Obadjiwan Reserve 15E

There are separate portions of Batchewana First Nation's territories that received official reserve status in 1967 and they are located approximately 80 kilometres North of Sault Ste Marie. Prior to the band's occupation of these lands, the Department of Transportation and Communication purchased two sections to maintain a lighthouse [Corbeil Point Light], which still stands today, and has been used as a residence since 1972.

The two sections that comprise Obadjiwon Reserve are located in the southeast corner of Lake Superior with a total land mass of 68 Hectares or 154 Acres.

This community and other Batchewana First Nation members who live nearby, in Batchawana Bay, have maintained their traditional lifestyles. Members continue their traditional practices by being involved in the local fishing industry both as independent operators or seasonal fishermen.

For more info, go to www.obadjiwan.org

A brief chronology:

Batchewana peoples have lived from time immemorial at the center of the Great Lakes region, at Bawating (Sault Ste. Marie) and inland. Fishing and fishing stations extended from Pukasaw River to Lake Huron.

Archaeological research has revealed an unbroken sequence of human occupation in the upper Great Lakes region for approximately 12,000 years.

Chief Joe Sayers Nebenaigoching, on behalf of the communities of Batchewana First Nation, signed the 1850 Robinson-Huron Treaty.

In 1859, the Pennefather Treaty was signed in which the Batchewana First Nation was defrauded of its' reserve territories under the 1850 Robinson-Huron Treaty. The Crown made certain promises in the 1859 Treaty that were never fulfilled.

In 1879 & 1885, land at Goulais Bay was purchased by from the government and shortly after, it was declared as Goulais Bay Reserve 15A.

In the early 1900's, the passing of the Chieftainship from father to son was outlawed along with culture and language.

In 1939, the Rankin Mining Location was purchased. It comprised approximately 4000 acres and it was later declared an Indian Reserve (1952).

In 1967, the Department of Transportation returned 154 acres of the original reserve at Corbiel Point to the Department of Indian Affairs. Subsequently, in 1967, a section of land was declared a reserve - Obadjiwon, 15E.

Geography
The Batchewana First Nation consists of six separate tracts of land. They are:
1. Goulais Bay - 1695 acres
2. Rankin - 4000 acres
3. Obadjiwon - 154 acres
4. Whitefish Island 122 acres
5. Batchawana Special Reserve - 27 lots
6. Batchewana Learning Centre - 8 acres

Batchewana's total land mass is equal to 2,241.4 hectares (5,538.4 acres). The majority of its members reside in the Algoma Region.

Batchewana has 2143 registered band members.

Please visit Batchewana's website for more information on the community.