Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation
Type	First Nation government

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation is a First Nation community located near London, Ontario.

In Anishinabek News

• April 2013: Citizens monitored the development of constitutions while working on their own land claims process. The community was interested in how to develop effective communication systems with limited resources and funding.
• March 2016: The community won both the Pee Wee Girls and Bantam Girls championships at the 2016 Little Native Hockey League Tournament.
• April 2016: The boys team from this community captured the bronze medal during the 2016 Ontario Native Volleyball Invitational.
• May 2016: The community was represented at the 2016 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships by player Shawnah Albert and manager Gloria Hendrick-Laliberte.
• July 2016: Keir Johnston, a medalist in international kayaking, is a member of this community.
• December 2016: The community is the home of baker Gloria Hendrick-Laliberte.
• January 2017: The community is the home of Gloria Hendrick-Laliberte.
• March 2017: Members of this community played for the Chippewas-Muncey-Oneida Riverhawks tyke team in 2017. The community's Bantam competitive team finished as runners-up at the 2017 Little Native Hockey League tournament.
• April 2017: The community is the home of Patty Huff-Henry, who was selected for the provincial girls' hockey team in 2017.
• June 2017: Community members Sandra Albert and Kristen Hendrick served as lead dancers during the Anishinabek Educational Institute graduation procession.
• June 2017: The community is led by Chief Leslee White-Eye. The nation's leadership has been active in pursuing the calls to action from the 94 Recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
• January 2018: The community was served for decades by councillor George Henry. A funeral service for a former councillor was held at the Chippewa Community Centre in January 2018.
• April 2018: The First Nation is the home community of Sage Laliberte, a participant in the Urban Infill Art in the Core performances.
• June 2018: The community is the home of Joe Miskokomon, who was acclaimed as a regional deputy for the Anishinabek Nation in 2018.
• October 2018: The community banned the sale of provincial cannabis while it works on developing its own local laws.
• May 2019: The community hosted the opening of a new Pharmasave pharmacy on April 30, 2019. The new business is located next to the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre within the territory. Leadership and staff from the nation attended an invitation-only soft opening for the new drug store.
• October 2019: The community is using new digital tools to help entrepreneurs check the viability of business plans within the local market. It is one of the seven nations working with Ashley Sisco to strengthen its local economy.
• November 2019: The community hosted treaty education sessions at Antler River School to mark the start of Treaties Recognition Week in 2019.
• November 2019: This community was the location of the Anishinabek Nation Fall Assembly in November 2019.
• December 2019: Jay Soule is originally from this community and received business development loans through the reserve to support his entrepreneurial efforts.
• March 2020: Staff distributed approximately 375 food baskets to households from Antler River School in March 2020. The administration declared a state of emergency and limited operations to essential services to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Food hampers included traditional medicines and educational activities for children to support families during the lockdown.
• April 2020: The community planned a series of twelve art workshops and a large fair to encourage artistic entrepreneurship among its members. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers moved the workshops from London to the community's own territory. As of April 2020, the workshops are scheduled to take place during the community powwow in August.
• May 2020: The community provided guidance to Aamjiwnaang First Nation regarding the establishment of an immersion program.
• May 2020: A COVID-19 testing site was established at the health centre in this community in April 2020. The testing site serves members of this nation as well as neighboring Indigenous communities.
• July 2020: The community is served by the Tecumseh Community Development Corporation.
• August 2020: The community social services team launched a Roadside Program in June 2020 to support children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Departments in the community collaborated to provide gardening supplies and food security initiatives for members living on the territory. The First Nation hosted a summer walking contest on the local school track to promote mental wellbeing and physical activity.
• September 2020: The community announced a $2 million investment to acquire a 21 percent stake in Sensi Brands Inc. in September 2020. The First Nation entered the Manitoba cannabis market in 2018 as a shareholder in Garden Variety. The community established a technical team to research and develop a local Cannabis Control Law for its territory.
• September 2020: The community was among those whose land sale revenues were managed by Joseph Brant Clench during his tenure.
• November 2020: The community was identified as a recipient of federal funding through the Indigenous Community Support Fund in late 2020.
• November 2020: The community successfully hosted its 43rd annual powwow as a live virtual event in October 2020. Organizers pre-recorded the Grand Entry and official speeches at the local powwow grounds. Chief Jacqueline French expressed hope that the virtual gathering would bring healing and joy to the community.
• November 2020: The Cultural Harm Reduction Outreach Team in Chippewas of the Thames First Nation is using outdoor meetings and mobile services to reach members during the COVID-19 pandemic. The community has experienced an increase in drug use and several overdose-related deaths since the start of the pandemic. The local harm reduction team provides traditional medicines and support services to members of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and neighbouring communities.
• December 2020: Knowledge-Keepers from this community provided historical context for the Giwetashkad Indigenous Homelessness Plan. The community was the site of the Mount Elgin residential school.
• December 2020: The community is the home nation of former National Hockey League player Cody McCormick.
