Historical Notes

The Ojibway people living on the north shore of Lake Superior (ancestors of Whitesand First Nation people) subsisted by hunting, fishing and gathering. As the fur trade moved into the Lake Superior area, they expanded their economic activities to include hunting and trapping for trade purposes. By the early 19th century, Ojibway hunting ranges had evolved into well-defined trapping territories.

The Armstrong settlement is within the boundaries of the territory described by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. Whitesand First Nation has been without a home since 1942 when high water levels began eroding the shoreline and flooding out their buildings and burial grounds on the northwest shore of Lake Nipigon near Mount St. John. Since that time, the people have drifted, some settling in Armstrong, and others in isolated camps along the CNR railway tracks. Whitesand is currently (March 1991) negotiating reserve status.

Industries

Three quarters of the labour force is involved in forestry, with the remainder concentrated in manufacturing, trade industries, and government and non-government service industries. The major employers of workers are the Great West Timber Company, CNR, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Provincial Police.

Educational Facilities

Elementary

• Information not available

Secondary

• Students board in Thunder Bay

Community Services and Facilities

• fire hydrants
• Roman Catholic mission
• community services available in Armstrong
• Child and Family Services worker provided through Dilico Child and Family Services in Thunder Bay

Communications

• telephone - Bell Canada
• radio - CBQ-AM (CBC affiliate), CKPR-AM
• newspapers - one daily from Thunder Bay
• television - CBC, TVOntario

Utilities

• water - community water main system
• sewage - private septic tanks
• other waste - Ministry of Natural Resources site 5 km north of town
• energy/electricity - Ontario Hydro