Getting To Know Marten Falls (Ogoki Post) Ontario First Nation “Wegwajiwanang”, “end of rapids”. (compiled 2015)
Getting To Know Marten Falls (Ogoki Post) Ontario First Nation “Wegwajiwanang”, “end of rapids”. (compiled 2015)
Link to the “communities” page
Marten Falls First Nation
General Delivery, Ogoki
Ontario P0T 2L0
1 (807) 349 – 2509
In the early 1900’s, First Nation people moved to the present location from Marten Falls, which was once the “Capital of the fur empire”. A Hudson’s Bay Company post, known as Ogoki (“where the waters converge”) Post was built there after their arrival. They now refer to their community as “Wegwajiwanang”, “end of rapids”.
Marten Falls First Nation is located 100 air miles north of Nakina Ontario or 250 air miles north east of Thunder Bay at the junction of the Ogoki and Albany Rivers. Marten Falls First Nation is the same community as Ogoki Post. The original Marten Falls community relocated to the Albany and Ogoki river junction in 1926. Hence, Marten Falls receives its name from the waterfalls, 50 miles upriver from the current site. The original community and trading post existed for over 250 years before the relocation to the current site. The community of Marten Falls First Nation has a membership of 650 plus and is a young community demographically. Approximately, half of the population reside in Marten Falls and half live off reserve. –
Marten Falls 65 is located in Ontario
Coordinates: 51°40′N 85°55′WCoordinates: 51°40′N 85°55′W
Area
- Land 81.43 km2 (31.44 sq mi)
Population (2011)
- Total 190
- Density 2.3/km2 (6/sq mi)
Website community.matawa.on.ca
Marten Falls First Nation is an Anishinaabe First Nation reserve located in northern Ontario. The First Nation occupies communities on both sides of the Albany River in Northern Ontario, including Ogoki Post (Ojibwe: Ogookiing) in the Cochrane District and Marten Falls in the Kenora District. As of December 2013, the First Nation had a total registered population of 728 people, of which their on-reserve population was 328 people.
Ogoki is a First Nation community managed by the Marten Falls Band. It has a registered population of roughly four hundred people, with additional transient residents fulfilling healthcare, teaching or policing roles. The town is served by Ogoki Post Airport, and has its own community radio station, CKFN 89.9 FM (a repeater of CKWT-FM.)
There is no road access to the community outside of winter roads. However, since 2000 there has not been a winter road into the community. Travel and transportation is currently on a fly-in basis only.
The Marten Falls First Nation elects their council members through the Act Electoral System for a two-year term, consisting of a chief and five councillors. The current chief is Elijah Moonias, whose term began on September 30, 2013, and will last until September 29, 2015. The five councillors are: Ambrose Achneepineskum, Anna Achneepineskum, Paul Achneepineskum, Lance Baxter, Shane Baxter, Linda Moonias and Tom Moonias.
Council
As a signatory to Treaty 9, the Marten Falls First Nation is a member of the Matawa First Nations, a Regional Chief’s Council, and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a Tribal Political Organization representing majority of the First Nations in northern Ontario. Through these council memberships, the First Nation receives additional services, ranging from Economic Development assistance and Health Care assistance to Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service.
Services
In order to implement services to the First Nation, the following assist the council carrying out these services to the community:
Health Director – Bruce Achneepineskum
Assistant to Health Director – Evelyn Baxter
NNADAP Worker – Leona Achneepineskum
The healthcare in the community is serviced by a First Nations Inuit Health (a branch of Health Canada) clinic staffed by community health nurses (CHN). There is a K-8 school (Henry Coaster Memorial School) that staffs teachers from both outside the community and within the First Nation. The on-reserve version of Children’s Aid is provided through Tikinagan Child and Family Services. Ogoki is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal-based service.
Reserve
The First Nation have reserved for themselves the 7770.1 ha Marten Falls Indian Reserve 65, located on the north bank of the Albany River, about 170 km northeast of Nakina, Ontario.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marten_Falls_First_Nation
Marten Falls First Nation live on the Albany river, almost 200 kms north of Nakina, Ontario. The community is primarily accessible by plane.
