Page 18 - Chippewas of Rama First Nation

WORDS TO KNOW In 1830, the government established a post at present-day
reserve: The Government of
Canada defines reserves as
“land held by the Government
of Canada on behalf of First
Nations for the use and benefit
of First Nations.”
settlement: a place where
people have come to live and
make their homes
16 Chippewas of Rama First Nation
ogemawahj_community_book5.indd 16
Coldwater with the intent that the Anishinaabeg would settle in
this area, leaving the other lands for settlement by non-Indigenous
immigrants to the area. This move, arranged by the government,
represented the first-ever establishment of a “reserve” in Canada. It
is commonly known as the Coldwater–Narrows Experiment.
The experiment was not successful. This resulted in the community
dividing into three. Chief Yellowhead’s people returned to the
Narrows and then purchased land at the present site of Chippewas
of Rama First Nation, located in Ramara Township. Rama First
Nation is one of few reserve territories in Canada not established
by grant or treaty. Chief Snake’s group moved to Snake Island
near the south-west corner of Lake Simcoe. Chief Assance’s group
eventually settled on Christian Island in Georgian Bay.
This township of Ramara was originally known as Rama, so
the federal government came to identify the group as the
Chippewas of Rama Township. Over the next hundred years, the
group’s name was gradually shortened to Rama. We are now the
Chippewas of Rama First Nation.
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