Serpent River First Nation

Serpent River First Nation
Type	Organization

Serpent River First Nation is the home community of Isaac Murdoch.

In Anishinabek News

• November 2013: The community is the home of Quinn Meawasige, a youth representative for the Anishinabek Nation.
• December 2013: Isadore Day of Serpent River First Nation addressed delegates at a forum in Timmins regarding resource-based activities on traditional territories.
• April 2014: The father of robotics team member Brittnay Gauthier is from the community.
• February 2015: Isadore Day served as the Chief of this community in 2015.
• April 2015: The community was led by Isadore Day for a decade between 2005 and 2015. The First Nation saw the construction of a multi-facility community center and a $13 million water treatment plant during the tenure of Isadore Day. It established the Serpent River First Nation Environmental Review Commission to create community-based environmental protection systems.
• August 2015: Teachers from this First Nation provided traditional guidance to Tim Yearington.
• September 2016: The community is the home of Elder Isabelle Meawasige, who helped initiate northern outreach against human trafficking.
• December 2016: The community is the home of youth Candace Bay Neveau and Quinn Meawasige.
• January 2017: The community lost a long-time leader and former councillor when Arnelda Jacobs passed away in January 2017.
• February 2018: This community is the home of social worker Isabel Meawasige.
• March 2019: A water ceremony held at this community inspired Autumn Peltier to begin public speaking about water issues. The community was under a boil water advisory with signs stating the water was toxic and not for consumption.
• July 2019: The community is the home of Quinn Meawasige, who spoke at the 2019 governance gathering.
• October 2019: Quinn Meawasige is a citizen of Serpent River First Nation. Quinn Meawasige sought an education that would allow him to remain involved in and support the development of this community.
• January 2020: Isaac Murdoch is a member of this First Nation.
• March 2020: This community is the home of author Isaac Murdoch. The land-based language camp Nimkii Aazhibikong is located near this First Nation.
• August 2020: This community is the home nation of Canada Council for the Arts Chair Jesse Wente.
• February 2021: The nation is served by the North Shore Tribal Council, which helped launch the new trades recruitment campaign.
• April 2021: Jesse Wente, who spoke at a diversity event in 2021, is from this community.
• May 2021: Scarlett Scott began her 1,400-kilometre journey from this community on April 24, 2021. The community served as the starting point for a healing walk to Wabaseemoong Independent Nations.
• May 2021: The community hosted a virtual presentation by Jason Simon on May 16, 2021, focused on youth wellness and addiction recovery. Youth counsellor Robert Essex invited the guest speaker to address local parents and young people about finishing their education.
• June 2021: The community was served by Elaine Johnston as Chief for over four years. The late father of Elaine Johnston also served as a Chief.
• July 2021: The community hosted its first-ever Pride Parade on June 30, 2021. The event was organized by the community's Community Wellness Department. The parade route traveled through the village and concluded at the local Pow Wow Grounds.
• July 2021: The community hosted its inaugural Pride Parade on June 30, 2021. On July 1, 2021, community members organized a major demonstration on the Trans-Canada Highway to acknowledge the history of Indian Residential Schools. The community is located approximately nine kilometres from the former sites of the two largest residential schools in Ontario.
• August 2021: Members of Serpent River First Nation welcomed paddlers and provided a tour of their community during a 10-day awareness journey. Representatives from Serpent River First Nation performed a ceremony with prayer and song at the former Spanish Indian Residential School site.
• September 2021: Lorraine Rekmans is a member of this First Nation community.
• September 2021: The community is taking a slow and steady approach to the investigation to ensure proper mental health and cultural supports are in place. Leadership joined a healing ceremony in September 2021 to seek direction from ancestors regarding the lost children.
• November 2021: The community is dealing with long-term environmental contamination and health issues caused by a former sulphuric acid plant operated by Noranda Mines. Community members experience high cancer rates and shortened life spans attributed to the industrial pollution on their territory. The Serpent River First Nation Pow Wow grounds were relocated due to their proximity to the contaminated site of the former plant.
