About Us

Our organization was federally incorporated in December 1987. Our first office was located on Main St. in Kenora but our head address has always remained at Washagmis Bay or what is known today as Obashkaandagaang. Kakina Economic Development Corporation, a company owned by our organization, acquired the 598 and 580 Lakeview Drive properties in 1989, which remains our office to this day.

Our name Bimose comes from the Anishinaabe word “to walk” and was given to us by an elder as a reminder to “always walk with all our Member First Nations”. This is reflected in our vision statement. Our office at 598 Lakeview Drive serves as a sacred location as well. The building is a sacred lodge, and through elder direction and teachings is kept by our Executive Director. These teachings and directions that we have received by elders throughout the years have been incorporated into our mandate, mission and vision statements.

Our Tribal Council is owned and directed by 10 Anishinaabe communities in Northwestern Ontario:

Eagle Lake First Nation, Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation, Lac des Mill Lacs First Nation, Obashkaandagaang First Nation, Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Shoal Lake #40 First Nation, Wabaseemoong Independent Nations, Wabauskang First Nation, Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation.

A Message from the Bimose Tribal Council

Collectively, Bimose Tribal Council, Kakina Economic Development Group, Kiizhik Education Corporation and Makwa have experienced growth over the past year. As a whole, Bimose and its related entities, continue to seek out new revenue streams and as well look for ways to enhance services provided to the communities. This is evidenced by the new Daycare which will serve children and families of member communities starting in February 2020. The new Daycare will provide culturally appropriate child-care and a needed safe place for children while their parents are working.

Makwa Builders LP began operations this past year and has steadily grown its business. Its first major project building the new Daycare is well underway and Makwa continues to attract new business opportunities in the city of Kenora and also within the communities. A new worker has been hired to continue to meet the growing demand for construction projects. In the long-term, Makwa will explore larger scale projects to bid on which will provide employment opportunities and economic and infrastructure growth for the surrounding communities.

Bimose Tribal Council continues to provide much needed advisory services to the communities. The Technical Services Department assists communities in capital project submissions, preparing FNIIP reports and other O&M reports to ISC, housing inspections, and fire protection services. Providing safe drinking water continues to be a major priority for communities across the country. To address shortages in water treatment plant coverage and to build capacity for our people, the HUB program will be offering an internship program in partnership with Water First. The program will focus on certifying new Water Treatment Operators within the communities and training is slated to being in January 2020. Informational sessions will be provided in December 2019.

In the area of Education, Kiizhik School continues to see a growing enrolment at both Kiizhik School and the high school. The need for culturally appropriate education with curriculum in Anishinaabemowin is high and it is encouraging to see the number of students continue to increase. This increased enrolment will require expansion of the school in the very near future. Part of this expansion is contained within the plans to develop Kiizhik Academy. The intentions for Kiizhik Academy are to house the expanded school and will also provide post-secondary training and capacity development. One of the main areas of planned post-secondary education includes water plant operator training as well as business courses. These are areas in which communities have experienced shortages of skilled and trained employees. The training that is planned to be offered would be open to all members of the Treaty 3 area and is intended to be a central location for post-secondary capacity development.

The Anishinaabe Student Success program continues to provide support to community schools tin student success, information technology and in language and culture. The Education Services Coordinator is reaching out to communities to complete work plans for the First Nations Student Success Program in order to work towards the planned transition of this program to the community level.

At the Bimose Tribal Council Administration side, membership services are being enhanced with status card services being delivered. Finance is planning to visit communities in the New Year to provide advisory services and guidance for community finance staff. Providing capacity development services to communities in accounting and financial management is a demand that continues to exist. We are committed to enhancing this support to communities. Economic Development continues to oversee Kakina LP, Makwa, and Kakina. Services provided to communities include assistance and guidance with proposals to various funders for economic development projects and assistance with economic development planning. The Economic Development Advisor continues to seek out for new opportunities for Bimose.

At the foundation of all that we do is our ceremony, traditions and Anishinaabemowin language. Our traditional knowledge-keepers of the communities provide critical guidance and direction in our cultural protocol by conducting fall and spring feasts; opening and closing Board meetings; and holding naming ceremonies for traditional items and of buildings for our facilities. As some of our employees may not have been exposed to teachings and culture, Core Bimose staff will also be participating in mandatory language cultural training on a regular basis to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of our history, traditions, and protocol.

As we are about to come into a new year, we continue to work together as Anishinaabe people to better the lives of our community members. We look forward to continued guidance and support from community Chiefs and Council in delivering support services to community staff and membership.

Miigwech

Vision Statement

We walk to strengthen our Anishinaabe way and our goal is to build a better, stronger, healthier life for the Anishinaabeg

Mission Statement

Bimose Tribal Council strives to provide our member communities with responsible, relevant, and quality advisory & professional services and program delivery.

We fully support our Anishinaabe governments in their quest to enhance the quality of life of the Anishinaabeg.

We endeavor to integrate our culture and tradition into all of our activities and to be an open, transparent, and innovative organization.

Our Mandate

The Organization, its governing structures and agencies, will do all that is required by member First Nations, to advance First Nation’s Interests. The Board of Directors were then entrusted to implement certain specific organizational tasks such as Formulating appropriate programs and services, within budgeted revenues, to meet community needs

Establishing required policies and strategies to complement our programs and services ensuring communities receive maximum benefits
Promoting self-government and self-determination
Assisting in the transfer of authority, responsibility and accountability to each First Nation
Continually evolving to meet First Nations’ changes in their workplace, including administrative and technological environments

Bimose Tribal Council provides Advisory Services in the following areas:

First Nations Governance
Technical Services/Community and Capital Planning
Financial Management
Economic Development
Education
Membership Services (Status/Treaty Cards)

Mandate | Vision | Mission

Head Office

Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation,
22 Band Office Road,
Dalles, Ontario
P9N 0J2

Central Office

598 Lakeview Drive,
Kenora, Ontario
P9N 3P7

Contact

Phone: 807-468-5551

Fax: 807-468-3908