Running head: The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario:

A Study of the Pikwakanagan Algonquins of First Nation

Joseph De Marco

Dawson College

Advanced Studies in Economics

Charles- Albert Ramsay

March 10, 2017

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

1- Introduction

a)

i. For my research, Ive decided to study the Algonquins of

Pikwakanagan First Nation.

ii. The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan speak Omamiwininimowin

Algonquin Language, English and a very small amount speak very minimal

French.

iii. These Algonquins reside in South-East Ontario, in the Ottawa

Valley. The Pikwakanagan Indian Reserve is listed as 688.8 hectares. Its

locate South-East of Golden Lake, with latitude 45.551 and longitude

-77.222. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada lists this First Nation as

Zone 2 (a First Nation thats located between 50 and 350km from nearest

service centre with all year road access). There are towns very near to these

Algonquins.

iv. As of January, 2017, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan have a total

registered population of 2,651. 233 registered males on the reserve, 228

females on the reserve, 1,039 males off reserve, and 1,145 females off

reserve.

b) In 2006, statcan noted that there were 0 Aboriginals in the community

that achieved a University certificate of diploma. There were 60 with a

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

college/CEGEP diploma. Also in 2006, statcan listed there to be 280 total

Aboriginals 15 years or over. Of those 280, 155 were in the labour force,

135 were employed, and 20 were unemployed. There were 120 not in the

labour force. This left an unemployment rate of 12.9%, with an employment

rate of 48.2%. Out of those 280, 185 of them have no postsecondary

certificate, diploma or degree. Pikwakanagan has an average of only 3

births per year.

c) Some information that Im curious to find out, yet havent discovered yet

is if theres a specific reason why a total of 2,184 registered Pikwakanagan

Algonquins live off the reserve rather than on the reserve. This is a

substantial number; 82%.

2-

Annotated Bibliography

Community Well-being Index -- 2011 CWB Database: Ontario. (n.d.).

Retrieved February 03, 2017, from https://www.aadnc-

aandc.gc.ca/eng/1421431618058/1421431680235.

- This source provides the CWB (Community Well-being) index of all

the First Nation communities in Ontario in 2011. It lists a

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

communities Income Score, Education Score, Housing Score,

Labour Force Activity Score, its CWB score, Global Non-Response,

Province it belongs to, the Type of Collectivity and 2011

population.

Government of Canada -- First Nation Profiles Interactive Map. (n.d.).

Retrieved February 03, 2017, from http://cippn-fnpim.aadnc-

aandc.gc.ca/index-eng.html.

- This source provides info itself, and has many links towards further

information. Firstly, its an interactive map, which showcases this

groups territory, location and size. It showcases its relationship

with other reserves. It provides access to Statistics Canada, and

this aboriginals community website. It showcases the First

nations layout in great detail and lists its chief.

Huitema, M. Historical Algonquin Occupancy Algonquin Park. Retrieved

from

http://www.lynngehl.com/uploads/5/0/0/4/5004954/huitema_for_swinwood.p

df.

- This source is a historical document explaining the history of

Algonquin Claim Areas and Present-day Algonquin Claim Areas in

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

the Ontario Area. It explains in detail, petitions, claims and

correspondences that shaped the land Algonquins occupy in

Ontario. It explains certain establishments they put in place and

ideologies they hold.

Lawrence, B. (2012). Fractured Homeland. Toronto, ON: UBC Press.

- This source is an academic article in which the author, Bonita

Lawrence explains many things. She explains matters such as the

land claim Pikwakanagan Algonquins had in 1992, how they wished

to be recognized as Indians, and have struggled to get jurisdiction

of their lands. It explains how two-thirds of Indians arent

recognized as Indians, and its repercussions. A constant struggle

with identity and an unsure future.

Province of Ontario The Algonquin land claim. (n.d.). Retrieved March 8,

2017, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/algonquin-land-claim.

- This source provides information in regards to the Algonquin land

claim. It explains in detail every step of what has happened and

what is to be expected. It lists all the nations involved (including

the Pikwakanagan Algonquins, as they began this particular claim).

It also lists all the information which has to deal with the
The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

Preliminary Draft Agreement-in-Principle which was signed in

December 2012.

Revelle, R. (2003). I Am Algonquin: An Algonquin Quest. Toronto, ON:

Dundurn.

- This source is a novel written by Rick Revelle. It depicts what it

would be like to be an Algonquin living in the Ontario area in the

early fourteenth century. From how they learnt hunting skills,

rituals that made boys in to men, to the dangers of the worlds, this

novel delivers a glimpse of what being Algonquin is all about.

