The Saulteaux (pronounced , or in imitation of the French pronunciation , also written Salteaux, Saulteau and other variants), otherwise known as the Plains Ojibwe, are a

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

band government In Canada, an Indian band (), First Nation band () or simply band, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subject to the ''Indian Act'' (i.e. status Indians or First Nations). Bands are typically small groups of people: the largest in ...

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

and

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. They are a branch of the

Ojibwe The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, n ...

who pushed west. They formed a mixed culture of woodlands and plains Indigenous customs and traditions.

Ethnic classification

The Saulteaux are a branch of the

Nations within Canada. They are sometimes called the Anihšināpē (

Anishinaabe The Anishinaabe (alternatively spelled Anishinabe, Anicinape, Nishnaabe, Neshnabé, Anishinaabeg, Anishinabek, Aanishnaabe) are a group of culturally related Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous peoples in the Great Lakes region of C ...

). ''Saulteaux'' is a French term meaning 'waters ("eaux") - fall ("sault")', and by extension "People of the rapids/water falls", referring to their former location in the area of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, on the St. Marys River (Michigan–Ontario) which connects

Lake Superior Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. Lake Michigan–Huron has a larger combined surface area than Superior, but is normally considered tw ...

with

Lake Huron Lake Huron ( ) is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is shared on the north and east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the south and west by the U.S. state of Michigan. The name of the lake is derived from early French ex ...

. They are primarily hunters and fishers, and when still the primary dwellers of their sovereign land, they had extensive trading relations with the French, British and later Americans at that post.

Location

The Saulteaux historically were settled around

and

Lake Winnipeg Lake Winnipeg () is a very large, relatively shallow lake in North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Its southern end is about north of the city of Winnipeg. Lake Winnipeg is Canada's sixth-largest freshwater lake and the third- ...

, principally in the areas of present-day Sault Ste. Marie and northern Michigan. Pressure from European Canadians and Americans gradually pushed the tribe westward to

and

, with one community in

. Today most of the Saulteaux live in the Interlake District; Swan River, Duck Bay, Camperville, the southern part of Manitoba, and in Saskatchewan (Kamsack and surrounding areas). Because they were forced to move to land ill-suited for European crops, they were lucky to escape European-Canadian competition for their lands and have kept much of that assigned territory in reserves. Generally, the Saulteaux have three major divisions.

Ontario Saulteaux

The Eastern Saulteaux, better known as the Ontario Saulteaux, are located around Rainy Lake and Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario and southeastern

. Many of the Ontario Saulteaux First Nations are signatories to

Treaty 3 ''Treaty 3'' was an agreement entered into on October 3, 1873, by Chief Mikiseesis (Little Eagle) on behalf of the Ojibwe First Nations and Queen Victoria. The treaty involved a vast tract of Ojibwe territory, including large parts of what i ...

. Their form of ''Anishinaabemowin'' (Anishinaabe language) is sometimes called Northwestern Ojibwa language (ISO 639-3: OJB), or simply ''Ojibwemowin'' (Ojibwe). Today English is the first language of many members. The Ontario Saulteaux culture is descended from the Eastern Woodlands culture.

Manitoba Saulteaux

The Central Saulteaux, better known as Manitoba Saulteaux, are found primarily in eastern and southern

, extending west into southern

. During the late 18th century and early 19th century, as partners with the

Cree The Cree, or nehinaw (, ), are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people, numbering more than 350,000 in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada, First Nations. They live prim ...

in the

fur trade The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal ecosystem, boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals h ...

, the Saulteaux migrated northwest into the Swan River and Cumberland districts of west-central Manitoba, and into Saskatchewan along the

Assiniboine River The Assiniboine River ( ; ) is a long river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked ...

, as far its confluence with the Souris (Mouse) River. Once established in the area, the Saulteaux adapted some of the cultural traits of their allies, the Plains Cree and Assiniboine. Consequently, together with the Western Saulteaux, the Manitoba Saulteaux are sometimes called Plains Ojibwe. Many of the Manitoba Saulteaux First Nations are signatories to Treaty 1 and Treaty 2. The Manitoba Saulteaux culture is a transitional one from the Eastern Woodlands culture of their Ontario Saulteaux neighbours and Plains culture of the Western Saulteaux neighbours. Often, the term '' Bungi'' or ''Bungee'' (from ''bangii,'' meaning "a little bit") has been used to refer to either the Manitoba Saulteaux (who resemble the Cree in culture) or their

Métis The Métis ( , , , ) are a mixed-race Indigenous people whose historical homelands include Canada's three Prairie Provinces extending into parts of Ontario, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories and the northwest United States. They ha ...

population (who are a little bit Anishinaabe). The language of their Métis population is described as the Bungi language.

