Sandy Lake - Present Day

Sandy Lake, Ontario is an isolated reserve with a land base of approximately 17 sq. miles and a population of 2057. Neh gaaw saga'igan is the local translation of Sandy Lake. The name Wabitiquayang, which refers to the short narrow river between Sandy Lake and Finger Lake, was used in the mid 1900's.

Political Structure

Sandy Lake First Nation, an independent First Nation, is governed by an elected Chief, a Deputy Chief and (8) eight councilors. An appointed Elder's Council regularly attend the First Nation Band Council meetings to witness and advise on decisions and resolutions of all matters and issues encountered and dealt with by the elected First Nation Band Council. We are not affiliated with any Tribal Councils. Although independent Sandy Lake is affiliated with Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a political native organization representing a majority of Northern Ontario First Nations.

Community Resources

Sandy Lake currently has two new schools, an elementary school and high school with an annual enrolment of approximately 700 students. There is an adult learning centre providing distant education. Enrolment in the elementary school is 428, enrolment at the high school is 174, enrolment at the adult learning centre is 152 with a total of 754 students pursuing formal education in Sandy Lake. There is Nishnawbe Aski Police Service, Nursing Station, Community Development Services Corporation, six Christian churches, a Radio & TV Station, Fire Hall, Motel, a rehabilitative Children Centre, Tikinagan Child and Family Services office, Northern Store, four locally owned general and convenience stores, three gas bars, a community sports complex, a year round hockey arena, several neighbourhood ball fields and a site for the music festival and treaty days.

Historical Background

As late as 1897, "Big" Sandy Lake was considered "as inaccessible as the North Pole". It was an area distant from main trade routes, the closest Hudson Bay posts were located at Island Lake to the west and at Big Trout Lake to the east. This vast expanse of lakes and forests were the hunting grounds of the Little Suckers (referring to a type of fish) and Crane Clans, the ancestors of most of the Sandy Lake and Deer Lake people.In the last decades of the 1800's, the leading man of the Little Suckers was the famous Jake Fiddler, or 'South Wind'. Jake Fiddler was a great medicine man, conjurer and healer of the people. It is known he visited the May-May-quay-shi-wok in the rock cliffs. He cured the whitefish in South Trout of worms and once he brought back the sturgeon to Cobham Falls. The leading man of the Cranes was Papmekeesikquap at this time.When Jake Fiddler died in 1907, his son Robert Fiddler became Ogemakan (Chief) and in 1910 he signed an adhesion to Treaty Number Five for his people at Deer Lake. The Little Suckers remained at Deer Lake until 1926 when Robert Fiddler decided to establish the reserve for his people at the mouth of Finger Lake at "Big" Sandy Lake. This location was chosen because it was a well forested area and had ground suitable for root crops. When Robert Fiddler and the Little Suckers arrived at Sandy Lake they joined the Cranes, the Harper, Kakegamic, Kakepetum and Linklater families who have been settled on "Big" Sandy Lake since treaty.When Robert Fiddler passed away in 1939, Thomas Fiddler became Chief until his retirement in 1968. During Thomas Fiddler's years as Chief, children started going out to residential school at MacIntosh and Sioux Lookout. Then in 1957, a day school was built at Sandy Lake and a Nursing Station in 1962.