Shoal Lake 40 First Nation

This article is about Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. For Shoal Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, see Shoal Lake First Nation.

Shoal Lake 40 First Nation (Ojibwe: Iskatewi-zaaga'iganiing 40)[1] is an Ojibway or Ontario First Nation reserve located in the Eastman Region of Manitoba and the Kenora District of Ontario. The total registered population in December 2022 was 683, of which the on-reserve population was 306.[2] The First Nation is a member of the Bimose Tribal Council, a Regional Chiefs' Council that is a member of the Grand Council of Treaty 3.

The community inhabits a man-made island. It is accessible via barge traffic from Iskatewizaagegan 39 First Nation's dock, located in the community of Kejick, Ontario, and in winter by ice roads. The construction of a new all-season road to link the community with the Trans-Canada Highway was secured after an agreement was reached between three levels of government on how the cost would be covered.[3] The road, aptly named Freedom Road, was eventually built between 2017 and 2019.[4]

The First Nation possesses basic infrastructure, limited retail outlets, and indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and provides local elementary schooling to grade 8.

  1. ^ https://211north.ca/first-nations/
  2. ^ "Registered Population (Shoal Lake No.40)". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. December 2022. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  3. ^ Feds give more for Freedom Road. Winnipeg Free Press, 12 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  4. ^ Government of Canada. "Shoal Lake 40 welcomes the opening of Freedom Road". Retrieved November 27, 2022.