• January 2022: The community implemented a water treatment plant during the leadership of Elaine Johnston. Elaine Johnston served as a council member for ten years and as Chief for four years in this community.
• January 2022: Joanna Vautour is a member of this First Nation.
• February 2022: The community partnered with two other nations to investigate the grounds of the former Spanish Indian Residential School. Leadership expressed a commitment to finding the truth and starting a healing process for survivors and families.
• March 2022: Isaac Murdoch is originally from Serpent River First Nation.
• March 2022: The partnership between Mamaweswen, The North Shore Tribal Council and Water First Education & Training Inc. was announced in this community in March 2022.
• March 2022: The community has signed on to implement a new emergency alert program provided by the North Shore Tribal Council. Residents of the community can register for the alert system by contacting the Kenabutch Health Centre.
• April 2022: The community faced severe environmental degradation and health issues due to uranium mining and a sulphuric acid plant on their traditional territory. In 1976, Health and Welfare Canada advised residents to stop drinking water from the river due to twenty years of contamination from uranium mines. Community members engaged in activism, including a 1988 protest on the Trans-Canada Highway, to force the cleanup of toxic waste sites.
• May 2022: Isaac Murdoch is a member of the fish clan from Serpent River First Nation.
• May 2022: Isaac Murdoch shared stories from his people and family Elders during a storytelling festival in May 2022.
• September 2022: The community readied its ball field for the Cutler Jays team during the 2022 season. Local residents, businesses, and the Chief and Council provided donations and coaching staff to support the team. The local team received 28 tickets to a Toronto Blue Jays game for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2022.
• September 2022: The community is partnering with the municipality of Elliot Lake to deliver services to both on-reserve and off-reserve Indigenous populations. The Chief of the First Nation attended a family BBQ and membership drive for the new friendship centre on August 22, 2022.
• October 2022: The first on-reserve Service Ontario location held its grand opening at the Trading Post in this community on October 18, 2022. The new service centre is staffed by Indigenous personnel who provide services in both English and Ojibway.
• November 2022: The community is seeking restitution for environmental and health damage caused by a sulphuric acid plant that operated on its lands until 1963. Leadership at Serpent River First Nation secured $5.7 million for a major site cleanup in 1988 and began a new phased remediation project in 2022. Community members have reported high rates of chronic illness, respiratory issues, and pregnancy loss linked to industrial pollution at Aird Bay.
• December 2022: The community hosted a sports equipment giveaway event at its Band Hall on November 9, 2022. Youth from the community received free hockey gear, baseball equipment, and golf clubs during the event. The local Band Hall was filled with equipment donated by Webb Pensions and Benefits for distribution to three area First Nations.
• January 2023: The author Nadine Labelle is a member of Serpent River First Nation.
• March 2023: The community hosted a gathering in January 2023 to share information on a proposed quarry in the North Shore Township. Members expressed concern that the quarry would damage the habitat of the Blanding's Turtle and other species at risk. The community argues that the government has failed in its legal duty to consult with Indigenous peoples regarding the development.
• April 2023: Members of this community participated in a meeting to oppose the development of a large quarry on traditional lands. The community is still dealing with the environmental repercussions of past uranium mining and an abandoned acid plant. The community is located near the proposed site of the Darien Aggregates quarry.
• April 2023: The community hosted the Indigenous Ingenuity, Timeless Inventions exhibition at its Lifestyles Center in early 2023. Visitors to the community were able to engage with interactive displays regarding Indigenous innovations from March 29 to April 15.
• May 2023: Members of the community attended a meeting with Rankin Construction on March 25, 2023, to discuss the Darien Aggregates quarry. Community members expressed concerns that the quarry would negatively impact traditional hunting and fishing areas.
• June 2023: The community hosted its third annual Pride Parade on May 27, 2023. The parade route travelled from the Lifestyles Center through the village to the local pow wow grounds. A Rainbow Pride Flag was raised at the pow wow grounds following the parade festivities.
