Batchewana First Nation

Batchewana First Nation
Type	Organization

Batchewana First Nation is the First Nation of which Jennifer Rankin is a member.

In Anishinabek News

• June 2015: The community provided a tour to symposium attendees to showcase their historical and political land practices. A representative from the nation delivered a description of the community's assertions of sovereignty.
• June 2016: The community was one of the five participating First Nations surveyed for the Human Rights Watch report on water safety.
• February 2017: The community's Rankin Reserve is located next to Sault Ste. Marie. A representative from the First Nation shared housing management strategies at a 2017 conference in Thunder Bay.
• March 2017: Six members of this community participated in a research project about the history and spiritual significance of Agawa Rock. Community members shared stories of fishing, legal cases, and their ongoing relationship with their traditional lands and waters.
• December 2017: Leaders from this community traveled to Mica Bay in the 1840s to halt unauthorized mining operations. The community's leadership expressed regret that Canada rejected a proposal to pause litigation in favor of negotiations.
• February 2018: The nation is part of a regional collaboration focused on ending human trafficking.
• March 2018: The community was represented by the Batchewana Attack at the 2018 Little Native Hockey League. It did not have enough local players to form a full team, requiring players from other communities to join.
• May 2018: The community's leader, Dean Sayers, acted as a spokesperson during the 2018 treaty annuity legal proceedings.
• September 2018: Chief Dean Sayers of this nation advocated for cross-cultural awareness and reconciliation at the 2018 gathering.
• January 2019: In January 2019, the leadership of Batchewana First Nation received notice that the Government of Ontario would appeal a court decision by Justice Hennessey regarding the Robinson Huron Annuities Claim. The community's leadership stated in January 2019 that they expect Canada and Ontario to fulfill obligations through a mediated process regarding resource revenues. As of January 2019, the leadership of Batchewana First Nation is evaluating whether the provincial government prefers litigation over negotiations for reconciliation.
• January 2019: As of January 2019, Dean Sayers served as the Chief of Batchewana First Nation.
• February 2019: The government negotiated a settlement with Batchewana First Nation after Alice Corbiere discovered Highway 17N was built on reserve land without an agreement. Batchewana First Nation used settlement funds to build the Rankin Arena following a recommendation by Alice Corbiere.
• March 2019: The community's Rankin Arena was the site of an exhibition hockey game in early 2019.
• April 2019: The history of this community is related to students by Elders Alice Corbiere and Noel Jones. The community government has collaborated with Elders on projects intended to benefit on-reserve citizens.
• May 2019: Mary Lou Smoke is a member of this community. The community is also referred to as Batchewana Bay First Nation in the context of Mary Lou Smoke's heritage.
• August 2019: Batchewana First Nation co-hosted the Anishinabek Nation Governance Gathering in Sault Ste. Marie.
• August 2019: Denise Bolduc is a member of this First Nation.
• January 2020: The leadership of Batchewana First Nation purchased a resort property to convert into a residential mental health and addictions treatment centre. The community intends to use the facility to address the high rates of opioid abuse affecting its members. The First Nation plans to have the new treatment centre operational by the summer of 2020.
• May 2020: Denny Lambert is a member of Batchewana First Nation.
• December 2020: The community held a groundbreaking ceremony on December 16, 2020, for a new water treatment facility to serve its members. The leadership collaborated with the Ministry of Indigenous Services and private contractors to initiate the construction project. The project will replace the expensive use of bottled water for residents in Goulais and Obadjiwan.
• December 2020: The community served as the filming location for the documentary Inendi in June 2020. It is the home community of filmmaker Sarain Fox and her aunt Mary Bell.
• February 2021: The community is a member of the North Shore Tribal Council, which is involved in the skilled trades promotion project.
• March 2021: In March 2021, the community issued a formal notice to Ontario regarding the failure to uphold Treaty promises and court directives. The leadership announced that members would begin logging in their original territories starting May 1, 2021, under their own inherent laws and permits. The community served a Notice of Assertion to the federal and provincial governments in 2011 regarding their sovereignty over lands in eastern Lake Superior.
• May 2021: The community's leader, Sayers, spoke out against the federal government's legal support for Enbridge.
• August 2021: The community is the home nation of Brendon Nahwegezhic, a graduate of the Indigenous Software Tester Training program.
• September 2021: A petition to the Crown was issued from Batchewana First Nation on September 10, 2021. The community was the location of a news release marking the 171st anniversary of the signing of the Robinson-Huron Treaty.
• October 2021: The community supported a group of four riders travelling across Canada to honour residential school children.
• October 2021: The community is led by Dean Sayers, who advocated for the Crown to uphold treaty responsibilities through negotiation.
• March 2022: The community was the home of Frank Boyer, a musician and former member of the local council. Frank Boyer Sr. served as the Chief of the community for several terms.
• March 2022: The community is one of seven First Nations eligible for the new emergency alert system launched by Niigaanin Services.
• April 2022: The community's leadership, including Dean Sayers, has been active in the Robinson Huron Treaty negotiations.
• May 2022: The community's leader, Dean Sayers, called for the Crown to settle the Robinson Huron Treaty annuity case in May 2022.
• May 2022: Chief Dean Sayers advocated for the fulfillment of Robinson Huron Treaty obligations during the 2022 Ontario provincial election.
• June 2022: The Chief of Batchewana First Nation, Dean Sayers, advocated for a negotiated settlement regarding treaty rights and resource revenue sharing.
• September 2022: The community's culture was highlighted during the 2022 Weekend for Truth and Reconciliation. The First Nation participated in a regional showcase of Indigenous arts and heritage.
• September 2022: The community was a member of the baseball league supported by the Jays Care Foundation.
• November 2022: It is the home community of Algoma University student Megan McGuire.
• November 2022: The creators of the DND/CAF Eagle Staff are from this community.
• January 2023: The community maintains that they did not gain rights to annuities through the treaty, but rather shared their pre-existing rights with the British. Leadership from the community participated in the 1850 negotiations at Bawating.
• February 2023: Sheila Wahsquonaikezhik is a member of this First Nation community.
• April 2023: The leadership of this community issued an update in April 2023 regarding the progress of the Robinson Huron Treaty annuities litigation. The community is one of 21 signatories involved in the legal case and subsequent settlement negotiations.
• May 2023: The community's leadership has spoken out against the self-government agreement between Canada and the Métis Nation of Ontario. It is one of the member nations of Robinson Huron Waawiindamaagewin.
• June 2023: The community is represented by Chief Dean Sayers, who advocated for the fulfillment of treaty commitments. The nation has been part of the collective effort to address the breach of the Robinson Huron Treaty.
• December 2023: Elders in this community were specifically targeted by a localized scam involving fraudulent letters about treaty payments. Several community members alerted trustees after receiving unsigned messages requesting personal information.
• January 2024: The community is part of the healthcare network established to improve outcomes for Indigenous patients.
• March 2024: Players from this community were represented on the Northern Stars championship team.
• May 2025: The community is featured in a documentary shown at the TechNations 2025 conference regarding climate resilience. It worked with the North Shore Tribal Council to assess climate risks for the community. The community is a member of the North Shore Tribal Council.
• December 2025: The community's leadership asserted their responsibility to protect Anishinaabe laws and history during a 2025 gathering.
• January 2026: Jennifer Rankin, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Friendship Centres, is a member of this First Nation.