• January 2021: The community operates an Anishinaabemowin immersion program at Antler River School. Educators from this nation provided assistance to Aamjiwnaang First Nation for their language revitalization efforts.
• February 2021: The community hosted a week-long traditional deer hide-tanning camp in December 2020 to promote ancestral language and culture. The Language, Culture, and Heritage Department of the community organized the event to provide traditional land-based learning opportunities. Footage from the tanning classes will be shared on the community's social media platforms to assist with Anishinaabemowin language education.
• March 2021: Glen Hare cited this community as an example of a location struggling with inadequate broadband access.
• March 2021: This is the home community of Sharilyn Johnston, the Environment Coordinator for Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
• April 2021: The community launched a video series to showcase the work and life stories of local artists and Elders. Community members are working on a campaign to convert a historic barn into a cultural learning centre. Art workshops were held on the territory in 2020 to promote artistic entrepreneurship among members.
• May 2021: The community is building its own high-speed fibre internet infrastructure to act as its own service provider. Construction on the fibre network began in the spring of 2021 with a projected completion date of October 2021. The project aims to provide more affordable internet access compared to commercial providers for residents and businesses in the territory.
• June 2021: The community is located in southwestern Ontario near the Antler River. It is one of three First Nations situated to the southeast of London.
• July 2021: The community is included in a comparative study regarding the health and safety of medicinal plants in Ontario.
• October 2021: This is the home community of Trina McGahey, the mother of performer Waaseyaa Couchie.
• November 2021: The community hosted the Mt. Elgin Industrial Institute on its territory from 1841 until 1949. In 2012, the community leadership and workers constructed a monument to commemorate residential school survivors. The First Nation negotiated a major land claim with the federal government during the time the monument was being completed.
• March 2022: As of March 2022, Myeengun Henry is serving his fifth term as a councillor for this community. Myeengun Henry is a former Chief of this First Nation.
• September 2022: Ashley Nichols is a member of this First Nation community.
• September 2022: The community is a member of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition and is impacted by new transmission projects. Leadership from the community stated that the equity offering will generate long-term economic benefits for its members.
• February 2023: The community's Covid-19 Health Team received a Tony H. Jocko Memorial Heroes of Health award in 2023.
• December 2023: As of December 2023, graduates of the Wiikwemkoong language program are employed in education positions within this territory.
• February 2024: The community is the home of professional athlete Ashley Nichols. A funeral was held for Ashley Nichols in this community on February 16, 2024.
• May 2024: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation hosted a nutrition initiative through its health centre to provide subsidies for healthy food options at local events.
• July 2024: The community is led by Chief Joe Miskokomon. As of July 2024, the community's leader was appointed to the Order of Canada.
• December 2024: The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre operates a site within the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. Janice Martin worked as an integrated care manager at this location for five years.
• January 2025: Del Riley held the position of Chief for this community between 1991 and 1995.
• April 2025: The community is examining liability issues related to settlement distributions and redefinitions of membership. Leadership is pushing back against external land claims within their treaty territory.
• April 2025: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation implemented a nutrition subsidy program for its pow wow in 2023 and 2024. The community's health centre developed the Pow Wow Nutrition Subsidy Toolkit to be used as a model for other First Nation communities.
• August 2025: The community has a treaties, land and environment department that employs Indigenous land guardians. The community's guardians are trained to perform habitat restoration and species-at-risk monitoring. As of August 2025, the First Nation has a total of 16 guardians.
• November 2025: On November 5, 2025, this community announced it is leading the development of a First Nations Sovereign Wealth Fund. The community intends for the fund to help First Nations act as early and equitable partners in resource and infrastructure projects. The initiative is designed to generate own-source revenue to support priorities within the community.
• January 2026: The community is the home of hockey player Raiden Doxtator.
• February 2026: Jesse McCormick is a citizen of this First Nation.
• March 2026: As of March 2026, the community is led by Chief Joe Miskokomon.
• April 2026: The community's Chief, Joe Miskokomon, participated in the announcement of the Ontario Final Agreement.
• April 2026: The Chippewas of the Thames First Nation has spent over a year championing the development of a First Nations Sovereign Wealth Fund. The community is working with the Anishinabek Nation to advance a unified position on Indigenous-controlled capital. Leadership emphasized that the community members are rights holders rather than mere stakeholders in economic development.
• August 2026: The community entered a joint venture with Honos Health to build a 150-bed residential treatment facility on its treaty territory. Through the Deshkan Ziibiing Investment Corporation, the Nation maintains a 35 per cent ownership stake in the healthcare project. Chief Joe Miskokomon stated that the project addresses a core priority for citizens regarding mental health and addiction support.
• October 2026: The community is located mere kilometres from the city of London and is experiencing significant regional growth. A study conducted by the community found that 98 per cent of its treaty territory is taken up by third-party interests without compensation. The nation faces challenges regarding internal capacity to manage numerous opportunities in pipelines, transmission lines, and highway corridors.