Whitefish River First Nation

Whitefish River First Nation
Type	Organization

Whitefish River First Nation is the home First Nation of Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow.

In Anishinabek News

• December 2013: It is the home community of scholar Deb McGregor.
• January 2014: Deb McGregor is a citizen of this First Nation.
• February 2014: Hockey player Anthony Pelletier has family ties to this community.
• March 2015: Whitefish River First Nation was one of the host communities for the Little Native Hockey League event held in March 2015.
• April 2016: Athletes from this community were among the 175 youth participants at the inaugural Ontario Native Volleyball Invitational.
• April 2016: It was the home community of George Francis, who was a prominent local advocate and volunteer. George Francis received an Anishinabek Nation Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 for his many contributions to this community.
• June 2016: The community's education director, Charles Shawanda, passed away in June 2016.
• September 2016: Citizens of this nation living in the Sudbury area were identified as participants for a regional education meeting.
• October 2016: The community scheduled a vote on the Anishinabek Education System for late November and early December 2016. The community school has been unable to expand or build a gymnasium due to federal funding policies regarding student population numbers. In-person voting for the education agreement was organized at the community centre in Birch Island.
• March 2017: The community is the site of a Youth for Water rain garden project at the local school. The project aims to introduce the community to sustainable storm water management and green infrastructure.
• November 2017: The community's Chief, Shining Turtle, was scheduled to attend a treaty book launch in 2017.
• November 2017: The community hosted the official launch of two new treaty-related books at Shawanosowe School in 2017.
• November 2017: The community served as the site for the launch of the second annual Treaties Recognition Week.
• January 2018: The community's legal name is Whitefish River Indian Reserve #4, a name given when it was mapped out by the Robinson Huron Treaty. The population consists of descendants of the Ojibway Nation who have not severed ties with that nation. The community includes a settlement known as Birch Island.
• January 2018: The community is the home of Maggie Cywink and her sister Sonya Nadine Mae Cywink.
• February 2019: Representatives from the community spoke at a meeting in Little Current about their experience with repatriation. The community successfully brought home ancestors and cultural items in 2005 that had been held by the University of Michigan since 1936.
• August 2019: It is the home community of Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, the founder of Birch Bark Coffee.
• November 2019: Members of this community participated in the archaeological fieldwork and excavation training in 2019.
• January 2020: Rose Pitawanakwat is from Whitefish River.
• February 2020: The community is the home of artist Brian Waboose, whose work is featured at Kana Leaf.
• March 2020: A member of this community highlighted the importance of collective family obligations in heritage work. The community views cooperation between First Nations as a method for correcting past wrongs.
• March 2020: The community successfully negotiated the return of 19 ancestors who had been held at the University of Michigan since 1938. Members of the community participated collectively in funeral arrangements and ceremonies at Old Birch Island Cemetery.
• June 2020: As of June 2020, Darrel Manitowabi was a resident of this community.
• November 2020: Leona Nawegahbow is a citizen and former Chief of this nation.
• December 2020: The community developed a mobile application to improve communication with members living both inside and outside the Nation. As of December 2020, the administration used the platform to share COVID-19 health advisories and testing information. The First Nation consists of approximately 1,200 citizens and is accessible via Highway 6 and 17.
• December 2020: The community celebrated the opening of a new $3.5 million Elders Residence on December 1, 2020. The First Nation opened a $1.5 million daycare centre and is developing a new $2.5 million subdivision as of December 2020. Leadership in the community has been planning the construction of a dedicated senior housing facility for over 20 years.
• May 2021: David C. Nahwegahbow is a member of this community.
• January 2023: The community employs Beverly Nahwegahbow to manage medical transportation for its members. The health centre team at this location provides support for members traveling for medical appointments.
• February 2023: This community is an Anishinabek First Nation.
• February 2023: Leslie McGregor was born and raised in this community and later worked there as a health and social services manager. McGregor returned to the community approximately nine-and-a-half years prior to February 2023 after living off-reserve for over 25 years.
• March 2023: Teacher Lissa McGregor is a member of this community.
• March 2023: The community is the home of Zee Toulouse, who participated in the Little Native Hockey League as a member of the M'Chigeeng Thunderbirds.
• January 2024: Jim McGregor is a former chief of this First Nation.
• March 2024: The community is the home of Jim McGregor, a founder of the Little Native Hockey League.
• June 2024: The community is the home nation of researcher Melanie Manitowabi.
• July 2024: The community is the home of coach Justin McGregor. An Under-11 mixed recreational team from this community won a B Division title at the 2024 Little Native Hockey League.
• September 2024: This community is the home First Nation of professor Deborah McGregor.
• October 2024: The community is the home First Nation of lawyer David C. Nahwegahbow.
• March 2025: A team representing this First Nation won its 2025 Little NHL opener with a 12-1 score. The First Nation entered two teams into the boys' under-13 recreational division to ensure all children received adequate ice time.
• June 2025: The Anishinabek Nation expressed support for this community's interests regarding provincial parks.
• June 2025: Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, the founder of Birch Bark Coffee Company, is a member of this community.
• August 2025: The community is home to the Maamwe Kendaasing Daycare Centre, which hosted a tour for childcare educators in 2025. Councillor Jeff McGregor provided the closing remarks for the 2025 All Nations Childcare Gathering.
• August 2025: The community is the home of Mary Bryton Nahwegahbow, who is working to bring Anishinaabemowin into national spaces through music.
• November 2025: A member of this community attended cultural workshops at Lakehead University in 2025 while studying social work.
• December 2025: The community is the home of artisan Susan Manitowabi.
• January 2026: The community is home to Shawanosowe School, where students organized an advocacy campaign regarding water security. The community is located in the Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt electoral district.
• March 2026: This community is the home First Nation of entrepreneur Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow.
• May 2026: Community member Summer Lavallee competed in a Thunder Bay road race in May 2026.
• May 2026: Members of this community provided details about the Manitoulin Anishinaabek Research Review Committee at a conference in Toronto. The community has been involved in efforts to establish ethical guidelines for research conducted on Manitoulin Island.
• June 2026: On June 26, 2026, the community announced a partnership to explore building a new long-term care home in the Town of Espanola region. The First Nation has approximately 1,500 members and is situated near the entrance to Manitoulin Island. The community signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure the proposed facility allows members to age with dignity while remaining connected to their culture.
• August 2026: This community is the home First Nation of entrepreneur Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow.