Attawapiskat First Nation

Attawapiskat First Nation is a Mushkegowuk Cree–speaking community where Cree remains a dominant language in daily life, education, and cultural practice. The Nation actively supports language revitalization, Cree immersion programming, and Elder-led storytelling.

Cultural life includes:

• Annual goose harvests and canoe trips
• Cree syllabics education and signage
• Community feasts and land-based learning programs
• Moose hide tanning and beading workshops

Attawapiskat First Nation entered into Treaty 9 in 1905. Before colonization, the Mushkegowuk Cree people thrived in the region through seasonal hunting, fishing, and trading along the Hudson’s Bay fur trade routes. Their territory spans across wetland-rich boreal forest and tundra transition zones — among the most pristine in the world.

In the modern era, Attawapiskat became nationally recognized for bringing attention to housing crises, water safety, and the socio-economic challenges that persist despite the presence of major industrial developments nearby.

• Pre-1900s
  Cree families live seasonally along the James Bay coast, maintaining rich traditions of subsistence and inter-Nation trade.
• 1905–1906: Treaty 9 Signed
  Leaders sign the treaty under the belief that hunting, fishing, and land rights will be protected.
  Oral histories tell of promises not fully captured in the written treaty.
• 1930: Treaty 9 Extended
  More land is brought under Treaty 9. The Crown’s interpretation continues to be disputed.
• 1950s–1960s: Reserve Establishment and Settlement
  The Attawapiskat reserve is formalized as permanent housing replaces seasonal encampments.
• 1970s–1990s: Environmental Displacement and Infrastructure Challenges
  Flooding, permafrost erosion, and poor infrastructure force parts of the community to relocate.
• 2000s–Present: Resource and Environmental Advocacy
  Attawapiskat gains national attention for raising concerns about unsafe drinking water, housing conditions, and the impact of nearby diamond mining operations like Victor Mine.

Attawapiskat First Nation maintains a strong governance structure rooted in Cree law and treaty rights, actively engaging in regional and national partnerships to protect its interests and shape economic development.

Governed by an elected Chief and Council, Attawapiskat is a member of:

• Mushkegowuk Council
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN)
• Wabun Tribal Council (for some service delivery coordination)
• Attawapiskat’s leadership is active in negotiations on Indigenous rights, environmental law, and equitable benefit-sharing from resource development.

Attawapiskat First Nation Joint Ventures(JVs) and Economic Development

Despite challenges, Attawapiskat First Nation has pursued multiple joint ventures, with a strong emphasis on protecting land and securing revenue for future generations.

Key Initiatives:

• Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs) with De Beers Canada related to the Victor Diamond Mine (abandoned mine)
• Attawapiskat Resources Inc. – Community-owned development corporation
• JV contracts in camp services, security, transport, and environmental monitoring
• Participation in Renewable Energy Pilot Projects in collaboration with research institutions
• Ongoing priorities include diversifying the local economy, improving training access, and reclaiming leadership in resource governance.

Attawapiskat First Nation has long expressed concern about the ecological risks associated with upstream mining activity in the Ring of Fire. The community emphasizes:

• Water and Wetland Monitoring: Albany and Attawapiskat River systems
• Mercury Testing and Wildlife Tracking: Especially post-Victor Mine
• Climate Resilience: Infrastructure design to withstand permafrost thaw and flooding
• Youth Land Programs: Training in traditional skills and climate science

Attawapiskat First Nation is located in the heart of the Hudson Bay Lowlands, a globally significant ecological region that supports biodiversity, cultural harvesting, and historic mining development.

• Hudson Bay Lowlands: One of the largest intact peatland ecosystems on Earth
• Bird Migration Routes: A stopover for thousands of waterfowl species
• Rich in Traditional Medicines: The muskeg and shoreline are sources of spiritual and healing plants
• Proximity to Victor Diamond Mine: First diamond mine in Ontario, now closed

• Chief Theresa Spence: Attawapiskat First Nation national figure during the Idle No More movement
• Danny Metatawabin: Indigenous rights advocate and environmental speaker
• Youth Leaders of Attawapiskat High School: Regular contributors to community action and reconciliation programs

• First Cree Immersion School in the Region: Emphasis on language preservation
• Goose Break: Spring migration season still marks a school and work holiday
• Frequent Aurora Borealis Sightings: The northern location offers some of the best aurora views in Canada
• Traditional Ice Roads: Built each winter to connect to Moosonee and other communities
• Local Radio Station: CKMT-FM 89.9 FM, broadcasts daily in Cree and English with cultural programming