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Bkejwanong Territory, Walpole Island First Nation by Uriah Dodge.
"Pane Gidakiimnaa Maampii Bkejwanong" is translated into the English language as "the land here has always been ours where the water divides". These few words convey a powerful message, one which declares that the Territory of Walpole Island has always been in the possession by the Anishnaabe of Bkejwanong.
Walpole Island is the most southern Indian Reserve in Ontario and is located at the mouth of the St. Clair River on Lake St. Clair. Although Walpole1 is now considered a "reserve" and treated as such by the Canadian government, it "has never been founded, legislated, established, set apart or surveyed as a "reserve".2 It is considered "unceded territory" because it was never included in any Treaty which led to the settlement and creation of reserves in Canada. The name Walpole originates from the "warpoles" which were "long wooden staves planted in the ground with the emblems of the First Nations on them".3 The English also called it St. Mary's Island. The name Walpole may also have derived from Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, or Sir Robert Walpole, regarded as the first British prime minister. To its inhabitants, it is known as Bkejwanong which means "where the water divides" in the English language.
You can read this book at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist.../bkejwnong.htm
Alastair
"Pane Gidakiimnaa Maampii Bkejwanong" is translated into the English language as "the land here has always been ours where the water divides". These few words convey a powerful message, one which declares that the Territory of Walpole Island has always been in the possession by the Anishnaabe of Bkejwanong.
Walpole Island is the most southern Indian Reserve in Ontario and is located at the mouth of the St. Clair River on Lake St. Clair. Although Walpole1 is now considered a "reserve" and treated as such by the Canadian government, it "has never been founded, legislated, established, set apart or surveyed as a "reserve".2 It is considered "unceded territory" because it was never included in any Treaty which led to the settlement and creation of reserves in Canada. The name Walpole originates from the "warpoles" which were "long wooden staves planted in the ground with the emblems of the First Nations on them".3 The English also called it St. Mary's Island. The name Walpole may also have derived from Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford, or Sir Robert Walpole, regarded as the first British prime minister. To its inhabitants, it is known as Bkejwanong which means "where the water divides" in the English language.
You can read this book at http://www.electriccanadian.com/hist.../bkejwnong.htm
Alastair