Chief Antoine Pakinawatik 1854-1874
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Chief Pakinawatik made three trips by canoe to Toronto and overtures were made to
the Government to have this area set aside. The Indians were impatient at the delay
encountered in the land surveyed and boundaries established.
Bishop Guigues of Ottawa supported the Indians and credit has always been given
to him for having obtained the reserve for the Indians. No doubt he did intercede
on their behalf, but probably because it would be to the clergy's benefit in having
the Indians close by, eliminating the long trips that were required to bring religion
to the Indians.
The missionaries then appealed, through Bishop Guigues, to have this reserve put
in their trust, but the Indians objected very strongly, no doubt remembering that
life in Oka had become unacceptable to them for that very same reason. When the
land was finally surveyed and the reserve created, the Government respected the
wishes of the Indians.
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Chief Peter Tenasco 1874-1884
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Chief Peter Tenasco, being the late Chief Paginawatik's son-in-law, was next in
line to be the next Chief. Among some of the events that took place, he cleared
land for farming purposes.
In the summer of 1882, a new road opened along the Desert River. The Indians, as
laborers, were in charge of Peter Tenasco, who was the foreman when this road opened.
Before this, the only way they could get to or from their dwellings was by canoe.
The bridge over Congo Creek, in Desert Front Range, had been built and completed.
This bridge was situated next to the Congway Indian Day School.
An Indian school was first established in Maniwaki in the year 1884. The salary
of the teacher was paid out of the "Indian school trust fund".
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Chief Simon Odjick 1884-1890
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At a council meeting, the Band appropriated $1000 out of their funds for public
works on the reserve. Among these is proposed a new bridge over the Bitobi Creek.
This bridge was under contract to Chief Simon Odjick.
In the summer of 1886, the back road through the village was put into excellent
condition and a new road opened along the Bitobi Lake for accommodation of the settlers
in that section.
In the late 1800's, Chief Simon Odjick donated land for a school built in the reserve.
This school was situated in the front of Bernice Commonda's.
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Chief Peter Tenasco 1890-1896
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Chief Peter Tenasco was re-elected for a second term. Previously, he was recorded
as being Chief for only three years.
Since the Council remained in their meetings from morning until evening and others
who had traveled from far, Chief Tenasco requested, for the first time, to have
expenses paid for visiting Chiefs.
A road construction was done up at the Gatineau Road and also on the Bitobi Road.
That side of Bitobi Lake being very fertile for farming.
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Chief Louizon Commanda 1896-1899
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Unfortunately, there is no picture available for Chief Commanda. The elders now
were too young at that time to remember what he looked like.
The Council agreed to give free grants to the lots of 96 and 97 Notre Dame street,
Maniwaki, to be used for hospital purposes only. This hospital was built in the
early 1900's.
There were three companies, Gilmour, Hughson, and Edwards, -- occupying the limit,
which was three quarters of the reserve. During these years, the Indians were not
allowed to cut wood there. This went on until Chief John Chabot fought to have it
opened.
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Chief John Tenasco 1899-1911
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In 1902, timber was cut from the reserve to build the first hospital in Maniwaki.
And also, the Canadian Pacific Railway built a line through the reserve and the
first train arrived in 1904.
In 1906, there were three schools in the reserve, but only two in operation. The
school on the Ottawa Road was taught by Miss Annie O'Connor and the other at Congway
Bridge was Miss Nora McCaffrey.
The first Pocknock Bridge was built in August, 1907 and was to form part of a new
road.
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Chief Michael Commanda 1911-1917
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Chief Michael Commanda was always ready and willing to help people at desperate
times. He was the first person to make requests for caskets when someone passed
away.
In 1913, Leo Bernard, the first Indian constable, was appointed to watch over people
selling intoxicants to the Indians.
The following year, they replaced the wooden Congway Creek Bridge. This time, they
used a steel structure that stood for many years.
The Holy Rosary Church was built in the reserve in 1917 and, after several renovations,
is still being used.
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Chief John Cayer 1917-1920
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Chief John Cayer spoke three languages and, therefore, was able to translate for
those who did not speak French or English.
The people living in the reserve were making a living by hunting and trapping. When
summer came around, men went to different Fish & Game Clubs and guided for tourists.
In the Great War of 1910 - 1918, several Algonquins from the River Desert Band served
with honour in Europe, with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. They were Joseph Odjick
and John Carle in World War I.
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Chief John B. Chabot 1920-1924
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In 1902, timber was cut from the reserve to build the first hospital in Maniwaki.
And also, the Canadian Pacific Railway built a line through the reserve and the
first train arrived in 1904.
In 1906, there were three schools in the reserve, but only two in operation. The
school on the Ottawa Road was taught by Miss Annie O'Connor and the other at Congway
Bridge was Miss Nora McCaffrey.
The first Pocknock Bridge was built in August, 1907 and was to form part of a new
road.
Chief John B. Chabot was elected by the people, but was not always recognized by
the government.
The reserve was divided during these years. Some band members wanted to do away
with the Indian Act and others did not. There was also the problem of the three
lumber companies that were occupying the limit. It seems that Chief Chabot went
up there to try to evict them. Although he did not succeed immediately, Indian Affairs
finally gave in the following year and opened the limit to Band members.
It seems that the Chief was always fighting for our rights and reminded the people
that it was important to keep our language and tradition. This was when the Indian
Agent walked out of the council house and John Chabot was no longer recognized as
Chief by Indian Affairs. Agent Gauthier then formed another council and the next
Chief was elected.
