Historical Overview

The Garden River First Nation Reserve was created in 1850 with the signing of the Robinson Treaty #61. The recorded history of Garden River begins, or seems to, with Shingwaukonce (meaning Little Pine) and carries on through his two sons, Augustine and Buhgujjene, to the present day.

Different trade and Intercourse Acts passed by the U.S. Congress to restrict the movement of Natives across the border in 1796, 1799, and 1802. A group of warriors from the Sault area, under Shingwaukonce, fought for the British in the War of 1812. Legend has it that it was Shingwaukonce who killed General Brock at the "Battle of Queenston Heights." Shingwaukonce was one of the 12 Chiefs awarded medals from the British government for helping defend Upper Canada. This medal is still in possession of the Pine Family.

The Garden River First Nation has also been involved in international treaties and exercised its sovereignty on a number of occassions. When the United States Commission arrived in Sault Ste. Marie in 1820 and raised their flag, the Garden River First Nation people pulled it down.

Geography

In 1850, the government commissioned William B. Robinson to negotiate a treaty with the Indians along the shores of Superior and Huron, thus extinguishing the Indian title. The resultant treaty claimed land, "Penetanguishene to Sault Ste. Marie, and thence to Batchewanaung Bay on the northern shore of Lake Superior, together with the islands," Garden River Indian Reserve created in the Schedule of Reservations, number 14, where it states, "a tract of land extending from Makinonge Bay, inclusive to Partridge Point, above Garden River on the fron, an inland 10 miles throughout the whole distance, and also Squirrel Island." The Band also received 2,000 pounds of outright and further "perpetual annuity of six hundred pounds."

Currently, the total land base is determined at 14,901.3 Hectares. Garden River First Nation has acquired 3,492.615 hectares of land as of April 2003 (8,626 acres), however has not been officially recorded and is under review. New acquired lands are being transferred after negotiations took place pursuant to the 1986 Indian Lands Agreement. Lands were transferred from the province of Ontario to Canada and involve sections in the townships of Anderson and Chesley. Total land base will gross to 18,393.915 hectares.

As of December 2003, Garden River currently has 2079 registered members living on and off the reserve.

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