Keewaywin School

About Keewaywin School

Keewaywin, from an Ojibway word meaning “going home”, achieved official Band status in April of 1985. Many of the older Keewaywin people have traditionally hunted and trapped in the area around Eastern Sandy Lake, and feel they will be “going home” by moving to a new reserve east of the present Sandy Lake community. The Keewaywin people, known as “East Sandy Lakers,” consider themselves the original inhabitants of the Big Sandy Lake area. The Governments of Canada, Ontario, the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, and six of its member First Nations (Aroland, Keewaywin, McDowell Lake, New Slate Falls, Saugeen, and Wawakapewin) signed an agreement in December 1991 to make lands available to establish Indian reserves in the six communities and to provide basic community facilities.

Residents hunt moose. In the spring and the fall, they hunt birds such as geese, snow geese, and ducks. Residents also fish pickerel, pike, and white fish. There are other species but those are the main ones that are fished.

Regular Activities

Keewaywin organizes a plethora of events including gospel nights, craft nights, fishing derbies, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and youth outings on the land.

Annual Events

The last week of September is harvesting week: families spend time going out hunting for traditional foods. This includes moose hunting.

Treaty Day – June 8th – is celebrated with a variety of games and activities with prizes for children and adults. Community members also set up tables to sell homemade food like taco bags, cheesecake, cinnamon rolls, and bannock dogs.

A Memorial Feast is held every year to remember loved ones who have passed.

Traditions and Customs

Many community members make traditional crafts in their homes. Ask a community member if you would like to be taken to meet them. Sometimes a family will invite teachers to their camp. Community members still hunt and fish. There is the opportunity to learn how to fillet a fish or skin an animal; this is open to teachers and they are welcome to bring home the traditional food they prepare.

Keewaywin is a Christian community, meaning that sweat lodges, pow-wows, or drumming are not performed. Teachers should abstain from creating lessons that are spiritual or religious based.

It is a dry reserve, and all luggage is checked at the airport for alcohol or illegal substances.

There is an outdoor ice rink, where people skate or play hockey. The rink needs to be cleared when it snows.

Simple Oji-Cree Vocabulary

Hello - Waachay
My name is…. - (Your Name) Nin dizhinikaaz
Thank you - Miigwetch
Yes - Ah haw
No - Ga win