Oji-Cree

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Oji-Cree
Anishinini
Anishinaabe-Anishinini Distribution Map.svg
Distribution of Anishinaabe peoples; the Oji-Cree are depicted by the orange band.
Regions with significant populations
Canada (Ontario, Manitoba)
Languages
Oji-Cree, English
Related ethnic groups
Ojibwe, Cree

The Anisininew [1] or Oji-Cree are a First Nation in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba, residing in a band extending from the Missinaibi River region in Northeastern Ontario at the east to Lake Winnipeg at the west.

Contents

The Oji-Cree people are descended from historical intermarriage between the Ojibwa and Cree cultures, but constitute a distinct nation. [2] [3] They are considered one of the component groups of Anishinaabe, and reside primarily in a transitional zone between traditional Ojibwa lands to their south and traditional Cree lands to their north. Historically, the Oji-Cree were identified by the British and Canadian governments as "Cree." The Oji-Cree have identified with the Cree (or more specifically, the Swampy Cree) and not with the Ojibwa located to the south of them. [ citation needed ] Traditionally, they were called Noopiming-ininiwag (People in the Woods) by the Ojibwe. Oji-Cree at Round Lake First Nation were known as Ajijaakoons (little cranes), due to their chief's name, Ajijaak.[ citation needed ] Many Oji-Cree identify by the autonym Anishinaabe or Anishinini (Original Human).

In 2024, 22 different First Nations governments from both Manitoba and Ontario officially adopted the name Anisininew to replace the term "Oji-Cree." In their declaration, they likened the division of the Anisininew nation across provincial boundaries to the building of the Berlin Wall. [4]

In 2019, several Anisininew communities banded together in a Declaration of Sovereignty, [5] establishing the offices of a cross-community Grand Chief and Grand Council and formally enshrining a commitment to the traditional teachings and traditional laws of the Anisininew people. This declaration was signed by the chiefs and councils of Garden Hill First Nation, Red Sucker Lake First Nation, St. Theresa Point First Nation, and Wasagamack First Nation as well as representatives from Crown–Indigenous Relations and the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba.

Anishininimowin (the Oji-Cree language) is more closely related to Ojibwa structurally, although its literary tradition more closely resembles that of Cree.[ citation needed ] Anishininimowin has about 15,210 speakers according to the 2021 census. [6] Ontario Member of the Provincial Parliament Sol Mamakwa, elected in 2018, has used greetings and short phrases in Anishininimowin in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario; [7] in 2024, after changes to the standing orders and interpretation services, he gave a ten-minute speech and asking the first question in Question Period in Anishininimowin, becoming the first person to officially address the legislature in an Indigenous language and in a language other than English or French. [8]

Today, Anishininimowin is used in online learning and through community radio broadcasting. [9]

Oji-Cree bands

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ojibwe</span> Group of indigenous peoples in North America

The Ojibwe are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland covers much of the Great Lakes region and the northern plains, extending into the subarctic and throughout the northeastern woodlands. The Ojibwe, being Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands and of the subarctic, are known by several names, including Ojibway or Chippewa. As a large ethnic group, several distinct nations also consider themselves Ojibwe, including the Saulteaux, Nipissings, and Oji-Cree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saulteaux</span> Westernmost branch of the Anishinaabe people

The Saulteaux, otherwise known as the Plains Ojibwe, are a First Nations band government in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. They are a branch of the Ojibwe who pushed west. They formed a mixed culture of woodlands and plains Indigenous customs and traditions.

First Nations in Ontario constitute many nations. Common First Nations ethnicities in the province include the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, and the Cree. In southern portions of this province, there are reserves of the Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora.

First Nations in Manitoba constitute of over 160,000 registered persons as of 2021, about 57% of whom live on reserve. Manitoba is second to Ontario in total on-reserve population and in total First Nation population.

Wasagamack First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Manitoba, Canada. As of December 2014 the registered population of the Wasagamack First Nation was 2,017, of which 1,823 lived on their own reserve.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oji-Cree language</span> Indigenous name for a dialect of the Ojibwe language

The Severn Ojibwa or the Oji-Cree language is the indigenous name for a dialect of the Ojibwe language spoken in a series of Oji-Cree communities in northern Ontario and at Island Lake, Manitoba, Canada. Ojibwa is a member of the Algonquian language family, itself a member of the Algic language family.

Aroland First Nation is a Ojibwa, Oji-Cree and cree First Nation within the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Territory and a signatory to Treaty 9, located in the Thunder Bay District approximately 20 kilometres west of Nakina. Aroland First Nation, has Indian reserve status, though the settlement itself is not a reserve. The Aroland First Nation is also a member of the Matawa First Nations Tribal Council.

