View source for Fort Severn First Nation

{{other uses of|Severn|Fort Severn|Severn (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Fort Severn 89
| official_name            = Fort Severn Indian Reserve No. 89
| native_name              = ᐗᔕᐦᐅ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ
| native_name_lang         = csw
| translit_lang1           = Western [[Swampy Cree]]
| translit_lang1_info      = ''Waśaho Ininiwak''
| translit_lang1_type      = [[Canadian Aboriginal Syllabics]]
| settlement_type          = [[Indian reserve]]
| image_skyline            = 
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
| image_map                = 
| map_caption              = 
| pushpin_map              = Canada Ontario
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_mapsize          = 200
| coordinates              = {{Coord|55|59|33|N|87|38|06|W|region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[Countries of the world|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{CAN}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{ON}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[Census divisions of Ontario|District]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Kenora District|Kenora]]
| subdivision_type3        = First Nation
| subdivision_name3        = Fort Severn
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| government_type          = Band council
| leader_title             = Chief
| leader_name              = Paul Burke
| leader_title1            = Deputy Chief
| leader_name1             = Chris Koostachin
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="cp2011">{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3560078&Geo2=CD&Code2=3560&Data=Count&SearchText=f&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=35&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |title=Fort Severn 89 census profile |publisher=Statistics Canada |work=[[Canada 2011 Census|2011 Census of Population]] |date=8 February 2012 |access-date=27 May 2015 |archive-date=11 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611012725/http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3560078&Geo2=CD&Code2=3560&Data=Count&SearchText=f&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=35&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 
| area_land_km2            = 44.07
| area_water_km2           = 
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="cp2016">{{cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3560078&Geo2=CD&Code2=3560&Data=Count&SearchText=f&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=35&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |title=Fort Severn 89 census profile |publisher=Statistics Canada |work=[[Canada 2016 Census|2016 Census of Population]] |access-date=20 May 2016 |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204053738/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3560078&Geo2=CD&Code2=3560&Data=Count&SearchText=f&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=35&B1=All&Custom=&TABID=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_total         = 361
| population_as_of         = 2016
| population_density_km2   = 8.2
| website                  = [http://fortsevern.firstnation.ca/ fortsevern.firstnation.ca]
}}
[[File:Fort Severn by air.jpg|alt= Aerial view of Fort Severn, Summer 2015|thumb|279x279px|Aerial view of Fort Severn, Summer 2015]]
[[File:Fort severn Airport Sign.jpg|alt= Sign at Fort Severn Airport in English and Cree. Summer 2015|thumb|273x273px|Sign at Fort Severn Airport in English (''Fort Severn'') and Cree (''{{lang|csw-Cans|ᐗᔕᐦᐅᐠ}}'' [''Waśahohk'']). Summer 2015]]

'''Fort Severn First Nation''' ({{langx|csw-Cans|ᐗᔕᐦᐅ ᐃᓂᓂᐗᐠ|Waśaho Ininiwak}}) is a Western [[Swampy Cree]] [[First Nations in Canada|First Nation]] [[band government]] located on the [[Severn River (Hudson Bay)|Severn River]] near [[Hudson Bay]]. It is the [[Extreme communities of Canada|northernmost community]] in [[Ontario]], Canada. In 2001, the population was 401, consisting of 90 families in an area of 40 square kilometres. The legal name of the reserve is '''Fort Severn 89''', with the main settlement of '''Fort Severn''' ({{langx|csw-Cans|ᐗᔕᐦᐅᐠ|Waśahohk}}; {{langx|ojs-Cans|ᐙᔕᐦᐅᐤ|wâšahow}}).

The town is linked by a [[winter road|winter]]/[[ice road]] called the [[Wapusk Trail]] during the winter to [[Peawanuck]], [[Ontario]], in the east, and [[Shamattawa, Manitoba|Shamattawa]] and [[Gillam, Manitoba]], to the west.

Fort Severn is [[police]]d by the [[Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service]], an Indigenous-based service.

== History ==
This area was inhabited for thousands of years by varying cultures of [[indigenous peoples]]. At the time of European contact, the historic Swampy Cree, an [[Algonquian languages|Algonquian]]-speaking people, lived in the area.

In 1689 the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] built Fort Severn at this site, originally naming it Fort James;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northamericanforts.com/Canada/on-north2.html#severn |title=Ontario Forts: page 4 |website=www.northamericanforts.com |access-date=21 April 2018 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041155/http://www.northamericanforts.com/Canada/on-north2.html#severn |url-status=live }}</ref> it was one of the earliest [[English people|English]] [[fur trade|fur trading]] posts in the [[New World]]. After years of international competition between the English and French, with their wars playing out in North America, the French attacked the outpost and [[Hudson Bay Expedition|pillaged it]] in 1782 when they were allies of the [[Thirteen Colonies]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]].

