English - Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies

These three cultural groups have been sub-divided in many ways based on federal
legislation and under First Nations governance:
> > 127 bands are recognized under the Indian Act
PRACTICE TIP — ​DATA IMBALANCE
Data has been collected in Ontario
about First Nations people since
Confederation (1867). The information
on Métis peoples and the Inuit have
only now begun to be collected in
Ontario. At times, there will be more
information available for First Nations
people but it is important not to
extrapolate and assume it relates to all
other Aboriginal groups.
> > 133 communities are represented by the Chiefs
of Ontario
> > First Nations communities in Ontario fall
under specific Treaties or agreements with
the federal government including: Union of
Ontario Indians, Grand Council Treaty #3,
Nishnawbe Aski Nation (James Bay Treaty #9),
Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians and
the Independent First Nations
In addition, First Nations are organized under
a clan system. All communities have both
overlapping and distinct cultural characteristics.
According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada:
> > Of the recognized Status Indians as described by the federal government,
almost half live on 206 reserves or settlements belonging to Ontario’s 127 First
Nations. These communities are located across the province, from near
Windsor in the south to the shores of Hudson Bay in the north.
> > One in four Ontario First Nations is a small, remote community, accessible
only by air year round, or by ice road in the winter
> > There are another 91,478 Status Indians living off-reserve
THE CLAN SYSTEMS
HAUDENOSAUNEE CLAN SYSTEM
The Iroquois Confederacy is composed of six nations. Each nation has clans. A person’s
clan is the same as their mother’s clan. The members of each clan are all related to
each other through their mothers. This is called a matrilineal system. Each clan is
represented by a different animal. Traditionally a person would not marry someone
within the same clan.
There are presently nine clans — ​divided into animals from three earth elements: Land,
Air and Water. The water creatures are the turtle, beaver, and the eel. The land creatures
are the deer, wolf, and bear. The creatures of the sky are the hawk, heron, and snipe. The
natural world is symbolized by these beings. Prior to the Peacemaker, there were
numerous other clans such as sweet potato, rock, and ball. After the formation of the
Iroquois Confederacy, the number of clans wars reduced to the nine represented above.
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All of the Six Nations have members from the Bear, Wolf, and Turtle clan while some
nations also have members from some or all of the remaining six clans. Clans are
headed by clan mothers. Their duties include choosing the chiefs, reminding the chiefs of
their duties, giving clan names to children, distributing the goods of those who have died,