Passionate about preserving their cultural heritage, the people of Marten Falls are equally dedicated to ensuring a broad and inclusive future for their children. Recently, they took a trip up the Albany to their traditional camp at the Falls. While they endeavor to pass on their heritage, they are also fully engaged in the present.
http://www.mikawaa.com/home/item/223-marten-falls-first-nation
Description & Services
Public Comments Tribal Council: Matawa First Nations
Primary Tribal Organization: Nishnawbe-Aski Nation (NAN)
Treaty #9
Community only accessible through year-round flights (daily Mon-Sat) from Nakina with Nakina Air Service; winter road has not been used since 2000; large freight shipped in on barges via Albany River in summer when water levels permit
Community situated in 2 districts: Marten Falls on N bank of Albany River is in Kenora District, Ogoki Post on S bank of river is in Cochrane District
Tikinagan office in Marten Falls: 807-349-1104 (ph); 807-349-1126 (fax)
Description (Agency) Operates a self government and is responsible for the day to day operations of the Marten Falls First Nation
Agency Services
Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Child and Family Services
Crisis Intervention
Economic Development
Education Department
Extended Health Benefits
Fire Department
Health Centre
Home and Community Care
Immunization Clinic
Medical Transportation Program
National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program
Ontario Works
Operations and Maintenance
School
Description (Service)
Operates a self government and is responsible for the day to day operations of the First Nation
Offers several small private businesses including Bigfoot Variety store and G&R Petroleum, a gas/retail outlet
Provides a Canada Post postal station
Offers guest accommodations at both Ogoki Inn and Contractors Cabin
Serviced through flights to/from Marten Falls Airport, administered and operated by Ministry of Transportation
Provides the following programs and services:
Administration (Band office)
Child and Family Services
Economic Development
Education Department
Education Department, Henry Coaster Memorial School
Fire Department
Health Centre (Muskeg Thunder Clinic)
Health Centre, Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children
Health Centre, Home & Community Care
Health Centre, Immunization Clinic
Health Centre, Medical Transportation
Health Centre, National Native Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program
Ontario Works
Operations and Maintenance
Hours Mon-Fri 9 am-12 noon, 1 pm-5 pm
Areas Served Marten Falls First Nation
Eligibility Members and residents of Ogoki Post and Marten Falls First Nation
Languages English ; Interpretive Services – Ojibway, available upon request
Fees None
Additional Services at this Site
Child and Family Services
Economic Development
Education Department
Extended Health Benefits
Ontario Works
Operations and Maintenance
Contact Information
Office Phone 807-349-2509
Fax 807-349-2511
Primary Contact Kim Achneepineskum, Band Secretary
Primary Executive Elijah K Moonias, Chief; Phone: (Cell) 807-620-3279 * 807-349-2509 ext 222
Alternate Executive Linda Moonias, Band Manager; Phone: 807-349-2509 ext 223
Site Location Community is 170 km NE of Nakina, 300 km NE of Thunder Bay; occupies N & S banks of Albany River
Located In Community Marten Falls First Nation
Address Ogoki Post, ON P0T 2L0
Mailing Address c/o Marten Falls First Nation Band Office
General Delivery
Ogoki Post, ON P0T 2L0
Accessibility Not Accessible
http://search.211north.ca/record/TBC0270
Booshoo:
Illustrated on this page are just a few of the flowering plants that occur on and near the Marten Falls First Nation community.
The flowering plants were photographed between July 24 and July 26, 2002. Plants were photographed in the community and along the Albany River. There are some unique factors that influence the types of flora in the area: the local limestone bedrock is rich in calcium and magnesium carbonate minerals – this creates soils that are alkaline glaciers have deposited thick till that is composed of these carbonate-rich rock fragments and is also alkaline the growing season is short – the area lies within the plant hardiness zone 1a.
About The Marten Falls First Nation community
The Marten Falls First Nation community is located about:
400 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario
900 km northwest of Toronto, Ontario
700 km northwest of Sudbury, Ontario
800 km north east-northeast of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Marten Falls First Nation is located at the junction of the Ogoki River and the Albany River in northwestern Ontario, in the James Bay Lowlands.
The community is only accessible year-round by air and in some years by winter road. The community has a population of about 250 people. The community is situated within the geographic area described in the James Bay Treaty #9 Treaty.
In the early 1900’s, First Nation people moved to the present location from Marten Falls, which was once the “Capital of the fur empire”. A Hudson’s Bay Company post, known as Ogoki (“where the waters converge”) Post was built there after their arrival. They now refer to their community as “Wegwajiwanang”, “end of rapids”.
