Caldwell First Nation reclaims territory with new homes

Members of the Caldwell First Nation are celebrating a return to their ancestral territory.

Drumming and singing was heard in the community during the historic Land Back cultural celebration Saturday as the rain poured, cleansing the historic moment.

“We had a beautiful day with Sunrise Ceremony at 6 a.m. and we moved into being able to have dancers and drummers and share food, share our stories and there were a lot of tears today with our community,” said Chief Mary Duckworth of Caldwell First Nation.

“I think seeing rain come in after we are just wrapping up is really a cleansing feeling and really refreshing. It’s good for us. The rain is good.”

In Indigenous culture, water is a source of life, according to the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

As it poured down, Chief Duckworth and Larry Johnson, councillor and former Chief, rejoiced.

“This is a celebration of a historical nature,” said Johnson. “We may do this every year. I’m looking forward to a future powwow, set up a baseball diamond, and maybe a shooting range for our hunters to practice. There are so many ideas and so many projects on the way.”

A dancer during the Grand Entry on Aug. 17, 2024. (Source: Caldwell First Nation)

The people of the community were removed and worked to maintain relationships with their families, language, ways of living and relationship with nature for 235 years.

According to a media release, in May 1790, the Ottawa, Chippewa, Pottawatomi and Huron surrendered a big area of land in southwestern Ontario. That included Point Pelee.

“Caldwell First Nation did not sign or benefit from the treaty,” it said. “In consideration of our service in the War of 1812, we were promised land at Point Pelee.”

“We continued our way of life on our lands and Point Pelee for 40 years after the war, with the support of the Canadian government, until the late 1850s when settler squatters occupied our lands and we were driven off the land.”

It continued, adding the food stores and homes of the community were burned and RCMP on horseback used whips to disperse them.

“We lost our sense of community and physical landscape. We were blocked from harvesting plants and hunting fish and animals, holding gatherings and accessing our sacred cultural heritage sites.”

According to census records from the 1850s to the 1870s, the Anishinaabe people were said to be living in Mersea Township in Leamington and in Essex and Kent counties.

The community became known as the Caldwell First Nation after fighting with Tecumseh and other First Nations as allies of the British. They fought to save the shores.

“It took years of strong leadership and enduring obstacles on our path home,” said Chief Duckworth.

“If not for our ancestors and leaders, we would not be standing here on our land now. In ceremonies, songs and stories, and most of all through our nationhood, we are sharing our gratitude to the Creator and to all who have come before us and contributed to saving our nation and creating a new homeland.”

As the day garnered national attention, Chief Duckworth hopes this will have an impact on other First Nations communities.

“The impact on other First Nations communities I feel is coming together with fellowship, sharing ideas, sharing information,” she said.

“Caldwell First Nation has good relationships with the First Nations and talking to them and working with them has really helped us get to where we are.”

“I hope to have those continued relationships so that we are able to come together again and be successful all together.”