Western Saulteaux

The Western Saulteaux are found primarily in central

, but extend east into southwestern

and west into central

and eastern

. They call themselves ()—an autonym that is a general term for the Saulteaux. The neighbouring Plains Cree call them the (), a word of related etymology. Their form of (Anishinaabe language), known as () or

Western Ojibwa language Western Ojibwa (also known as (), ''Saulteaux'', and ''Plains Ojibwa'') is a dialect of the Ojibwe language, a member of the Algonquian language family. It is spoken by the Saulteaux, a subnation of the Ojibwe people, in southern Manitoba and s ...

(ISO 639-3: OJW), is also an Algonquian language. Like most First Nations, most members use English as the first language. Many of the Western Saulteaux First Nations are signatories to Treaty 4 and Treaty 6; Saulteau First Nations in North Eastern British Columbia are a signatory to Treaty 8. The Western Saulteaux culture is that of the Plains culture.

Communities

: Population figures are as of May 2013, unless noted otherwise. * Asubpeeschoseewagong First Nation (formerly: Grassy Narrows First Nation (Ontario))(population 1,326) * Berens River First Nation, Berens River, MB (population 1851 on-reserve) * Buffalo Point First Nation, Buffalo Point, MB (population 110) * Cote First Nation, Kamsack, SK (population 3,059) * Cowessess First Nation, Cowessess, SK (population 3,570) (part Cree) *

Eagle Lake First Nation Eagle Lake First Nation is an Ojibwe The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Gr ...

, Migisi Sahgaigan, ON (population 458 in 2006) * Ebb and Flow First Nation, Ebb and Flow, MB (population 2,467) * Gordon First Nation, Punnichy, SK (population 3,065) * Iskatewizaagegan 39 Independent First Nation, Kejick, ON (population 568) * Keeseekoose First Nation, Kamsack, SK (population 2,145) * The Key First Nation, Norquay, SK (population 1,114) * Lac des Bois Band of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Big Grassy First Nation, Morson, ON (population 660) ** Anishnaabeg of Naongashiing First Nation (Big Island), Morson, ON (population 360) ** Northwest Angle 33 First Nation (population 454) ** Northwest Angle 37 First Nation (population 338) ** Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Kenora, ON ** Ojibways of Onigaming First Nation (population 706) ** Anishinabe of Wauzhushk Onigum First Nation, Kenora, ON (population 622) * Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation (population 522) * Muscowpetung First Nation, Fort Qu'Appelle SK (population 1,183) * Muskowekwan First Nation Lestock, SK (population 1,524) * Naotkamegwanning First Nation (formerly: Whitefish Bay First Nation), Pawitik, ON (population 1,109) *

Obashkaandagaang Bay First Nation O"Bash'Kaan'Da'Gaang/Washagamis Bay First Nation is an Ojibwe First Nation in northwestern Ontario, Canada. Before the signing of Treaty 3 agreement there were three Anishinabe tribes living near and around the Kenora region. The smallest was W ...

(population 280) * O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation (population 600) * O'Chiese First Nation, Rocky Mountain House, AB (population 963) * Pasqua First Nation, Fort Qu'Appelle, SK (population 1,775) (part Cree) *

Pauingassi First Nation Pauingassi First Nation ()Translate Ojibwe Online dictionary - "Pauingassihttps://www.translateojibwe.com/en/dictionary-english-ojibwe/Pauingassi/ref> is an Anishinaabe (Saulteaux/Ojibwa) First Nations in Canada, First Nation community located app ...