In the early 20th century, when the federal government negotiated a treaty with the First Nations, it set aside land for a native reserve in the Rocksand area at the confluence of the [[Severn River (northern Ontario)|Severn]] and [[Sachigo River|Sachigo]] Rivers, with the consent of the leaders at the time. In 1973, the reserve was relocated to the mouth of the Severn River on [[Hudson Bay]], for more direct access to shipping. The reserve achieved full status on January 11, 1980.

==Government==

The local band council consists of an elected chief, a deputy chief, and four band councillors.

==Community services==

There is no hospital in Fort Severn, with medical needs provided either at the local nursing station or via Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telemedicine (KOTM) link.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fortsevern.firstnation.ca/node/145 |title=Telehealth and Telemedicine - Fort Severn First Nation |website=fortsevern.firstnation.ca |access-date=21 April 2018 |archive-date=21 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180521213831/http://fortsevern.firstnation.ca/node/145 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Community Doctor (Christopher Arthur Giles) travels in every month to do regular check-ups, follow-ups, and schedule appointments and surgeries. Specialists such as optometrists, dentists, and hygienists travel to Fort Severn every two to three months.

==Transportation==

There are only local roads in town and residents travel by car, snowmobile, four-wheelers, or walking.

The [[Fort Severn Airport]] is located a short distance from the settlement and is reached by an access road.

==Education==

Wasaho Cree Nation School is the full functioning school providing primary education needs. It was built in 2016, preparing students for 21st century learning. Keewaytinook Internet High School is housed in a small building and provides distance learning for residents needing secondary education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kihs1.knet.ca/node/12 |title=Fort Severn - Keewaytinook Internet High School |website=kihs1.knet.ca |access-date=21 April 2018 |archive-date=30 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430043119/http://kihs1.knet.ca/node/12 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Climate==
Fort Severn has a [[subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Dfc]]) and is one of the coldest communities in Ontario. Summers typically have cool to mild weather with short heatwaves, while winters are severely cold and long, lasting from October to sometimes through May.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Environment and Climate Change |date=2011-10-31 |title=Station Results - Historical Data - Climate - Environment and Climate Change Canada |url=https://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=fort+severn&searchMethod=contains&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2020&Year=2020&Month=8&Day=10&selRowPerPage=25 |access-date=2020-08-11 |website=climate.weather.gc.ca |language=en |archive-date=2020-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018001205/https://climate.weather.gc.ca/historical_data/search_historic_data_stations_e.html?searchType=stnName&timeframe=1&txtStationName=fort+severn&searchMethod=contains&optLimit=yearRange&StartYear=1840&EndYear=2020&Year=2020&Month=8&Day=10&selRowPerPage=25 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Weather box
| location = Fort Severn
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 33.3
| Feb record high F = 33.1
| Mar record high F = 51.4
| Apr record high F = 61.7
| May record high F = 81.5
| Jun record high F = 94.5
| Jul record high F = 95.2
| Aug record high F = 90.7
| Sep record high F = 85.3
| Oct record high F = 77.7
| Nov record high F = 53.2
| Dec record high F = 36.7
| Jan record low F = -46.7
| Feb record low F = -50.6
| Mar record low F = -39.1
| Apr record low F = -22.5
| May record low F = -2.4
| Jun record low F = 24.3
| Jul record low F = 31.3
| Aug record low F = 31.1
| Sep record low F = 23.4
| Oct record low F = 7.7
| Nov record low F = -27.4
| Dec record low F = -49.5
| Jan high F = -1.1
| Feb high F = 0.9
| Mar high F = 14.8
| Apr high F = 27.7
| May high F = 42.2
| Jun high F = 56.9
| Jul high F = 65.2
| Aug high F = 64.4
| Sep high F = 54.5
| Oct high F = 41.3
| Nov high F = 22.2
| Dec high F = 5.4
| Jan mean F = -9.7
| Feb mean F = -9
| Mar mean F = 3
| Apr mean F = 17.9
| May mean F = 33.9
| Jun mean F = 46.3
| Jul mean F = 54.4
| Aug mean F = 54.7
| Sep mean F = 46.3
| Oct mean F = 35.7
| Nov mean F = 15.8
| Dec mean F = -1.5
| Jan low F = -18.2
| Feb low F = -18.9
| Mar low F = -8.8
| Apr low F = 8
| May low F = 25.6
| Jun low F = 35.6
| Jul low F = 43.6
| Aug low F = 45
| Sep low F = 38.1
| Oct low F = 30
| Nov low F = 9.4
| Dec low F = -8.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch =
| Feb precipitation inch =
| Mar precipitation inch =
| Apr precipitation inch =
| May precipitation inch =
| Jun precipitation inch =
| Jul precipitation inch =
| Aug precipitation inch =
| Sep precipitation inch =
| Oct precipitation inch =
| Nov precipitation inch =
| Dec precipitation inch =
| Jan rain inch = 
| Feb rain inch = 
| Mar rain inch = 
| Apr rain inch = 
| May rain inch = 
| Jun rain inch = 
| Jul rain inch = 
| Aug rain inch = 
| Sep rain inch = 
| Oct rain inch = 
| Nov rain inch = 
| Dec rain inch = 
| Jan snow inch = 
| Feb snow inch = 
| Mar snow inch = 
| Apr snow inch = 
| May snow inch = 
| Jun snow inch = 
| Jul snow inch = 
| Aug snow inch = 
| Sep snow inch = 
| Oct snow inch = 
| Nov snow inch = 
| Dec snow inch = 
| Jan sun = 
| Feb sun =
| Mar sun = 
| Apr sun = 
| May sun = 
| Jun sun = 
| Jul sun = 
| Aug sun = 
| Sep sun = 
| Oct sun = 
| Nov sun = 
| Dec sun = 
|date=July 2020}}