Mishkeegogamang First Nation is an Ojibway band government in the Canadian province of Ontario. Until 1993, the band was called the Osnaburgh First Nation, with various settlements at times being called New Osnaburgh, Osnaburgh House, or Osnaburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swampy Cree</span> Division of the Cree Nation

The Swampy Cree people, also known by their autonyms Néhinaw, Maskiki Wi Iniwak, Mushkekowuk,Maškékowak, Maskegon or Maskekon or by exonyms including West Main Cree,Lowland Cree, and Homeguard Cree, are a division of the Cree Nation occupying lands located in northern Manitoba, along the Saskatchewan River in northeastern Saskatchewan, along the shores of Hudson Bay and adjoining interior lands south and west as well as territories along the shores of Hudson and James Bay in Ontario. They are geographically and to some extent culturally split into two main groupings, and therefore speak two dialects of the Swampy Cree language, which is an "n-dialect":

Wapekeka First Nation is a First Nation band government in the Canadian province of Ontario. An Oji-Cree community in the Kenora District, the community is located approximately 450 kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout. In January, 2008, the total registered population was 375, of which the on-reserve population was 355.

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, also known as Big Trout Lake First Nation or KI for short, is an Oji-Cree First Nation reserve in Northwestern Ontario and is a part of Treaty 9. The community is about 580 km (360 mi) north of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Deer Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nations band government in Northern Ontario, located north of Red Lake, Ontario Canada. It is one of the few First Nations in Ontario to have signed Treaty 5. It is part of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Council and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. As of December, 2007, the First Nation had 1,072 registered members, of which their on-reserve population was 868.

Wawakapewin First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation reserve located 350 kilometers north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. It is only accessible by air and the winter road system from Pickle Lake. It is a small community in which the registered population in June 2013 was 73, of which 43 lived on their own Reserve. The current Chief is Anne-Marie Beardy. Wawakapewin First Nation is a member of Shibogama First Nations Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodlands style</span> Indigenous art movement originating in Canada

Woodlands style, also called the Woodlands school, Legend painting, Medicine painting, and Anishnabe painting, is a genre of painting among First Nations and Native American artists from the Great Lakes area, including northern Ontario and southwestern Manitoba. The majority of the Woodlands artists are Anishinaabeg, notably the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi, as well as the Oji-Cree and the Cree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nishnawbe Aski Nation</span>

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political organization representing 51 First Nation communities across Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 areas of Northern Ontario, Canada. Re-organized to its present form in 1981, NAN's original objective was "to represent the social and economic aspirations of our people at all levels of government in Canada and Ontario until such time as real effective action is taken to remedy our problems."

Shibogama First Nations Council, is a regional tribal council located in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Like many of the other regional councils, Shibogama is a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. On September 28, 1984, the Shibogama Area Tribal Council was established at the Kasabonika Lake Band Office. In January 1985, Shibogama First Nations Council was incorporated, making it officially an organization that is controlled and governed by the Board of Directors who are the Chiefs from each of the six member First Nations.

Chapleau Ojibway First Nation is an Ojibwa First Nation located near Chapleau Township, Sudbury District, Ontario, Canada. The First Nation have reserved for themselves the 67 ha Chapleau 61A Indian Reserve, 64.7 ha Chapleau 74 Indian Reserve and the 799.3 ha Chapleau 74A Indian Reserve. In September, 2007, their total registered population 39, of which their on-reserve population was 30.

The Muskrat Dam Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Northern Ontario. They reside on the 1,939.7 hectares Muskrat Dam Lake reserve, located on Muskrat Dam Lake in the Kenora District. The community of Muskrat Dam, Ontario, is located on this reserve. In June 2008, their total registered population was 387 people, of which their on-reserve population was around 195.

Sachigo Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located on Sachigo Lake, part of the Sachigo River system and Hudson Bay drainage basin, approximately 425 kilometres (264 mi) north of the town of Sioux Lookout. As of September 2011, the First Nation had a registered population of 814 people, of which the on-reserve population was 443.

References

  1. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/anisininew-gathering-of-nations-winnipeg-1.7116855 [ bare URL ]
  2. https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/iid/aid/brochure.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  3. https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/original-voices/oji-cree [ bare URL ]
  4. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/anisininew-gathering-of-nations-winnipeg-1.7116855 [ bare URL ]
  5. "Declaration Of Sovereignty". Anishininew Okimawin. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  6. "Cree". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
  7. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/living-languages-mpp-sol-mamakwa-oji-cree-1.5485247 [ bare URL ]
  8. "Ontario First Nation legislator makes history at Queen's Park". CBC News. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  9. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/lost-found-and-shared-indigenous-language-speakers-on-the-rise-1.3410203/radio-brings-oji-cree-to-remote-communities-1.3415507 [ bare URL ]

Further reading