Walpole Island



MIGRATION | DEMOGRAPHICS | WAR OF 1812 | MAPS | GETTING THERE | REFERENCES | | FLORA | WALPOLE NUMBERS | HARSEN'S ISLAND & CHENAL ECARTE | NEAT OLD PICTURES | BLACK ASH BASKETS | POTTAWATOMI LANGUAGE CONFERENCE 2008 HUNTING/FISHING/BOAT MOOR/PERMIT INFO | WALLACEBURG LINKS

Welcome -  

[bridge]

Walpole Island Bridge
view from the mainland and one from the Top of bridge.

the Old way

Quick History

"Our present-day community is nestled between Ontario and Michigan at the mouth of the St. Clair River. The modern delta emerged only 6,000 years ago. This place is known to us as Bkejwanong, the-place-where-the waters-divide. It is also known as Walpole Island, named after the "warpoles" which were long wooden starves planted in the ground with the emblems of the First Nations on them. These warpoles were seen by the early visitors. Bkejwanong has been occupied by Aborginal people for thousands of years. It is today home to 3,000:

Although the Pottawatomi settled permanently at Walpole Island only after 1836, they had used the territory of southwestern Ontario at a much earlier date.

[office]

Walpole Council House

Having a commmon heritage they formed the Three Fires Confederacy - a political and cultural compact that has served us well. The "Island" is blessed with a unique ecosystem including 6,900 hectares of the most diverse wetlands in all of the Great Lakes Basin. Actually, Walpole Island consists of six islands with Walpole being the largest. The land portion of the"reserve" contains a total of 58,000 acres. I use the term "reserve" lightly because in fact Walpole Island has never been founded, legislationed, established, set apart or surveyed as a "reserve".

Walpole Island has the distinction of being "unceded territory". This fact, together with its natural and human resources, makes Walpole Island a very special place. Walpole Island is also known for its rare flora and fauna. Our local economy is highly diverse and rich. It is dependant on the bounty of the land and its fruits. Our lands and waters still support recreation and tourism. Hunting, fishing, and trapping is a mulit-million dollar industry in our community. Even though we are the southern most reserve in Canada citizens of our First Nation, incredibly can still support their families through hunting, fishing, trapping and guiding activities. These traditional activities are central to our economic base and cultural integrity".


Authored by Kendall Sands. First created January 18, 1997. Last worked on June 30 , 2008 with a rebuild anticipated when I'm back in Ann ArborGO BLUE!
I"ve added more pix and some content...I will be updating and adding to the site. Thanks for looking.