Local Habitat:
Marten Falls First Nation reserve occurs in the taiga of the James Bay Lowlands.
Taiga includes a mix of land, including swampy areas and drier areas with small trees and shrubs. It is a transitional area between the boreal forests to the south and the flat, treeless Tundra to the north. The flat poorly drained area supports extensive wetlands consisting of swamps, bogs, and patterned fens that overlie clay and sand deposits and the old carbonate sedimentary rocks.
Soils are organic, cold, moist and may be frozen for much of the year. Vegetation generally consists of black spruce and tamarack in the muskeg. On raised land or along river edges, such as the Albany, broad-leaved tress, such as aspen, poplar and birch occur with the coniferous trees.
The bedrock in this area consists of ancient, Ordovician and Silurian sedimentary rocks that are about 500 million and 425 million years old respectively. About 10,000 years ago, glaciers scraped over the area and deposited lime-rich mineral till eroded from the rocks around Hudson’s Bay and James Bay.
Hence, the plants grow in lime-rich and clay-rich, cold, moist soil.
Flights to Marten Falls
Flights To Marten Falls Ontario – Marten Falls known also as Ogoki Post is a First Nations Community located in Northwestern Ontario on the Ogoki River northeast of Nakina, Ontario There is no road access to Marten Falls, other than a winter ice road which during the coldest months of the year is used for transporting bulk fuel and building supplies.
Scheduled flights to Marten Falls / Ogoki Post are available through Wasaya Airways with departures out of Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout. In addition, Nakina Air Service operates a sked between Thunder Bay – Nakina – Marten Falls / Ogoki Post.
http://www.flightstothunderbay.com/flights_to_marten_falls.htm
Videos and Articles About Marten Falls Ontario
The Community
A fly around the Marten Falls Area with song (3 min. 2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rBmhWCN6-k
A drive around Marten Falls (10min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElbINes_XdI
Greats Videos of a Teacher’s Return to Marten Falls Ont
Intro to Call of Wild part 1. A return of teacher and her kids to Ogogki (4 min 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJnjY3hamT4
Call of the wild part 2. Starting interview with residential school survivor (7 min. 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mqg93azjgdM
Call of the Wild part 3. Residential School testimony. Pics of the area (9 min 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnD6zdPWG44
Call of the wild part 4. Chief Monias testimony and embracing culture (9 min. 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iweyQhKB_yE
Call of the wild part 5. Teachers compares past and present (4 min 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XIfQFFCh4M
Call of the wild part 6. The chief and his testimony on traditional ways (4min 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtScIEYvVJ4
Fishing
Fishing Ogoki River (2 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kim5vxOWpdQ
Water Crisis
Article and video link about Marten Falls water crisis in 2014
Addictions
Article on oxycontin abuse Marten Falls 2011
http://www.netnewsledger.com/2011/09/19/marten-falls-first-nation-steps-up-fight-on-drug-abuse/
Mining Articles and Videos
Mining and community. Videos of community (3 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qivFsuxU7RQ
Concerns about mining in Marten Falls 2012- article
2010 article about mining encroachment
http://www.media.knet.ca/node/22011
An agreement of understanding between Marten Falls and mining company-2012 article
Article about a statement of understanding with the mining companies. 2010.
http://www.newswire.ca/fr/story/576087/historic-first-nations-signing-for-ring-of-fire-discoveries
Article about road building study 2010
http://news.ontario.ca/mndmf/en/2010/04/marten-falls-first-nation-assessing-road-options.html
Article on planned blockade of the work camp near Marten Falls 2011
http://www.wawataynews.ca/archive/all/2011/1/26/marten-falls-planning-ring-fire-blockade_20976
Youth Productions
Story with setting in Marten Falls (10 min. 2011) Girl and Raven
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrgTNP17vTo
The Land Speaks Video by 5-7 graders (5 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=top2DSxu_Cc
Film direction tips in Marten Falls (8 min. 2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8N9jWzwsik
Song “Find My Way Home” by students (3 min. 2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wf2_xTAAu0
A home on Marten Falls First Nation…Photos for Ring of Fire story. shot 500km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario, their land sits on a “world class” deposit of chromite. March 18, 2010. (Tanya Talaga/Toronto Star)
Children outside a playground at Marten Falls First Nation which sits on a “world class” deposit of chromite. March 18, 2010. (Tanya Talaga/Toronto Star)
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