==In popular culture==
Fort James, a British settlement controlled by a governor who reports to the king and who represents Hudson Bay Company,<ref>{{cite web |website=Bustle |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/is-frontier-based-on-a-true-story-the-netflix-show-has-historical-roots-31255 |title=Is 'Frontier' Based On A True Story? The Netflix Show Has Historical Roots |author=Getz, Dana |date=January 19, 2017 |access-date=December 17, 2018 |archive-date=December 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218010408/https://www.bustle.com/p/is-frontier-based-on-a-true-story-the-netflix-show-has-historical-roots-31255 |url-status=live }}</ref> is the principal setting of the 2016 television series, [[Frontier (2016 TV series)|''Frontier'']]. As Ann Foster describes for ScreenerTV, "'Frontier' is set in the coastal settlement of Fort James: A snowy, treacherous pocket of land that would, in a century’s time, become part of Canada."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://screenertv.com/television/frontier-netflix-jason-momoa-season-1/ |website=screenertv.com |title=Jason Momoa makes Canadian history riveting in Netflix's 'Frontier' |author=Foster, Ann |date=January 19, 2017 |access-date=December 17, 2018 |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120225913/http://screenertv.com/television/frontier-netflix-jason-momoa-season-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

A town by the name of Fort Severn is featured in several episodes of the 1996 anime series ''[[After War Gundam X]]''.

Johnny Cash mentions Fort Severn in the last line of the song "[[Girl in Saskatoon]]" (alternate version), written by Cash and Johnny Horton while they travelled through Canada in 1960.

==References==
{{reflist}}

*[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01ab/Details/details1.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&ID=7856&PSGC=35&SGC=3560078&DataType=1&LANG=E&Province=All&PlaceName=Fort%20Severn%2089&CMA=&CSDNAME=Fort%20Severn%2089&A=&TypeNameE=Indian%20Reserve%20%2D%20R%E9serve%20indienne&Prov=35 Stats Canada] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923120727/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01ab/Details/details1.cfm?SEARCH=BEGINS&ID=7856&PSGC=35&SGC=3560078&DataType=1&LANG=E&Province=All&PlaceName=Fort%20Severn%2089&CMA=&CSDNAME=Fort%20Severn%2089&A=&TypeNameE=Indian%20Reserve%20%2D%20R%E9serve%20indienne&Prov=35 |date=2006-09-23 }}
* [https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Canada/Province_of_Ontario/Fort_Severn-909029/TravelGuide-Fort_Severn.html Question and Answer ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115152855/https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/Canada/Province_of_Ontario/Fort_Severn-909029/TravelGuide-Fort_Severn.html |date=2017-01-15 }}

==External links==
*[http://fortsevern.firstnation.ca/ Fort Severn First Nation]

{{Geographic location
| Center = Fort Severn 89
| North = ''[[Hudson Bay]]''
| East = [[Unorganized Kenora District|Unorganized Kenora]]
| South = [[Unorganized Kenora District|Unorganized Kenora]]
| West = [[Unorganized Kenora District|Unorganized Kenora]]
}}
{{Nishnawbe Aski Nation}}
{{Numbertreaty|treaty=9}}
{{Kenora District}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places on Hudson Bay]]
[[Category:Cree reserves in Ontario]]
[[Category:Communities in Kenora District]]
[[Category:Nishnawbe Aski Nation]]
[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company forts]]
[[Category:Road-inaccessible communities of Ontario]]
[[Category:Swampy Cree]]