Historical Notes

The Salteaux Ojibway people (ancestors of Lac La Croix First Nation people) inhabited the Ontario portion of the area subsequently covered by the Northwest Angle Treaty of 1873 - Treaty No. 3. Their economy was based on fishing, hunting, gathering, trapping, the harvesting of wild rice and some horticulture, until the late 18th century when they became involved in the fur trade with the Hudson's Bay Company. The Band moved from an Indian settlement at Kawa Bay to a reserve at Neguaguon Lake in 1910.

Quetico Provincial Park was created by the Ontario government in 1913, but contained its boundaries were Sturgeon Lake I.R. No. 24C and Lac La Croix I.R. No. 25D. In 1950, the land identified as Sturgeon Lake I.R. No. 24C became, by Regulation under the Ontario Provincial Park Act, part of Quetico Provincial Park, leaving only the Lac La Croix reserve (now Neguaguon Lake I.R. No. 25D.

Industries

Trapping, forestry, wild rice harvesting and guiding are principal occupations. More than two thirds of the labour force is concentrated in the non-government service sector, and an additional one quarter in government service activities. Some workers are also employed in construction industries. Local industries include one convenience store, and a guiding association (owned and operated by Lac La Croix First Nation).

Educational Facilities

Elementary

• Lac La Croix Elementary School, K-8 (provincially operated)

Secondary

• Lac La Croix High School, grades 9-12 (provincially operated)

Community Services and Facilities

• health clinic with one Community Health Representative
• hospital services available in Atikokan
• Child and Family Services worker provided through Weech-it-te-win Child and Family Services in Fort Frances
• Ontario First Nations Policing Arrangements - two constables
• O.P.P. Atikokan Detachment

Communications

• telephone - Bell Canada
• radio - CFOB-AM (Fort Frances), KDAL-AM (Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A.)
• newspapers - one weekly available from Fort Frances
• television - CBWT (CBC affiliate - Winnipeg), ABC and CBS (Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A.)

Utilities

• water - water main system with pumping station and chlorination treatment facility; also water delivery truck and four private wells
• sewage - private systems - privies and septic tanks
• other waste - refuse site on reserve
• energy/electricity - Northern Electric Co-op. (Virginia, Minnesota, U.S.A.)