Statistics Canada -- 2006 Aboriginal Population Profile. (n.d.). Retrieved

February 03, 2017, from http://www12.statcan.ca/census-

recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-594/details/page.cfm?

Lang=E&Geo1=BAND&Code1=35630017&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=C

ount&SearchText=Algonquins of

Pikwakanagan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom.

- This source provides much information regarding the Algonquins of

Pikwakanagan. Its info varies from amounts of people whom

graduated with x degrees, the unemployment rate, population,

population identity, languages spoken, to much more. The statistics

are from just over 10 years ago, but the information provided is

quite extensive.
The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario
The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

3 Proposed Plan

i. Introduction:

There are many groups of first nations throughout Canada, this paper

will focus on the Pikwakanagan Algonquins of First Nation. Residing in

South-East Ontario, just south of Golden Lake, this Indian reserve has a

registered population of 2,651 as of January, 2017. The Pikwakanagans are

a proud people, one whom have strong ties to each other, and to their land.

With the reserve being in a very accessible location, surrounded by many

large cities, a 2016 surplus of $12,845,002, and a constant demand by the

people to the claim on their land, the Pikwakanagans may not be many in

number, but they are a strong people and have a strong community.

ii. Literature Review

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins, more so the Algonquins of Ontario

as a whole, have always been fighting for the claim on their land. Ever

since 1603 when, Samuel de Champlain first encountered Algonquins

in the Ottawa River watershed (Lawrence, 2012), there has been

conflicts as to who the Ottawa Valley belongs to. Many different

European colonies allied with different aboriginal groups, getting

them to fight with each other. Europeans were avid about controlling

this area as: The Ottawa River Valley was a strategic location in the

early 1600s because it was a vital trade route between the French
The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

traders on the St. Lawerence River and the Indian groups to the north

and west (Huitema, 2000). The Algonquins didnt settle well with

allowing the French to use their land, on the contrary: allowing the

French to use their lands as a conduit to other nations represented a

violation of their territorial integrity, (Lawrence, 2012). Regardless of

their wishes, the Europeans simply had too much power to be

stopped. Their exploitation continued, and in the 1800s, Algonquin

attempts to retain their homelands were being rejected by

government officials, and timber berths and land settlement policies

were displacing the Algonquin people with settlers and lumberers.

(Huitema, 2000). Time and time again, these people fought their land,

and even though they didnt win their battles, they kept fighting. Even

as close as 1992 you can find that: land claim negotiations began

between the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, the only federally

recognized Algonquin reserve in Ontario, the Province of Ontario, and

the Government of Canada, (Lawrence, 2012). On December 2012,

the province of Ontario and the Government of Canada signed a

Preliminary Draft Agreement-in-Principle where the Algonquins of

Ontario would receive: 117,500 acres of Crown Lands, $300 million

as settlement capital provided by Canada and Ontario and defined

Algonquin rights related to lands and natural resources, (Algonquin

Land Claim, 2012). The Algonquins still fight and a settlement and
The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

final agreement on behalf of these land claims will finally be reached

one day.

Data compiled by Statcan in 2006 showcases many things about

the Pikwakanagan Algonquins. Firstly, there were zero Algonquins in

the community that achieved a University diploma. Sixty though

graduated with a college/CEGEP diploma. Statcan listed there to be

280 total Aboriginals 15 years or over. Of those 280, 155 were in the

labor force, 135 employed, and 20 unemployed. With 120 not in the

labor force, this leaves an unemployment rate of 12.9%. Out of those

280, 185 of them have no postsecondary certificate, diploma, or

degree. Presently, the Pikwakanagans are going through the process

of electing a new chief and six councillors. There are 2 candidates for

chief and the selections for both chief and council members will be

decided on March 25, 2017. Since 2009, they elect a new chief and six

councilors every three years.

The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan released an annual report

stating multiple economic matters. It states that they spent

$63,717.00 to economically develop proposals for: the Career Fair,

Summer Students, Young Entrepeneur Symposium, Financial

Planning, Interview Techniques and Green House Project, (Annual

Report, 2016). That the Employment of Community Members,

received $316,611.00 which went to Youth Employmentm Synner

Students, Targeted Wage Subsidies, (Annual Report, 2016). That

The Pikwakanagan Algonquins of Ontario

twenty four members gained full time jobs, 26 part time jobs, and 64

members received employment services. 2 member owned business

were started, 2 full time jobs and 4 part time jobs were created.

Lastly, this report states that $6,871 was used for meeting with

KPMG to develop corporation properly for the purpose of joint venture

creations, (Annual Report, 2016).

iii. Conclusion