Whitesand First Nation

Whitesand First Nation

Whitesand First Nation is an Ojibwa community with a land base of 615 acres, primarily centered around Armstrong Settlement. As of June 2008, the Nation had a registered population of 1,086, with 311 members living on-reserve.

Historically, the community was located along the northwest shore of Lake Nipigon near Mount St. John and the Whitesand River, from which it takes its name. However, in 1942, severe flooding and shoreline erosion displaced the community, destroying buildings and burial sites. With no home base, many members relocated along the Canadian National Railway (CNR) line, drawn by the economic opportunities it offered. Armstrong became the largest of these settlements. When negotiations for a new reserve took place, the land was established just north of Armstrong, bringing the community closer to where many members had resettled.