, Pauingass, MB (population 575) * Pinaymootang First Nation, Fairford, MB (population 2500+) * Pine Creek First Nation, Pine Creek MB (population 2,730) * Poorman's Band of Cree (historical)—primarily Cree but historically part Saulteaux ** Kawacatoose First Nation, Raymore, SK (population 2,748) ** Muskowekwan First Nation * Poplar River First Nation, Poplar River, MB (population 1,439) * Portage Band of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Long Plain First Nation, Portage la Prairie, MB (population 3,388 in 2006) ** Sandy Bay First Nation (formerly: White Mud Band of Saulteaux), Marius, MB (population 5,521) ** Swan Lake First Nation, Swan Lake, MB (population 1,206) * Rainy Lake Band of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Couchiching First Nation, Fort Frances, ON (population 1,989) ** Naicatchewenin First Nation, Devlin, ON (population 370) ** Nigigoonsiminikaaning (Nicickousemenecaning) First Nation, Fort Frances, ON (population 293) ** Stanjikoming First Nation, Fort Frances, ON (population 142) * Rainy River Bands of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Lac La Croix First Nation, Fort Frances, ON (population 397) *** Lac La Croix Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical)—on Lac La Croix Indian Reserve 25D (now known as Neguagon Lake Indian Reserve 25D) *** Sturgeon Lake Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical)— as on Sturgeon Lake Indian Reserve 24C until the Reserve was delisted by the Ontario Provincial Park Act in 1950, took this

Indian reserve In Canada, an Indian reserve () or First Nations reserve () is defined by the '' Indian Act'' as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." ...

and made it part of Quetico Provincial Park. ** Rainy River First Nations, Manitou Rapids, ON (population 767 in 2006) *** Hungry Hall 1 Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) *** Hungry Hall 2 Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) *** Little Forks Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) anada�� Little Forks Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) nited States the southern half of the former, became part of Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. *** Long Sault 1 Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) *** Long Sault 2 Band of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) *** Manitou Rapids 1 of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) *** Manitou Rapids 2 of Rainy River Saulteaux (Historical) ** Seine River First Nation, Mine Centre, ON (population 697) * Sagkeeng First Nation (formerly Fort Alexander First Nation), Fort Alexander, MB (population 6,844) * St. Peter's Band of Cree and Saulteaux (Historical)—primarily Cree but historically part Saulteaux ** Muskoday First Nation (formerly: John Smith First Nation), Muskoday, SK (population 1,579) ** Peguis First Nation, Peguis, MB (population 8,410) * Saulteau First Nations, Moberly Lake, BC (population 792 in 2006) * Saulteaux First Nation, Cochin, SK (population 1,157) *

Shoal Lake 40 First Nation Shoal Lake 40 First Nation () is an Ojibwe, Ojibway or Ontario First Nations in Canada, First Nation Indian reserve, reserve located in the Eastman Region, Manitoba, Eastman Region of Manitoba and the Kenora District, Ontario, Kenora District of ...

, Shoal Lake, ON (population 542) * Skownan First Nation (formerly: Waterhen River Band of Saulteaux), Skownan, MB (population 1,246) * Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve, Shortdale, Manitoba (population 1,667) * Wabaseemoong Independent Nations (formerly: Islington Band of Saulteaux), Whitedog, ON (1,716) ** One Man Lake Band of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Swan Lake Band of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Whitedog Band of Saulteaux (Historical) * Wabauskang First Nation (population 257) * Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (population 541) * White Bear First Nations, Carlyle, SK—Multitribal band of Plains Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota and Dakota First Nations (population 2805) * Yellow-quill Band of Saulteaux (Historical) ** Fishing Lake First Nation ** Kinistin Saulteaux Nation ** Yellow Quill First Nation (formerly: Nut Lake Band of Saulteaux) * Zagime Anishinabek, Grenfell, SK (population 1,404) (formerly Sakimay First Nation, part Cree)

Notable Saulteaux

* Adam Beach, actor known for his work in '' Flags of Our Fathers'', '' Windtalkers'' and '' Arctic Air''. * Phil Fontaine, former National Chief, Assembly of First Nations * Robert Houle, artist, critic, and curator * Al Hunter, Anishinaabe writer and poet * Wilma Pelly, actor * Jennifer Podemski, actor * Tommy Prince, one of Canada's most decorated First Nations soldiers * Henry Boucha, former NHL player and Olympian

References

External links

information, via Minnesota State University

(Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre) {{authority control First Nations in Ontario First Nations in Manitoba First Nations in Saskatchewan First Nations in Alberta First Nations in British Columbia Exonyms