Bearskin Lake First Nation

Bearskin Lake
Indian reserve
Bearskin Lake Indian Reserve
Aerial view of Bearskin Lake First Nation on Michikan Lake
Bearskin Lake
Coordinates: 53°55′29″N 90°58′10″W / 53.92472°N 90.96944°W / 53.92472; -90.96944[1]
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
District	Kenora
First Nation	Bearskin Lake
Area [2]
• Land	125.78 km2 (48.56 sq mi)
Elevation [3]	230 m (750 ft)
Population  (2006)[2]
• Total	459

Bearskin Lake First Nation (Severn Ojibwa: ᒥᒋᑲᐣ ᓴᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ)^[4] is an Oji-Cree First Nation reserve in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada, located 425 kilometres (264 mi) north of Sioux Lookout. Bearskin First Nation's total registered population as of March 2014^[update] was 900, of which their on-reserve population was 461.

Three settlements make up the Bearskin Lake First Nation. Originally located on Bearskin Lake 50 kilometres (31 mi) to the southwest, their main community moved to its present site on Michikan Lake ("Fish Trap Lake") in the 1930s and is accessible only by air from Bearskin Lake Airport or winter road. The main village is situated on the west shore of the lake^[1] and all three settlements are linked to one another by all weather gravel roads. The First Nation still retains the 12,626.3-hectare (31,200-acre) Bearskin Lake Indian Reserve^[5] in which all three lie. The reserve also contains a segment of the Severn River, into which Michikan Lake flows, and of Severn Lake.

Prior to achieving full Band and reserve status in 1975, Bearskin was a satellite community of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (Big Trout Lake First Nation), 72 kilometres (45 mi) to the east. Today, Bearskin Lake First Nation is a member of the Windigo First Nations Council, a regional tribal council that is a member of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Bearskin Lake is policed by the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, an Aboriginal-based service.