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Historical Notes

In the mid-17th century, the Southeastern Ojibway occupied an area along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, west along the north shore of Lake Huron, and north along the east shore of Lake Superior. By the late 17th century, the Chippewa and other branches of the Southeastern Ojibway began to expand into what is now identified as Southern Ontario, an area then occupied by the Iroquois. Sometime after the turn of the century, the Southeastern Ojibway settled in the areas around the Bay of Quinte, Lake St. Clair, in the valleys of the Grand River and the Thames River, and along the north shore of Lake Ontario.

The Caradoc reserve area was founded in 1793 by Loyalist Delawares who had adopted the Moravian faith and migrated up from the U.S.A. in 1791. The Caradoc reserve was established for the Chippewas in 1819 - one of the many reserves created following the Huron Tract Cessions of 1818. The Delawares amalgamated with a group of Chippewas, and in 1819 a reserve was secured for them through a provisional agreement known as the Long Woods Purchase. The purchase did not specifically mention the Caradoc land, but the Chippewas have retained it as a reserve since 1825.

Between 1834 and 1885, several parcels of the reserve land were ceded, sold and leased. The Band formally changed its name from Caradoc No. 42 to Chippewas of the Thames on September 9, 1986.

Industries

A quarter of the labour force is involved in government services and an additional one fifth in other service activities. Manufacturing and agriculture each account for approximately one sixth of the labour force, with the remainder being involved in construction and trade industries.

Educational Facilities

Elementary

• Mount Elgin Elementary School, JK-8 (federally operated) - school has recently burned down; JK-K students now have classes in portable classroom on reserve and grades 1-8 students are bused to St. Thomas and Caradoc.

Secondary

• students bused to London.

Community Services and Facilities

• library/resource centre, community hall, bingo hall
• day care centre, adult education centre, senior citizens centre
• homemakers program
• police station

Communications

• access to major non-Native radio and television stations and newspapers is available to the community; telephone service is provided by Bell Canada
• newspapers - Mazinigan, NATIVEBEAT, community newsletter

Utilities

• water - community well and pumphouse
• sewage - private septic tanks
• other waste - garbage is picked up and taken to landfill site on neighbouring reserve
• energy/electricity - Ontario Hydro