The Ojibwa, Odawa and Potawatomi

Pointe Grondine Chiefs

Chief John Baptist Gahbaimahgewonocai was the chief in August 1893. On December2, 1968 the Point Grondine Band amalgamated with the Wikwemikong Band.

These Photographs compliments of
Alex T. Peltier
Lands & Resource Officer
W. U. I. R.

Chief Kitcheposkissegan
Prior To 1850

On September 9, 1850, the Chiefs and Principal Men of the Ojibway Nations “inhabiting and claiming the eastern and northern shores of Lake Huron” and William B. Robinson, on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, entered into a Treaty known as the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. The third item in the Schedule of Reservations to that Treaty states: “Kitcheposkissegan, (by Papaisance) from Point Grondine westward, six miles inland, by two miles in front, so as to include the small Lake Nessinassung - a tract for themselves and their bands.

The Point Grondine Indian Reserve No. 3 was surveyed in 1851. But even before the surveyors arrived at Point Grondine, a Petition was sent by two Chiefs to the Governor General in Montreal. They wrote: “Great Father - in describing our reserves, we did not understand the distance of miles, but we gave certain points and we hoped that in the survey those boundaries will be adhered to and not the imaginary space which a term conveys to us although well known to you. Great Father - we will point out to the surveyor the lake we mentioned and from inquiry of the whites we find would be further than we said. Chief Kitcheposkissegan died in 1858.

Chief Oneweigance
Prior To 1850

Chief Oneweigance and his band resided at Point Grondine near the eastern entrance to Collins Inlet. The band live principally by hunting, fishing and working at the saw mill in Collins Inlet. In 1873 the band built four houses. Some of the Anishnaabe live in wigwams on the Beaverstone River at the northern part of the reserve. The band have a 6 dwelling houses, one barn and stable. The crop raised for the year was 18 bushels of corn, 140 bushels of potatoes, and six bushels of beans. They own three horses, one ox, six pigs, one sheep, three boats, three canoes, and thirty four nets.

Chief J. Baptiste Flamand 1890

The band at Point Grondine are supporting themselves by fishing, hunting, farming and some working at the saw mill. They also earned considerable amount of money by gathering blueberries and cranberries.