Eabemetoong First Nation Reserve (Canada)

From Eabemetoong First Nation

Eabemetoong First Nation Reserve is located 350 miles north of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Fort Hope

The name Fort Hope comes from long ago when the fur trade was booming in northern Ontario. Hudson Bay company built a trading post by the lake because the main form of transport was by canoe. This was back in the year 1890. The trading post was abandoned in the 1960's but later, a new store was built on reserve overlooking the lake. Nothing remains of the old trading post but it would have been nice if it was. Two churches were built at the old bay site, Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. The original churches are still standing and the cemetary is still in use today.

The site referred to as "Old bay" or "Old Fort Hope" is 6 km southwest of the reserve across Eabamet lake.

Eabametoong

Eabametoong is a traditional name which means " The reversing of the waterplace". 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 such as 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, 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" and flag were adopted in 1985.

From the flag presentation:

Our own flag?

The idea of having our own flag of Eabametoong (Fort Hope) was borne in the early 70's just as the Band/Reserve government was developing.

In 1974, a logo contest was conducted among the students of the John C. Yesno Elementary School. The Band Council under Chief Cornelius Nate selected the chosen logo which is a canoe between two teepees.

At that time, this selected logo was designed by a student named Peter Nate. However, the colours were not chosen until 1983. The three main colours emerged during the Road Impact Study headed by Andy Yesno. During the course of this study, research showed that the people of Eabametoong have and still depend heavily upon the land for survival.

Our flag will represent the people of Eabametoong, who are part of the Ojibway Nation of the Nishnawbe- Aski.

The Symbols

The symbols show the traditional ways of shelter and travel of our people as they roamed about Nishnawbe-Aski long ago and continue to do to this day.

The teepee was a portable home that was light to carry from place to place. The birchbark canoe was the primary mode of travel on the many rivers that formed the highways throughout the land. The teepee has been replaced with canvas tents of all shapes and sizes. The birchbark canoe has been replaced with wood and canvas canoes or aluminum boats.

These symbols on the flag are reminders of the way of life and culture of the Ojibway people. The Colours

The black teepee symbolizes our forefathers and present day people who have gone before us (dead) and their contribution to our culture. The red teepee represents the living (Blood) of the Ojibway people of Eabametoong today. The white canoe represents the Great Spirit, who has guided us, and will continue to guide us through our travel in life.

The three main colours that form the background of our flag symbolizes our determination and faith to continue to survive at Eabametoong.

Yellow - for as long as the sun shall shine
Green - for as long as the grass shall grow
Blue - for as long the rivers shall flow

We are the Ojibway Anishinabeg of Eabametoong. Our ancestors were nomadic and riverine.

The symbol of our flag represents the traditional methods of shelter and travel of our people as they roamed about the vast lakes and rivers of this great Nishnawbe- Aski.

Our culture and heritage is carried on through this flag by the interpretation of its various colors.

The black represents those of the people who have gone forward from this life.

The red represents those of the people who are still living today.

The white represents the creator as our guardian spirit.

Through the might and mercy of the great spirit we shall continue to survive for as long as the sun shines (yellow)
for as long as the grass grows (green)
for as long as the rivers flow (blue)
We are the Ojibway Nation.

The Eabametoong Flag

The flag identifies our past, present, and our future.
The flag identifies our culture and heritage.
The flag identifies our unity, and self determination.
The flag identifies our people of Eabametoong who are part of the great Ojibway Nation.

Valentin Poposki, 10 April 2006