Neskantaga First Nation


Neskantaga First Nation is a remote Oji-Cree First Nation band government in the northern reaches of the Canadian province of Ontario, situated along the shore of Attawapiskat Lake in the District of Kenora.
The First Nation is a signatory to Treaty 9 and has reserved for itself the Neskantaga Indian Reserve, containing the main community of Lansdowne House Indian Settlement on Attawapiskat Lake. Associated with the Neskantaga First Nation is the Summer Beaver Indian Settlement, which is shared with Nibinamik First Nation. The Lansdowne House is linked to the rest of Ontario by the Lansdowne House Airport, and by winter roads and ice roads to points south, via the Northern Ontario Resource Trail. As of November 2011, there is a total registered population of 414 people, of whom 304 people live on their own reserve.
Northern Light Mission Trips have been conducted for the children of the community by members of the Tintern Church of Christ in Beamsville, Ontario.

Governance

The First Nation elects its officials under the Custom Electoral System. The most recent officials were Peter Moonias as Chief, and Bill Mequanawap, Christopher Moonias, Kelvin Moonias and William Moonias as Councillors; their two-year term ended on 03/31/2013.
The First Nation's council is a member of the Matawa First Nations, a local Chiefs Council, and of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a Tribal Political Organisation representing most of the First Nations in northern Ontario.

Ring of Fire

On May 9, 2012 Ontario Minister Rick Bartolucci released the White Paper regarding the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire, including the announcement of decisions made regarding Cliffs and the province that would negatively impact Treaty 9 land. According to the Neskantaga First Nation, the agreements with Cliffs about Treaty 9 lands, was a "blatant and illegal attempt by Ontario to expand its own influence and jurisdiction in Treaty No. 9.

Access to potable water

Neskantaga First Nation community has been under a "boil water advisory" since 1995, when its then-newly installed 1993 water treatment plant broke down. It gained national attention when Canadian news outlets began to cover the story from 2004 to 2016 about the unsafe water supply. In 2006, the 2005 government plan to modernize water supplies was cancelled following a change of government.

Services

;Schools
;Health Care
;Other
Neskantaga is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal-based service. In 2010, a new community complex was built after a fire destroyed the former community complex.

Climate

Neskantaga First Nation has a subarctic climate. Summers consist of mild, sometimes warm days with cool nights and rain usually falling on a little more than half of all summer days. Winters are brutally cold with nights reaching dangerously cold temperatures and annual snowfall averaging 95.1 inches, falling on 89 separate days. Winter usually begins sometime during October and can easily last well into April.