Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek

Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (BNA), also known as Sand Point First Nation, is located on pristine eastern shores of Lake Nipigon in Northwest Ontario, approximately 2 hours northeast of the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

In the 1950’s, BNA members were forcefully removed from their traditional homeland after the Province canceled a license of occupation to make way for a provincial park. Through the persistent efforts of successive leaders and Elders, the people of BNA have worked tirelessly to reclaim and rebuild their community. In 2010, an Order-In-Council was passed and presented to the community which formally created a total of 984.6 hectares of reserve lands for the BNA. In this same year, BNA applied and was approved to participate in the First Nations Market Housing Fund Capacity Development Program, with the recommendation that additional time be spent on the development and implementation of key areas of governance in order to be considered under the Fund’s Credit Enhancement Program.

The community undertook a number of community rebuilding efforts over this period of time, including the development of the BNA Land Code, Matrimonial Real Property Law, Capital Plan, Water Source Investigation Study, Survey Plans, Housing Strategy, and Housing Policy development to name a few.

It has long been the vision of the community’s leadership and membership to reconnect and rebuild on the land. In February 2019 BNA was approved to participate in the Credit Enhancement Facility of the First Nations Market Housing Program. This is a major achievement belonging to the First Nation membership, leadership and staff. BNA will now be able to offer eligible housing loans to its members backed by the Fund.

Chief Joe Ladouceur explained, “we have survived significant adversity at the hands of outside forces beyond our control, yet rather than wither away, we have arisen once again to reclaim what is rightfully ours. It is crucial to provide a financial base for our community and to ensure we have the resources required to continue to develop our land and to move forward in a thoughtful and progressive, yet also in an aggressive manner. We value the continuing support of the First Nations Market Housing Fund in our journey.” (June 2019)

Contact Information:

Joe Ladouceur
Chief
Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
1 Copper Thunderbird Road
Sand Point First Nation
Ontario, P0T 2B0
phone: (807) 623-2724
toll free: 1-877-623-2724
fax: 807-623-2764
email: info@bnafn.ca
website: www.bnafn.ca