Page 15 - Georgina Island

Our history tells us that these chiefs intended not to “surrender”
the land, but rather to guarantee its protection for their people.
The Anishinaabeg gained little from these agreements, although
promises were made for payment as the land was sold to
settlers. Most of these funds were not received at the time.
With the money that was received, Joseph Snake and his people
purchased Snake Island, Fox Island, and Georgina Island.

In 1830, the government established a post at present-day
Coldwater with the intent that the Anishinaabeg would settle
in this area, leaving the other lands for settlement by non- WORDS TO KNOW
Indigenous immigrants to the area. This move, arranged by settlement: a place where
the government, represented the first-ever establishment of a people have come to live and
make their homes
“reserve” in Canada. It is commonly known as the Coldwater–
Narrows Experiment.

The group of Anishinaabeg, under the leadership of Chief
Assance, settled Coldwater. Chief Yellowhead’s group moved to
the Lake Couchiching area on the northeast side of Lake Simcoe.
The third group, led by Chief Snake, moved to Snake Island near
the west of Lake Simcoe. This settlement continued, eventually
moving to the present-day site of Georgina Island First Nation in
the 1860s.

these chiefs intended

not to “surrender” the land,

but rather to guarantee its

protection for their people.

Georgina Island First Nation 13

ogemawahj_community_book1.indd 13 2019-02-27 10:32 AM