Walpole Island First Nation

Walpole Island First Nation
Type	Organization

Walpole Island First Nation is the home community of the creator Esbikenh.

In Anishinabek News

• October 2013: The community was selected for the first year of the saveONenergy Aboriginal Conservation Program.
• September 2016: Kirby Shipman moved away from this community six years prior to 2016. The community's Three Fires logo was featured on a dancer's shield used by Kirby Shipman.
• January 2017: Walpole Island was the source of sweetgrass used in products sold at the Christmas Aboriginal Fine Arts and Crafts Gift Show and Sale.
• March 2017: The community's Tyke team lost 15-5 to the Chippewas-Muncey-Oneida Riverhawks in the 2017 Little Native Hockey League final.
• June 2017: A community member graduated from the Social Service Worker – Indigenous Knowledge program in 2017. Chief Dan Miskokomon represented the community at the Anishinabek Educational Institute convocation.
• November 2017: It is the home community of emerging artist Summer Faith Garcia.
• July 2018: Graduates from the Native Community Worker and Social Service Worker programs at Anishinabek Educational Institute hailed from this community.
• May 2019: Hoop dancer Theland Kicknosway is from this community.
• July 2019: Walpole Island First Nation is the home community of McKenzie Dorn, who travelled to Colombia for an international internship.
• November 2019: The community is part of a regional effort to integrate First Nations history and culture into the tourism industry near Sarnia.
• March 2020: The community is represented on the committee that helped draft the Sarnia land declaration. The community's flag will be displayed at Centennial Park to honour its presence in the region.
• May 2020: The community reported three active cases of COVID-19 as of April 28, 2020. Health workers in the community have been conducting contact tracing for positive cases.
• July 2020: This community is served by the Tecumseh Community Development Corporation for business loans and advice.
• December 2020: Members of this community serve on the First Nations Advisory Circle for Point Pelee National Park. The nation is involved in collaborative initiatives to rebuild cultural connections to the park area.
• January 2021: Steve Tooshkenig is a member of this community and served as a member of its council until the fall of 2020.
• July 2021: The community's flag was installed at the Sarnia waterfront to honor its status as a signatory to the Huron Tract Treaty.
• July 2022: Isaiah Kicknosway, the founder of Anishinabe Baagaadowewin, is a member of Walpole Island First Nation.
• September 2022: The community is located within the Lambton County region. Members of this First Nation are believed to have historically gathered wild Ojibwe horses while hunting in the region.
• March 2023: The local Gen7 Fuel station donated $5,373 to the BBK Breakfast with Santa event. The station also provided $2,900 to the BKEJ youth council to help build a larger space for its members.
• April 2024: This community is the home of Esbikenh, a grade three teacher who creates animated language videos for children. Barbara Nolan visited the community shortly after New Year's in 2024 to work on a series of Anishinaabemowin videos.
• September 2024: The community is also known as Bkejwanong, where a language conference took place in November 2023.
• February 2025: The community's leadership decided to replace their Indian agent with a band administrator during the late 1960s. Leighton Hopkins was hired by the Chief and Council to serve as the first band administrator for this nation.
• February 2025: Walpole Island First Nation is one of the three local communities from which a majority of Indigenous students at Lambton College originate.
• June 2026: The community is the home of Esbikenh, who created the work Migizi Makes A Deal With Gzhemnidoo.