History
Jan 22, 2021
Early History
In the mid eighteenth century Aamjiwnaang territory covered a vast expanse of land on both sides of the waterway between Lakes Huron and Erie. Bounded by the Maitland River in the east and the Flint River in the west it contained some nine villages supporting a population of 15,000. Aamjiwnaang is an Ojibwa word denoting an important gathering place that had been used by First Nations for millennia. This gathering place was located at the foot of Lake Huron. The people who lived in this vibrant and prosperous band called Aamjiwnaang were members of the Anishnaabek First Nation. The French called us Saulteaux Ojibwe. The British and later the Americans called us Chippewa.
Beginning in the 1750’s Aamjiwnaang’s prosperity and population came under siege. We were allies first with the French and then the British. Multiple wars took their toll on our young men. At the same time outbreaks of cholera and small pox further decimated the population. In 1827 our population was enumerated at 440 on the Ontario side of the border and 275 in Michigan. Aamjiwnaang’s territory had also been reduced by several land cessation treaties to seven small reserves containing a total of approximately 25,000 acres.
Modern History
In 1807 we signed the Treaty of Detroit ceding all of our territory in Michigan. The treaty created two reservations, one at Swan Creek just south of Algonac and one at the mouth of the Black River at Port Huron. In 1827 we signed Treaty 29 ceding the remainder of our lands in Ontario to the British Colonial Government. This treaty created four reserves, one along the southern boundary of St. Clair Township, one at Sarnia, and two on Lake Huron. One located at Kettle Point and the other at the mouth of the Au Sauble River. The name Aamjiwnaang would disappear from the written record and fall out of general use until recently when it was revived and adopted as the name of the reserve located at Sarnia.
During the decades between 1850 and 1950 the community of Sarnia began to encroach upon the north end of Aamjiwnaang. Through a series of treaties our lands were reduced from over 10,000 acres to approximately 3,100 acres. Today Aamjiwnaang remains a vibrant, prosperous community interacting on excellent terms with the communities that surround us.
History of Chiefs
Animkeence
30+ years – Up to 1827
Chiefs since the signing of the Treaty of 1827
Joshua Wawanosh
1827 – 1844
1848 – 1853
1867 – 1870
David Wawanosh
1853-1867
Nicholas Plain
1870 – 1874
1882 – 1884
William Wawanosh
1874 – 1877
1899 – 1901
John Sumner
1877 – 1882
Francis Wilson Jacobs
1884 – 1899
1901 – 1907
Peter Rodd
1907 – 1910
Elijah Maness
1910 – 1919
1922 – 1934
Daniel Otter
1919 – 1922
Nicholas Plain Jr.
1934 – 1940
Telford Adams
1940 – 1946
1949 – 1956
1958 – 1964
Kenneth Plain
1946 – 1949
Lloyd Williams
1956 – 1958
Christopher Adams
1964 – 1966
Frederick Plain
1966 – 1969
Aylmer Plain
1969 – 1970
Gerald Maness
1970 – 1976
Ray Rogers
1976 – 1988
1998 – 2000
Phillip Maness
1988 – 1998
2000 – 2005
Christopher Plain
2005 – 2016
2018 – current
Joanne Rogers
2016 – 2018
Source: https://www.aamjiwnaang.ca/history/
