Opitciwan First Nation

Phonetic: O-pit-chi-ouan Territory map Company Name1 : Bande des Atikamekw d'Opitciwan Chief: Mr. Christian Awashish Deputy chief: Mr. Fernand Denis-Damée Councillors: Ms. Martine Awashish Mr. Roger Chachai Mr. Paul Awashish Mr. Martin Awashish Mr. Marc Awashish Languages: Atikamekw, french Adress: 22, rue Amish (C.P. 135) Obedjiwan (Québec) G0W 3B0 Phone: 819-974-8837 819-974-1272 Fax: 819-974-8828 ou 1272 Web site: www.opitciwan.ca

DEMOGRAPHY

Population
Number of persons within the community	Number of persons outside the community	Total
2 169	423	2 592

Reference: Indian Registry, AANDC, December 2010

GEOGRAPHY

Territory Name:	Obedjiwan Reserve
Type of territory:	Indian reserve
Surface:	773 hectares (1 910.1 acres)
Localisation:	The community is located on the north shore of the Gouin Reservoir, 143 kilometres south of Chibougamau, approximately halfway between the Lac Saint-Jean plain and the Abitibi region.
Remoteness Factor:	Year-round road access and located at more than 350 kilometres from the nearest service center.

POLITIC

Elections:	Customary process
Tribal Council 2:	Conseil de la nation Atikamekw
Member of Parliament:	Ms. Lise St-Denis, New Democratic Party (NDP) Saint-Maurice-Champlain
Provincial MNA:	Ms. Julie Boulet, Parti Libéral du Québec (PLQ) Laviolette

ECONOMY

Economic activities are concentrated primarily in forestry, transport, arts and handicrafts, trapping, construction and trapping.

The reserve territory is home to about a dozen businesses, including: general store, video club, restaurant, garage, daycare centre, hair salon, community radio station, etc. There are also a number of companies specializing in the forestry (sawmilling and forestry services) and transport sectors.

EDUCATION

Band School^{AANDC) funds band councils and First Nation education authorities for the education of children in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who attend schools on reserves or who attend provincially-run schools off reserve. Approximately 60% of First Nations students are taught on reserve, almost always in schools operated by a band council, another First Nations organization, or a federal school. ">3} on the territory:

School Name:	École Niska
Grades:	Pre-kindergarden to Elementary 6
Number of students:	464 (2008-2009)

School Name:	École Secondaire Mikisiw
Grades:	Secondary 1 to Secondary 5
Number of students:	422 (2008-2009)

School Enrolment 2008-2009
	Band School	Provincial School	Total
Pre-kindergarden	74		74
Kindergarden	61		61
Elementary	329		329
Secondary	422	12	434
Total :	886	12	898

Reference : Nominal Roll, AANDC (2008-2009)

Number of students funded by postsecondary program^{AANDC) provides financial support to eligible Status Indians and Inuit students under broad authorities of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act to continue their education. ">4} : 30
Reference: Post-Secondary list, AANDC (2008-2009)

COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURES

 

Fire protection:	Fire station, fire engine, firefighting equipment, hydraulic spreader (jaws of life)
Police services:	Provided by the Aboriginal police force recognized under an agreement between the Band council, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec.
Medical care:	Nursing station managed by the Band council under a transfer agreement with Health Canada.
Waste disposal:	Landfill site on reserve, collection provided by the Band council
Main community facilities:	Library, community radio, youth centre, community hall, church and outdoor skating rink
Water Supply:	Untreated, unfiltered groundwater; household supply water piped from water supply mains
Sewers:	Wastewater sewer system, aerated lagoons
Road system:	11.3 kilometres of gravel roads
Housing Units:	371 (2008-2009)
Electricity:	Provided by Hydro-Québec

Définitions:

1) Company Name: The corporate name of a company or a civil company (i.e. its name) is often made of credits, which name in a general way the company or the civil company, and of specific, which distinguishes this company from the others. 2) “Council of the band” means: (a) in the case of a band to which section 74 applies, the council established pursuant to that section, (b) in the case of a band to which section 74 does not apply, the council chosen according to the custom of the band, or, where there is no council, the chief of the band chosen according to the custom of the band; “band” means a body of Indians : (a) for whose use and benefit in common, lands, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, have been set apart before, on or after September 4, 1951, (b) for whose use and benefit in common, moneys are held by Her Majesty, or (c) declared by the Governor in Council to be a band for the purposes of this Act; 3) Tribal Council : Tribal Councils are defined as institutions established as a grouping of bands with common interests who voluntarily join together to provide advisory and/or program services to member bands. 4) Band School: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) funds Band councils and First Nation education authorities for the education of children in Kindergarten to Grade 12 who attend schools on reserves or who attend provincially-run schools off reserve. Approximately 60% of First Nations students are taught on reserve, almost always in schools operated by a Band council, another First Nations organization, or a federal school. 5) Post-Secondary Education Programs: Indian Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC) provides financial support to eligible Status Indians and Inuit students under broad authorities of the the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Act to continue their education.   Reference: http://lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/I-5/page-1.html

For further information on this community please call at 1-800-567-9604 or click on this link toward community profiles of Statistics Canada   (2006 Census).