Nipissing First Nation

The Nipissing Nation has been involved in the Lake Nipissing Co-operative Assessment Program since 1995. This assessment program provides information enabling Nipissing to evaluate the fishery. Modifications to this program have been made resulting in a more focused and efficient assessment program. Nipissing Nation conducts a streamlined core asse... ssment. This type of assessment and record keeping has culminated in the Nipissing membership agreeing to a moratorium to ensure that the fishery is kept healthy. Assessments showed that the fisheries adult pickerel population was being depleted. Nipissing agreed to a moratorium which restricted the use of gill nets during the pickerel spawning season. This assessment has moved the company's Nation to become more involved in the management of Lake Nipissing, its environs and resources. The fishery has historically been documented as being a part of the company's Nation's heritage. The use of this resource was a commodity for trade, a food staple with significant traditional, cultural and heritage use and responsibilities. The company's Nation is committed to the sustainability of the fishery and is taking on more responsibilities in the proper management to improve this resource. Nipissing Nation since April of 2004 committed funding to operate a fish hatchery. Two Nation members, a co-ordinator and technician, operate this pickerel hatchery on an annual seasonal basis. A study is now being conducted for future hatchery for muskie and trout. The latest development in Nipissing's development of fisheries management is the acceptance and approval by a plebiscite of the electorate who voted in favour of the Nipissing Fisheries Law.Read More