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Chief Vincent Odjick 1927-1933
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Chief Vincent Odjick was in charge of the road maintenance and was the Fire Ranger.
The limit part of the reserve was finally opened for the Indians to cut the timber
that was left behind after the companies were ordered to leave.
In the summer of 1928, Charles Logue had a saw mill in operation at Bitobi Lake.
This mill was situated next to the Railway Line.
The first native teacher from this reserve was Liza McGregor. She taught school
for four years, from 1928 to 1932. She was Noe McGregor Jr.'s sister.
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Chief Patrick Brascoupe 1933-1936
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Chief Patrick Brascoupe used to make and sell his own-medicine on the reserve and
surrounding areas.
It was decided at a general Band meeting that, in the future, meetings would be
held on the first Saturday of each month instead of four times a year as previously;
e.g., first Saturday of January, March, June and September.
The Ottawa Road School was replaced in 1936 and this building later was moved and
became the nursing station.
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Chief Abraham McDougall 1936-1939
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A bridge over Cedar Creek was built and completed. This bridge was of great assistance
to both natives and non-natives for pulpwood and provisions to and from lumber camps.
The road at Bitobi forks was rebuilt and culverts were made along Bitobi and Congway
roads. At that time, they were using horses ' and wagons to haul their gravel.
During the depression, the people did not have the same problem for food as did
the people in the cities. Native people did some farming, hunting and trapping.
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Chief John B. Chabot 1939-1951
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Chief John B. Chabot passed out identification cards to Band members, who in turn
were able to get on the train for half-fare to Ottawa.
The first Community Center was officially opened in the fall of 1950. Finally, there
was a place where people could gather to celebrate weddings and have the monthly
Band meetings.
The Homemakers Club, which was formed in 1942, were also able to meet at the Center
and have their quilting bees and fund raising activities. Tragically, just four
years later, the Center was reduced to ashes.
In the summer of 1947, permission was granted to the C.I.P. Company to construct
the limit road. The labour was done by the men in the reserve and it made it easier
for the ones that were taking out timber for sale or stove wood for Band members.
It was only in the mid-forties that they started hiring trucks to haul gravel for
the roads, such as Bitobi, Congway and, later, the limit road.
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Chief William Commanda 1951-1970
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Chief William Commanda and Council agreed that a piece of land be set aside for
the children of the reserve. The playground and the private beach were chosen for
their recreation area.
In the Autumn of 1957, the present Community Center was re- built on the same spot
using the f oundation of the old Center. That same year, the Ottawa Road School
was moved and later became the nursing station.
A saw mill was operating in the reserve. Men brought in their logs that were cut
and made into boards.
The electricity power line was extended, beginning at Bitobi Bridge to Paddy Commanda's.
Gradually, it went up to Congway and Bitobi Road. Not long after this, the Bell
Telephone Co. set up their lines.
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Chief Ernest McGregor 1970-1976
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Beginnings of self-administration through Grants-to-Bands Pro- gram in order to
by-pass Government bureaucracy.
The first Band Office was built, which has since become used for various local business.
Programs were put into place to train local people in different Arts and Crafts,
after which Wadub was built to market production.
Waterworks and sanitation were emphasized.
Emphasis was also placed on Lands and Estates in order that they would be brought
up-to-date and kept that way with clear titles.
Algonquin Language instruction was begun. Local Algonquin- speaking people were
trained to teach the language in local schools.
Algonquin Grammar book was created with the assistance of a linguist trained in
Native languages.
Land was purchased for a permanent garbage disposal area.
As well, many other innovations which, though insignificant taken alone, were elements
in the overall, long-term progress of the Reserve.
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Chief Jean Guy Whiteduck 1976-2006
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In 1976, Jean Guy Whiteduck was elected Chief and served as Chief until June 2006.
During his term, many Government changes have been made, such as Bill C-31, Re-instatement
and Status Rights of Indian Women. Changes were made by the Government for schooling
and medical services. Other things that the Chief and Council have had to deal with
during this time was the issue of the Constitution, Native Rights and Land Claims
discussions for some parts of the town of Maniwaki and surrounding areas. Although
some of the above topics have not been finalized, the Chief and Band Council are
still at work with these issues, and may be for some time.
With perseverence and hard work, the Chief and various teams of Band Council, by
lobbying the Government, were able to acquire funding for facilities, such as the
School, Band Office, Kiweda Group Home, the new Cultural Centre, and the new facelift
on the Community Hall.
The Chief and Band Council were also able to find ways to get more funds for re-building
and paving roads, more monies for road maintenance and were able to get road maintenance
equipment, which included a gravel truck, grader and backhoe for summer and winter
use. We were also able to establish a peace-keeper force.
Although the Chief, Band Council and Band Office should not be considered a job
employment agency, the Band Office does have people in the forestry projects, road
maintenance, carpenters and labourers on housing, janitors for the various facilities,
the police force, the nursing staff, as well as Band Office employees.
From the first Chief Pakinawatik and Sub-Chiefs, the various Chiefs and Band Councils,
to the present day, there have always been Indian people with the leadership qualities
needed to keep the Band moving in the right direction.
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Chief Stephen McGregor 2006-2008
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Stephen was elected in 2006. He is known for doing a "good job".
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Chief Gilbert Whiteduck 2008-Present
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Gilbert was elected in 2008. He is still the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Chief today.
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