Long Lake First Nation

Long Lake First Nation (Long Lake #58) is part of the Ojibwe language group, and Anishinaabemowin is preserved through intergenerational teachings, cultural days, and school-based programming. The community holds powwows, seasonal feasts, and Elders’ storytelling events to maintain cultural continuity.

Cultural priorities include:

• Preservation of oral history
• Intergenerational moose and goose harvesting
• Traditional craft revival (e.g., birchbark canoe building)

The Long Lake First Nation community is a signatory to Treaty 9, signed in 1906 and reaffirmed during the 1929–30 adhesions. The territory surrounding Long Lake has historically been used for trapping, canoe trade routes, and spiritual sites.

The arrival of the Canadian National Railway and later Highway 11 reshaped land use patterns, connecting LL58FN more directly to resource corridors and outside governance.

• Pre-1900s
  Ojibwe-speaking families live throughout the Long Lake region, practicing subsistence lifestyles through hunting, fishing, and medicine gathering.
• 1905–1906: Treaty 9 Signed
  Ancestors of Long Lake #58 enter Treaty 9, expecting continued access to land and resources. Oral traditions emphasize a spirit of mutual respect not reflected in written text.
• 1929–30: Treaty Extension
  More of the community’s traditional territory is brought under Treaty 9 provisions. Legal interpretations remain a matter of contention.
• 1914–1950s: Rail and Relocation
  Families relocate near the Canadian National Railway for employment and trade; the community becomes known as Long Lake #58.
• 1960s–1980s: Impact of Indian Act and Schools
  Long Lake First Nation community members face significant challenges under the Indian Act, including forced attendance at residential and day schools.
• 2000s–Present: Nation Rebuilding and Resource Advocacy
  Long Lake #58 engages in consultation processes, land use planning, and environmental oversight, particularly in relation to forestry and mining projects impacting the region.

Long Lake 58 First Nation is governed by a Chief and Council and is an active member of Matawa First Nations Management and Nokiiwin Tribal Council. Its governance emphasizes youth leadership, health and wellness, and land protection.

Long Lake First Nation Joint Ventures and Economic Development

Long Lake First Nation has pursued Joint Ventures (JVs) and partnerships in:

• Construction and Logistics: Supporting highway, hydro, and mining exploration projects.
• Cultural Monitoring Services: Providing land use and archaeological review.
• Long Lake Development Corporation: Facilitating community-owned economic projects.
• Training Partnerships: With Confederation College and trades unions.

Notable JV Example:

• Rapid Lynx Telecommunications JV – Fiber internet partnership serving LL58FN and nearby communities.

Long Lake First Nation is strategically located near key Ring of Fire staging areas and has been involved in consultations for road access, transmission corridors, and aggregate extraction with mining companies.

Key Focus Areas:

• Highway infrastructure and culvert upgrades
• Environmental review protocols for road development
• Coordination with Greenstone and Longlac municipalities

Located along the northern shore of Long Lake, Long Lake First Nation maintains a strong environmental stewardship role, balancing traditional knowledge and modern practices to protect its vital ecological landscapes.

• Lakefront Stewardship: Protection of Long Lake’s shoreline and fish habitats
• Forest Management: Collaborative planning for local harvests and fire mitigation
• Wildlife Coexistence: Monitoring of bear, moose, and waterfowl pattern

• Chief Judy Desmoulin – Prominent advocate for mental health, economic opportunity, and sustainable development.
• Elders Council – Advises on land, language, and educational initiatives.

• Canoe Heritage: The area was historically a key stop on Anishinaabe trade routes.
• Highway 11 Corridor: LL58FN is one of the few First Nations located directly along this vital northern highway.
• Cultural Celebrations: Hosts the “Spirit of the Pike” gathering each summer.
• Language Efforts: Local schools teach Ojibwe as a second language with Elder support.
• Trapping Legacy: Traditional traplines still operate as part of the local economy and youth mentorship.