Union of Ontario Indians

Anishinabek Nation

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI) as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI was established because the Anishinabek Nation did not legally exist and a legal entity was required to enter into legally-binding agreements.

The Anishinabek Nation is a political advocate for 39 member First Nations across Ontario. The Anishinabek Nation is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

The Anishinabek Nation represents 39 First Nations throughout the province of Ontario from Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn in the east, Aamjiwnaang First Nation in the south,  and Lake Nipigon in the north.

The 39 First Nations have an approximate combined population of 70,000 citizens, one third of the province of Ontario’s First Nation population.  The Anishinabek Nation has four strategic regional areas: Southwest, Southeast, Lake Huron and Northern Superior. Each region is represented by a Regional Chief.

The Anishinabek Nation’s head office is located in Nipissing First Nation, just outside of North Bay, Ontario and has satellite offices in Fort William First Nation, Curve Lake First Nation, Munsee Delaware Nation, Garden River First Nation, Sudbury and Thunder Bay. 

The Anishinabek Nation:

• delivers a variety of programs and services, such as Health, Social Development, Education, Communications, Economic Development, Lands and Resources, Labour and Market Development, Infrastructure, Governance, Reconciliation and Legal, and does this with a complement of approximately 125 staff members;
• provides the necessary forum for collective First Nation action on individual and collective issues by way of resolution from Chiefs-in-Assembly which provides direction to the Grand Council Chief; and is governed by a Board of Directors and has a Grand Council Chief and a Deputy Grand Council Chief who carry the day-to-day leadership responsibilities.