formal response opposing Bill 71, Building More Mines Act, 2023 due to its impact on traditional territories. As of April 2023, five mines operate on the community's asserted reservation lands and four mines operate within its traditional territory. The First Nation argued that proposed legislative changes would sacrifice the environment and inherent treaty rights for the benefit of industry. The community called for a new consultation framework to review the Mining Act (Ontario) alongside other First Nations.
• July 2023: The community is represented by Tia Nootchtai, who holds the title of Miss Ontario Regional Canada 2023.
• September 2023: The community is the home First Nation of filmmaker Darlene Naponse. It is located in Ontario near the city of Sudbury.
• September 2023: The community is part of a group of eight nations collaborating on energy projects in the Lake Huron Region. The proposed transmission lines will cross the traditional territory of the community.
• October 2023: The community is the home of Nigel Debassige, who graduated as valedictorian from a water treatment training program in 2023.
• January 2024: The community is one of the partners receiving integrated healthcare services through the Maamwesying Ontario Health Team.
• April 2024: A hockey team representing this community won a division title at the 2024 Little Native Hockey League tournament. Kyla Fleming played for this community's squad during the provincial Indigenous tournament.
• July 2024: The community is the home of hockey coach Blake Naponse. Youth from the community compete in the Little Native Hockey League as the Atikameksheng Stingers.
• February 2025: The ancestral hunting grounds of this community encompass the land where Cambrian College resides. The community is acknowledged by student leaders during cultural programming at the college.
• March 2025: Community members Carmen Wabegijig and Dylan Wabegijig shared their experiences living with Type 1 diabetes. The family emphasized the importance of education for newly-diagnosed patients.
• May 2025: The community is a member of the North Shore Tribal Council.
• June 2025: The community is served by outreach from information booths at the Serpent River First Nation health fair.
• August 2025: It is the home community of artists Kylie Petahtegoose and Nung-Guanze.
• September 2025: Community member Shannon Gonawabi won first place in the moose call competition at the Anishinabek Nation Mooz Maawanjiding.
• October 2025: The community has previously hosted the annual Robinson Huron Treaty gatherings.
• November 2025: The community's leader, Craig Nootchtai, advocated for reviewing the legal fees associated with the treaty settlement.
• November 2025: Atikameksheng Anishnawbek joined a legal challenge against the $510 million payout to lawyers representing the Robinson Huron Treaty Litigation Fund. The nation stated that the court ruling returned $487 million to the fund, ensuring resources remain available for community needs like housing and education. The community emphasized that the 2011 agreement with the legal team explicitly allowed for judicial review under both Anishinaabe and Canadian principles.
• February 2026: The community celebrated the opening of the Waasakwa Children's Centre in February 2026. Establishing a child care centre in the community was a project nearly 40 years in the making.
• September 2026: This is the home community of Lisa Groulx, who served as the valedictorian for the 2026 nursing class at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute.
• October 2026: The community established Giyak Mishkawzid Shkagmikwe to advance its Community Comprehensive Plan and Economic Development Strategic Plan. Its economic goals were highlighted during a panel discussion at the Forward Summit in 2026.