| People | Cree |
|---|---|
| Treaty | 9 |
| Province | Ontario |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Fort Albany 67 |
| Land area | 363.457 km2 |
| Population (October 2024) | |
| On reserve | 3309[a] |
| On other land | 101[a] |
| Off reserve | 2187[a] |
| Total population | 5597[a] |
| Tribal Council | |
| Mushkegowuk Council | |
Kashechewan First Nation,[b] locally known as Kash,[1]:15 is a Cree First Nation located on the northern shore of the Albany River in Northern Ontario, Canada, within territory covered by Treaty 9. The community is located on the west coast of James Bay. Kashechewan came into being when most of the Anglican families of Fort Albany on the south shore of the river moved north in 1958–1961. Kashechewan was granted its own band council under the Indian Act in 1977, though the two still share a reserve, Fort Albany 67. The population was estimated to be about 2,000 as of 2024, according to the CBC, and as of October 2024, the total population of Kashechewan and Fort Albany, which are reported together by CIRNAC,[c] was 5,597.
The First Nation was the subject of international media attention due to the discovery of E. coli in the community's water in October 2005, which brought popular consciousness to the health, housing, and economic crises facing the community.
Kashechewan is prone to flooding during the annual spring break up of ice on the river, and has built dykes to mitigate the damage caused, but these have been repeatedly found to be insufficient. The community has often had to be evacuated during flooding season. Proposals have been made in the 21st century to move the community further inland to a less flood-prone area.
The community is connected to other towns along the coast of James Bay by the seasonal ice road. Otherwise, it is only accessible by air or boat, having no permanent roads that connect outside the First Nation.
Kashechewan is a member of the Mushkegowuk Council and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN), which represents 51 First Nations across Northern Ontario. NAN also provides services to its members, such as the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, which polices Kashechewan.
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- ^ Shimo, Alexandra (2016). Invisible North: The Search for Answers on a Troubled Reserve. Dundurn Toronto. ISBN 9781459722927.