Mitaanjigaming (Stanjikoming) First Nation
Mitaanjigaming First Nation is a community with a population of 123 people. It is located 56 km from
Fort
Frances
. Government is determined by Custom Election. Council is made up of a Chief and 4 Councillors.
Elementary students attend schools in
Fort
Frances
. Elementary students are bussed 45 minutes daily to
Fort
Frances
and attend various elementary schools there. Secondary students are bussed 45 minutes daily to
Fort
Frances
High School
. A satellite location for the
Seven
Generations
Education
Institute
Secondary School
is available in the community as well. Post Secondary students attend various institutes across
Canada
and the
United States
.
Graduates from Seven Generations Education Institute Programs have included:
High School Graduates, Personal Support Worker, Carpentry.
Mitaanjigaming is also known as:
- Mitaanjigamiing
- Stangecming
-
Sandy
Bay
-
Stanjikoming
Meaning:
- Where the water goes into another lake
- A very narrow channel
Story:
Before the Europeans moved into the area, the Ojibway people called this area Mitang. The Europeans could not pronounce this name. Over time, this area became known as Stanjikoming and often is still shortened to Stanji. Many names have been altered to the point of non-recognition. Much research has been done by local elders to find the true names of places and give respect back to the language and the names.
Before the
Fort
Frances
dam was built for the paper mill,
Rainy Lake
shores looked very different. The
Stanjikoming
Bay
received waters from
Rainy
River
through one opening. Natural waters came into the bay through a 10-15 foot narrow channel. The channel had trees and under brush throughout. It was difficult to enter. Canoes were probably pushed with poles. Now the whole area is shallow with many sandy shores.
Prior to 1909, people came from all over
Manitoba
,
Ontario
,
Net
Lake
, and
Red
Lake
to this secluded place. It was a bay filled with manomin and muskrats, ducks, geese, and other fowl thrived in the area. The area was five miles by three miles and was known as a wild rice feeding area.
When the dam was built in 1909 the lake waters rose and flooded the wild rice beds. Now three opening bring water to the bay. Lands are flooded and the channel is now ¼ mile wide. Now there is little rice. Geese flying past and ducks are rare. Two other channels feed the bay and life is different. Visitors come but not for wild rice.
In 2009, the name was offically changed to Mitaanjigaming First Nation
Information gathered from Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada
website (2004) featuring community profiles and from research done for the Life on the
Lake
series (1995).