Historical Notes

The Constance Lake reserve is within the boundaries of the territory described by the James Bay Treaty of 1905 — Treaty No. 9. In 1905, the Treaty No. 9 Commissioners visited a desolate Hudson's Bay Company trading post on the English River. The Commissioners found few Indian people living there, most having abandoned the area to follow the Canadian Pacific Railway for trading. When Treaty No. 9 was negotiated in 1905, English River I.R. No. 66 was listed in the Schedule of Reserves contained in the Treaty and was set aside for the people who remained, some of whom originated from as far away as Albany and Moose Factory. Because the English River reserve proved to be useless land, covered with muskeg and without any outside employment opportunities, Band members moved on and began to settle in Pagwa.

In January 1945, the Constance Lake reserve was vested in the Department of Indian Affairs by an Ontario Order-in-Council authorizing the transfer of the title to the federal government. This reserve, which is situated in Studholme Township around Constance Lake, was created as a permanent settlement for the Indian people living at Pagwa and for another group who were living at Calstock, near the Arrow Land and Logging Company operations.

Industries

Trapping, a sawmill and fighting forest fires are principal sources of employment. The service industries account for half of the labour force (divided almost equally between government and other service industries), while manufacturing accounts for a further one fifth. Approximately one sixth is involved in primary industries, with the majority of workers concentrated mining activities. The rest of the labour force is involved in construction, trades and miscellaneous commercial activities. Local industries include: tourist camp, general store, laundromat, and other stores and financial institutions in Hearst .

Educational Facilities

Elementary

• Constance Lake Day School, K-2 (federally operated)
• Grades 3-8 students bused to Hearst

Secondary

• students bused to Hearst
• training centre on reserve

Community Services and Facilities

• fire hall, fire hydrants, firefighting equipment and fire truck
• one Roman Catholic, one Anglican and one Full Gospel church
• community hall
• nursing station on reserve, doctor from Hearst visits bi-monthly; and community health nurse visits for one week each months
• medical services available in Hearst
• home support program, child/family resource centre
• Ontario First Nations Policing Arrangements — two constables
• O.P.P. Hearst Departments

Communications

• telephone - Bell Canada
• Radio - CFCL-AM (French CBC affiliate), CBC-AM
• newspapers - three weeklies from Kapuskasing and Hearst
• television - CFCL (CBC affiliate), CBC (French), TVOntario, Northern Cable and local TV station

Utilities

• water - high lift water system
• sewage - collective gravity main system, lift station and sewage lagoon
• other waste - Ministry of Natural Resources site
• energy/electricity - natural gas available from North and Central Gas Corporation; Ontario Hydro provides electricity