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Big Grassy First Nation (or Mishkosiminiziibiing Anishinaabeg in the Ojibwe language) is an Ojibwe or Ontario Saulteaux First Nation band government located in Kenora District, Ontario near Morson, Ontario. Together with the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation, Big Grassy First Nation is a successor apparent to the former Assabaska Band of Saulteaux. Total registered population in February, 2012, was 721, of which the on-reserve population was 228. The First Nation is a member of the Anishinabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council, a regional tribal council that is a member of the Grand Council of Treaty 3.
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Reserves
The First Nation have reserved for themselves six reserves:
Historically, the Assabaska Band of Saulteaux had also reserved for itself:
but it was not surveyed. On paper, two additional reserves were recommended to be set aside to augment Little Grassy River 35E:
but without consultation with the Assabaska Band, all three reserves were disposed upon creation of Lake of the Woods Provincial Park. Other reserves of the Assabaska Band were parted to the Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation upon dissolution of the Assabaska Band.
History
Seven Generations Education Institute (SGEI) is an Aboriginal-owned and controlled post-secondary institution co-founded by the ten bands in the Rainy Lake Tribal area in 1985. The ten bands are: Big Grassy, Big Island, Couchiching, Lac La Croix, Naicatchewenin, Nicickousemenecaning, Ojibways of Onigaming, Rainy River, Seine River and Mitaanjigaming. Each of the ten bands appointed one member to a Board of Directors of Seven Generations Education Institute, which functions with the leadership of the Executive Director.