Anishinabek Nation

The Anishinabek Nation, also known as the Union of Ontario Indians, is a First Nations political organization representing 39 member Anishinabek Nation First Nations in Canada in the province of Ontario, Canada.^[1] The organization's roots predate European contact in the 16th century, in the Council of Three Fires.^{[citation needed]} The Union of Ontario Indians was incorporated in 1949 to serve as a political advocate and secretariat for the Anishinabek First Nations. The Anishinabek peoples speak Anishinaabemowin and Lunaape (in Munsee Delaware Nation) within the Anishinabek Nation territory in Ontario.^[2] In 2017, the Council changed its identification using the name "Union of Ontario Indians" only for legally-binding agreements but for all other purposes referred to themselves as Anishinabek Nation.^[2] The head office for the Union of Ontario Indians is located at Nipissing First Nation near North Bay, Ontario.

The Anishinabek Nation is guided by a Leadership Council, consisting of a Grand Council Chief, four (4) Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs, and Nation Councils representing four geographic regions: Southeast, Southwest, Lake Huron, and Northern Superior. In 2018, an organizational restructuring introduced four regional deputy grand council chiefs.^[3][4] In 2007 the organization appointed an Anishinabek Women's Water Commission to advise on water issues and management of the Great Lakes.^[5][6] As of May 2022, the current Grand Council Chief is Reg Niganobe.

In the early 21st century, there are about 60,000 citizens of the Anishinabek Nation member communities, accounting for about one-third of the total First Nations population in the province of Ontario.