Historical Notes

Kee-Way-Win, from an Ojibway word meaning "going home," achieved official Band status in April of 1985. Many of the older Kee-Way-Win people have traditionally hunted and trapped in the area around Eastern Sandy Lake, and feel they will be "going home" by moving to a new reserve east of the present Sandy Lake community. The Kee-Way-Win people, known as "East Sandy Lakers," consider themselves the original inhabitants of the Big Sandy Lake area. The Governments of Canada, Ontario, the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation and six of its member First Nations (Aroland, Kee-Way-Win, McDowell Lake, New Slate Falls, Saugeen and Wawakapewin) signed an agreement in December 1991 to make lands available to establish Indian reserves in the six communities and to provide basic community facilities.

Industries

Information not available.

Educational Facilities

Elementary

• one school, operated by volunteer Mennonite teacher in 1989/90

Secondary

• grades 9-10 students attend Sandy Lake School
• grades 11-12 students board in Sioux Lookout and Red Lake
• WAHSA Distance Education program (secondary education from Sioux Lookout via Wawatay radio)

Community Services and Facilities

• recreation centre
• four traditional burial grounds
• health clinic with a Community Health Representative
• health support and social services provided through Sandy Lake nursing station
• access to Sioux Lookout Zone Hospital
• part-time Referral Clerk
• Child and Family Services worker provided through Tikinagan Child and Family Services in Sioux Lookout
• O.P.P. Northwest Patrol

Communications

• telephone - Bell Canada (one telephone)
• radio - service not available
• newspapers - none available
• television - service not available

Utilities

• water - drinking water drawn from Sandy Lake
• sewage - no sewage facilities available
• other waste - no disposal site available
• energy/electricity - portable generators in some homes

* Pursuant to an agreement signed on December 9, 1991, Ontario has provided Ontario Crown land, which the federal government will designate through an order-in-council, as Indian reserve land for the use and benefit of Kee-Way-Win First Nation.