WASAUKSING FIRST NATION

Wasauksing First Nation, formerly known as Parry Island First Nation, is located on Parry Island in Georgian Bay of Lake Huron.

 

Wasauksing First Nation is adjacent to the Town of Parry Sound, Ontario. It is surrounded on all sides by water and is accessed from the main land via a year-round one lane swing bridge, which was originally constructed as part of the Canadian National Railway.

 

Wasauksing First Nation has a land base of approximately 7,875 hectares, with about 125 km of shoreline. The Reserve consists of the entire island, except two areas that are presently under land claim disputes, the Depot Harbour and Salt’s Point (constituting 223 ha). Generally, the surficial geology of the area is described as sandy soils with frequent bedrock outcroppings and some isolated clay deposits. The Island is mostly forested with some cleared areas (primarily for residences and community infrastructure). There are several small lakes and wetlands on the Reserve, the largest of which is Three Mile Lake, located in the central part of the Island.

 

There are about 400 people living year round on the Reserve. For housing, Wasauksing has 76 rental units, 80 individual owned homes, 10 summer residences (not including the WLI cottage lots), and 8 vacant/abandoned homes (with no hydro). Community buildings/services operating on reserve consist of the Little Eagles Childcare Centre, Wasauksing Kinomaugewgamik (elementary school), Wasauksing Health Station, the Wasauksing Fire Station, and Wasauksing Administration Office, all of which are located in the Wasauksing Community Complex, the Adult Learning Centre, Wasauksing Elder’s Residence, Senior’s Drop-In Centre, the Outdoor Rink/Youth Building, Public Works Building/Garage, and the Water Treatment Plant, associated pump houses, and elevated water storage reservoir. Access to community infrastructure and residences is provided by approximately 41.2 km of paved/gravel/dirt roads.

 

Water supply for residences and community buildings is mainly from the water treatment plant, either through the water distribution system or by truck to fill cisterns for homes that are not located near a waterline. Some homes and all the leased cottage lots obtain water from the lake and/or private wells. Wastewater treatment is accommodated by individual septic systems and tile fields for all residential units on the Reserve. Power supply is from the Ontario Hydro Grid System, and Ontario Hydro owns and maintains the transmission lines. Since the summer of 2013, solid wastes are disposed of at a waste transfer station, and all wastes are trucked off reserve for disposal or recycling.

 

There are several businesses that operate on Wasauksing, some privately owned, and some band owned. Businesses consist of a Maple Sugar bush and processing facility, a Marina with gas pumps and camping area, 3 convenience-type stores (one that includes a gas station), a live bait business, two other campgrounds, and a radio station.

 

There are also a few outside businesses that lease land from Wasauksing. Along the Northwest shore of the Island, there is a 244 lot cottage subdivision that is overseen by Wasauksing Lands Inc. (WLI), a private corporation separate from the First Nation. Wasauksing also leases two small lots to Bell Mobility for cellular towers, and one larger lot to AquaCages Ltd., a cage aquaculture facility that operates in the Depot Harbour area.

 

Historically, approximately 172 ha of land were expropriated from Wasauksing First Nation for the construction of a rail line across the island, a munitions storage area and village in Depot Harbour. The old rail line has since been removed, and the rail bed was converted to a road. This land is currently undergoing the Additions to Reserve process through Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, and although the land is managed by Wasauksing First Nation, it has not yet officially been added to the Reserve due to contamination concerns on the land and on the lake bed of Depot Harbour.