This land has been inhabited and cared for by Indigenous Peoples since the beginning.
Ontario is home to the country's largest Indigenous population more remote First Nations than any other part of Canada. Traditionally the territories of Cree, Moose Cree, Chippewa, Mushkegowuk, Algonquin, Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, Nipissing, and Anishnaabeg people, each nation is unique in their beliefs, language and histories. The region is a wonderful place to learn more about Indigenous culture and experience the traditions, cuisine, festivals, and art unique to each nation. Navigate Arctic waterways with a personal guide in Moosonee. Listen to traditional storytellers on an Unceded Journey Tour on Manitoulin Island. Get lost in the regalia, drumming and dancing of a pow wow at Dreamer’s Rock. Sleep peacefully in Indigenous-owned and operated hotels and cottages with views of the boreal forest. From Lake Huron to the Moose River, Indigenous culture in what is now known as Northeastern Ontario is rich and varied.
Treaties
Robinson-Huron Treaty Signed on September 9, 1850, Treaty #61
Williams Treaties Signed on October 31, 1923 and November 15, 1923
James Bay Treaty Signed on 1905-1906, Treaty #9
Manitoulin Island Treaty Signed on October 6, 1862, Treaty #94
Treaty of Manitowaning Signed on August 9, 1836, Treaty #45
Experience Your First Pow Wow
Attending a pow wow is an unforgettable experience. The rhythm of voices, the scent of sweetgrass, and the jingling of dancers’ regalia create a mesmerizing atmosphere. Traditionally held to honor ancestors, pow wows offer a chance to learn about Indigenous culture through music, dance, food, and storytelling. Most take place on weekends from June to August, with each community’s event being unique. Don’t miss the Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival, one of the largest and longest-running pow wows since 1961.
See Indigenous Art
The birthplace of many luminaries of the Canadian art world, including Daphne Odjig, Carl Beam and Christi Belcourt, Northeastern Ontario is home to galleries and shops, large and small, featuring First Nations artists and craftspeople. With works from second-wave woodland artists such as Blake Debassige, Shirley Cheechoo and Leland Bell as well as up-and-coming multidisciplinary artists and traditional quillwork and beading, this is the perfect region to explore Indigenous art. Gallery hop from M’Chigeeng to Nipissing and beyond —you won’t regret the feast for your eyes and your spirit.
Indulge in Menus From The Land
Modern and traditional interpretations of Indigenous cuisine are on the rise in Ontario. Blending community and history, and inspired by the land, contemporary Indigenous cuisine features game meat (think bison or elk), freshwater fish including salmon and trout, root vegetables, wild rice, maple, local berries, cedar tea—and of course bannock.
Take a Guided Tour
Want to go a little deeper? Immerse yourself in a hands-on First Nations experience with trips, tours and activities offered by cultural centres across the Northeast. On Manitoulin, Wikwemikong Tourism offers nature-based and cultural experiences from an Indigenous perspective. Make a traditional tea and sip while listening to storytellers in a teepee, or learn how to build your own miniature birch bark canoe. If you find yourself in the far north, enjoy a wilderness camping adventure in the Moose Cree First Nation as you watch the Northern lights dance in the night sky.
- Pow Wows
- Indigenous Peoples Day
- Indigenous Experiences
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