Wahnapitae First Nation

Wahnapitae First Nation
Type	First Nation government

Wahnapitae First Nation is a First Nation.

In Anishinabek News

• November 2013: The community is part of the group represented by Regional Education Council #4.
• September 2014: The community is the home of Larissa Roque, who aims to return there to work or start a business.
• May 2015: The community hosted a session of the Anishinaabe Long Hair workshop on May 26, 2015.
• June 2015: Representatives from the community discussed the use of GIS mapping for documenting historic, cultural, and contemporary use sites. The nation has a set of protocols regarding who can access certain information in their GIS database to prevent misuse.
• October 2015: The community utilizes GIS for forest management, campsite monitoring, and tracking drainage from a 1996 mining spill. Local land use planning in the community uses mapping to identify development zones and protected areas such as the Bass Lake sanctuary. The community is looking at developing its own aerial images using drone camera equipment to monitor sites like landfills.
• June 2016: Citizens of this nation were urged to participate in the upcoming vote regarding education jurisdiction in late 2016.
• September 2016: Citizens from this community were among those urged to participate in a regional education vote in Sudbury.
• November 2016: The community has expressed a desire to bring students back to the reserve for the last hour of the school day for cultural and language instruction. The Anishinabek Education System is expected to help First Nations collectively demand specific educational requirements like those sought by this community.
• January 2017: The community is the home of actress Rebecca McGregor, who appeared in Hard Rock Medical.
• September 2017: As of September 2017, Josephine Mandamin was conducting a water walk with the community.
• March 2018: The community is one of the seven member nations of the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Child Well-Being agency.
• April 2019: The community is one of seven served by the Niijaansinaanik child and family protection agency. Chief Larry Roque contributed river rocks, a copper bowl, tobacco, and a shell to the sacred bundle during the 2019 ceremony.
• September 2019: The community is a signatory to the agreement intended to increase the academic success of First Nations students.
• November 2019: A representative from this community participated in the 2019 training and expressed interest in further archaeological opportunities.
• January 2020: The community employs Wendy Tyson as a Community Wellness Worker. Programs in the community include a sewing circle and an Elders Circle.
• January 2020: The community receives child welfare and prevention services from Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.
• March 2020: Laurentian University recognizes its proximity to this community.
• June 2020: This community is located near Laurentian University.
• September 2020: The community receives services from Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services during its transition to a designated agency.
• April 2021: The community established an emergency response plan and a food bank to reduce potential virus exposure for members living on the reserve. Funding supported the coordination of COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics, including transportation for residents. The administration acquired laptops and software to help students study from home and to improve online engagement with members.
• April 2021: This community is served by the culturally-centred protection and advocacy programs of Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.
• April 2021: The community is a member of the Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations involved in the smart nation project. The community's infrastructure assets are tracked using a database built in a GIS Esri environment.
• August 2021: The community is the home First Nation of hockey player Abby Roque.
• September 2021: The community is one of six First Nations served by the designated Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services agency.
• October 2021: The University of Sudbury is established on lands that are part of the traditional territory of the Wahnapitae First Nation.
• January 2022: The community signed the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement in early 2020 to move away from the Indian Act. Between November 2020 and June 2021, the community conducted pre-implementation activities including a full inventory of existing bylaws and policies. The community established eight focus groups to facilitate grassroots technical analysis and community engagement regarding self-governance.
• March 2022: The community is one of the ratifying nations moving forward with internal transition and pre-implementation activities.
• March 2022: Knowledge holders from the community were interviewed regarding the impacts of warming temperatures.
• March 2022: Abby Roque is a member of this community. The community is located in Ontario, Canada.
• April 2022: The community is one of the signatories of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement finalized in April 2022. Leadership viewed the signing as a continuation of a long journey toward exercising inherent rights to self-governance.
• June 2022: The community's health administrator provided positive feedback on the Conversations about Cancer educational series. Health services for the community are provided through the Norman Recollet Health Centre.
• June 2022: The community ratified the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act to advance wellness through the reclamation of culture and language.
• August 2022: The nation signed onto the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement Act in 2022.
• September 2022: The community is served by Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.
• October 2022: The community participated in the 2022 celebration of the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement. Leadership indicated the agreement would allow for more efficient resource distribution and community service.
• October 2022: The community is one of the five nations implementing the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement. Chief Larry Roque noted the agreement will allow for more efficient resource distribution to citizens.
• October 2022: The community joined the Anishinabek Nation Governance Agreement to provide tools for the future of its children. It is one of the five communities where the agreement came into effect on October 1, 2022.
• November 2022: The community is part of the collective that established Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services.
• April 2023: The nation has over 700 members and its traditional name, Wahnapitaeping, refers to a "place where the water is shaped like a tooth". In 2023, the community partnered with two other First Nations and Technica Mining to create Aki-eh Dibinwewziwin. The leadership viewed the 2023 agreement as a way to build a strong foundation for future generations of the community.
• September 2023: The community is the home First Nation of professional hockey player Abby Roque.
• March 2024: The community is the home First Nation of professional hockey player Abby Roque.
• June 2024: The community is served by Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services. Community member Marnie Anderson serves as the president of the agency's board.
• February 2025: The community's ancestral hunting grounds include the area where Cambrian College is situated. Ashley Recollet, a leader of the Cambrian Indigenous Student Circle, is a member of this First Nation.
• February 2025: As of February 2025, the community has received approval for a $5.5 million family wellness centre to house health and social services staff. Leadership is constructing a six-plex apartment building to provide housing and life-skills training for local youth. The First Nation has established food security programs, seasonal clothing supports, and a community playground.
• April 2025: The community is the site of a 20,000-square-foot film studio built to enhance infrastructure in Northern Ontario.
• March 2026: The community's communications assistant, Patrique Paquette, participated in a cybersecurity workshop in Thunder Bay. Staff from the community learned about protecting sensitive data and maintaining operational continuity.
• July 2026: Hiawatha Osawamick is a member of this First Nation.