• December 2023: The community opened a new hospice suite on November 30, 2023, to provide local palliative care for its members. The new facility was established to address the preference of many Indigenous people to remain in their home community during their final journey. Funding for the project was secured through applications made by the local Home and Community Care Program starting in 2021.
• January 2024: Professor Nicole Wemigwans identifies this community as one of her home territories.
• January 2024: The community is part of a regional effort to provide seamless healthcare for Indigenous clients.
• March 2024: Community member Rebecca Commanda shared her experiences with diabetes at a regional conference.
• March 2024: This community is the home nation of Jenny-Lou Campbell.
• May 2024: The community is the location of the newly opened Red Willow Café. The community is described as a warm and caring place by its welcoming signage.
• May 2024: Several members of the community have opposed a proposed quarry in Huron Shores since 2017. The community's water and traditional homelands have been affected by the environmental effects of uranium mining.
• September 2024: Serpent River First Nation hosted the All-Nations Warrior World Championship at the Lifestyle Center on August 31, 2024. The community is the home of wrestling promoter William Meawasige and his business, Lucky Savage Entertainment.
• October 2024: The community's health services have been supported by Ashley Middaugh for six years as of October 2024.
• November 2024: This is the home community of storyteller and artist Isaac Murdoch.
• March 2025: As of March 2025, the community is reviewing all of its governance systems to find the best ways to govern. Councillor John Trudeau represented the community at the 2025 Anishinabek Nation Governance Summit.
• May 2025: The community has historically dealt with environmental contamination from a former acid plant and uranium mining. Community members are involved in the movement to protect local wetlands from a new quarry proposed by Darien Aggregates Inc.. The community's pow wow grounds previously had to be relocated due to industrial pollution.
• May 2025: The community belongs to the North Shore Tribal Council.
• May 2025: Jesse Wente, who was appointed to a residency at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2025, is a citizen of this community.
• June 2025: The community hosted its 36th Annual Health Fair on May 16, 2025. The event was held at the Lifestyle Centre in Cutler. The community is served by the Kenabutch Health Centre.
• June 2025: The community celebrated the grand re-opening of its local gas bar on May 24, 2025, following extensive renovations. The Serpent River First Nation Council authorized a ten-year contract with Canco during a meeting held on February 11.
• August 2025: The community hosted a protest rally against glyphosate spraying at its local trading post on Highway 17 in August 2025. The Traditional Ecological Knowledge group was originally formed by Elders meeting in this community and Mississauga #8 First Nation. Protesters at this location performed a Round Dance that temporarily stopped traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway.
• September 2025: The community is developing a townhouse project in Elliot Lake to provide off-reserve housing for its citizens and the public. Community engagement sessions held over the past year guided the Chief and Council to focus on urban housing developments. Leadership performed a traditional ceremony with prayer, drumming, and the laying of Semaa at the project site on August 25, 2025.
• October 2025: The community is the home of artist Marilyn George, who contributed to the Call to Action #83 Art Project.
• October 2025: The community celebrated the completion of a five-plex housing unit in Cutler on October 9, 2025. A long-term development strategy is in place to address the housing needs of members living both on and off the reserve. The First Nation is also developing a 22-unit townhouse project in Elliot Lake to help alleviate the housing shortage.
• October 2025: This community is the home of storyteller and artist Isaac Murdoch.
• December 2025: This community is the home of Jennifer Bissaillion, who creates embroidered boots and purses.
• January 2026: This is the First Nation of storyteller Isaac Murdoch.
• March 2026: Devon Patterson is a member of Serpent River First Nation. Devon Patterson stated that his community has supported his goals and career path in the mining industry.
• June 2026: The community hosted its 39th annual health fair in June 2026 to provide health information to residents and visitors. The First Nation uses the annual fair as a method for educating community members on taking responsibility for their personal health.
• June 2026: The community is the home of Isaac Murdoch, whose work was featured at ImagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival.