Across the far reaches of northwestern Ontario and over the provincial border into southeastern Manitoba lies the enormous swath of forested, lake-speckled land that is Treaty 3 territory. At more than 142,000 square kilometres, it is larger than the entire country of Greece and home to 28 First Nations communities with a total population of about 25,000 – an indication of just how rich in natural resources this area is.
These natural resources have long been a source of contention between the settlers looking to profit from them and the Indigenous Peoples caring for and protecting the land, but much has changed in the last 15 years. Just ask Chief Lorraine Cobiness, the elected Chief of the Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation.
“It’s so exciting, once you know and recognize the history,” notes Chief Cobiness, whose traditional name is Wapshkimikinaak’Ikwe, from Pizhou dodem (Lynx Clan). “We are of a very similar mindset now, where we’re sitting at the table as …