Kasabonika Lake First Nation

Kasabonika Lake First Nation or Kasabonika First Nation (Oji-Cree: ᑲᐦᓴᐹᓇᐦᑳ ᓂᐣᑕ^ᒥ ᐊᓂᐦᕈᓂᓂᐧᐋᐟ (Gasabaanakaa Nistam Anišininiwaad); unpointed: ᑲᓴᐸᓇᑲ ᓂᐣᑕ^ᒥ ᐊᓂᕈᓂᓂᐊᐟ) is an Oji-Cree First Nation band government located north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. There are no roads into the community and the only access is through Kasabonika Airport. It is part of the Shibogama First Nations Council and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. The First Nation's landbase is the 10,806.5-hectare (26,703.4-acre) Kasabonika Lake Reserve.

Contents

• Governance
• Departments
• Contact information
• References

In September, 2007, the total registered population was 914, of which the on-reserve population was 866. The residents of Kasabonika were professional, and expert, tree planters for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for many years in the 1960s and 1970s. They worked for several districts, Hearst, Geraldton, and Thunder Bay. Some planters were able to plant as many as 3000 trees per day.

The Kasabonika First Nation detachment of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service was closed in early February 2008 as it lacked running water and relied on a wood fire in a 170-litre drum to heat the facility. Holding cells lacked toilet facilities, requiring detainees to use a slop bucket. Prisoners now must be flown to Sioux Lookout, costing as much as $10,000 per trip.