About Us

 

Eabametoong is a traditional name which means “the reversing of the water place”. Each year due to water runoff, the water at Eabamet Narrows, which flows into the Albany River, reverses the flow back into Eabamet Lake for a short period of time. Before the fur trade, the people of Eabametoong lived at Eabamet Lake in seasonal locations because of the abundance of fish, including sturgeon, walleye, and whitefish. When the fur trading post and the missions were built, more people were drawn to take up residence close to the “Fort Hope” site.

 

In 1905, when the treaty was signed at Fort Hope, the Fort Hope Band and the Fort Hope Indian Reserve came into existence. At the time of the treaty signing, 500 people signed on. The new community of Eabametoong was started in 1982. The official name, Eabametoong First Nation, along with the community flag, was adopted in 1985.

 

1890 Hudson’s Bay Company establishes a fur trading post on Eabamet Lake.

 

1891 The outpost of Fort Hope is established at Attawapiskat Lake to separate the Indians and the fur traders.

 

1894 The Roman Catholic Church begins construction of a church building.

 

1898 Construction of the first Anglican Church is completed.

 

1899 The first calf is born at the outpost.

 

1905 The James Bay Treaty No.9 is signed.

 

1908 The first Peterborough canoes are brought in for the Hudson’s Bay Company.

 

1909 A survey of the reserve begins.

 

1911 The survey of the reserve is completed by Dobie on July 19th.

 

1920 Peterborough canoes replace birchback canoes.

 

1927 Gold is discovered at the Fort Hope mine (Round Lake).

 

1930's The first float planes enter the area and children begin attending Residential School.

 

1931 Fort Hope Reserve #64 is ratified by order-in-council.

 

1940 The First Nations Band surrenders the mineral rights and the reserve is declared open for exploration.

 

1940's A gold rush results in the discovery of gold deposits to the East of the reserve by Williamson.

 

1955 The first school is opened at Old Home Point on the reserve.

 

1958 Gold deposits are discovered by Little Long Lac Mines at the reserve lake.

 

1962 The present community settlement of Eabametoong begins to take shape.

 

1965 Construction of a new day school begins and the Residential School system ends.

 

1967 John C. Yesno officially opens the new school in September.

 

1969 Construction of a Generating System commences.

 

1970 Fort Hope Power Authority commences operation.

 

1971 A Nursing Station is built.

 

1973 Construction of airstrip commences.

 

1975 Telephone and radio communications arrive on reserve.

 

1976 A Co-operative Store and Police Station are opened.

 

1980 A forest fire destroys the Band Office, radio station, community hall and Hudson’s Bay Company building. 

 

1983 TV Ontario commences local telecasting.