Page 7 - Beausoleil First Nation

his book tells of our community, Beausoleil First Nation. We
want to share with you some information about how we live
and how we came to live this way. As you come to know us,
Tyou will learn to appreciate the diversity of our people. You
will come to know that we have a unique way of life, but that
we also live in much the same way as members of neighbouring
WORDS TO KNOW
communities. Although we have special traditions, we generally
diversity: variety
eat, learn, shop, and play in much the same way as other
Canadians in Southern Ontario. You will come to know that federal: to do with the national
government of Canada
through the Indian Act, we are bound to federal and provincial
Indian Act: federal laws that
governments like no other ethnic group in Canada. As a result,
govern all parts of life for
we live under federal and provincial laws, even though many First Nations people who are
registered under the act
of our traditional ways of life, including hunting and harvesting,
have been considered illegal by the Ontario and Canadian
governments. We are working to change these laws.

There are many cultural groups that make up the fabric of
Canada. We are one of those groups, but we have our own place
in that fabric. We are one of the First Nations in this country
and we take great pride in that unique and special status. We
consider ourselves to be forward-thinking and are proud of the
steps we have taken to make sure we control our own affairs.

Our hope is that as you read about us, you will come to better
understand and recognize our place in this country.

NAMES WE ARE KNOWN BY
Throughout history, we have been referred to in many Ojibwe – generally refers to a specific tribe of people
ways. You will find many of those names in this book.
Native – sometimes used to refer to the original people
These names are still used informally and formally, but
of this land
we call ourselves Anishinaabeg (Ah-nish-in-aw-beg),
plural, and Anishinaabe (Ah-nish-in-aw-beh), singular. For
Indian – refers to the original people of this land, but
example, someone who is Anishinaabe may say, “I am
today is used only in reference to the Indian Act (see
Anishinaabe of the Anishinaabeg.” Sometimes, you may
page 66 of the Resources section for more information
see our name spelled as Anishinabek (Ah-nish-in-aw-
about the Indian Act)
bek). This form usually relates to a formal political group
called “The Anishinabek Nation.”
First Nation or First Nations – generally refers to the
people or land-base of the original people who reside or
are connected by birth or marriage to lands reserved in
Canada for the original people

Beausoleil First Nation 5

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