thumb|250px|Range of Anishinaabe-Anishinini around 1800, including the Mississauga in dark blue

The Mississaugas are a group of First Nations peoples located in southern Ontario, Canada. They are a sub-group of the Ojibwe Nation. The Ojibwe Anishinaabe then moved into the area around 1700, pushing out the Iroquois. (Misi-zaaging dash ininweg: "Regular-speakers of the Great River-mouth"). This was not how the Mississaugas originally knew themselves,

thumb|Map shows the subdivisions and purchase of the Indian Reserve on the Credit River, and 12 Mile and 16 Mile creeks. The purchase took place in 1806, but this map was published in 1820 by the Department of Indian Affairs.

Starting in 1781 during the waning years of the American Revolutionary War, the Crown purchased land which encompassed much of present-day southern Ontario from the Mississauga in a series of transactions. They purchased the land to fulfill promises made in the Haldimand Proclamation concerning land promised to the Iroquois for their support for the Crown during the war, and to compensate the Iroquois for losing territory to American colonists. The sale of land by the Mississaugas of the Credit to the Crown was referred to as the "Between the Lakes Treaty." Beginning in the 19th century, the Mississauga sought to gain compensation for the land granted to them but given to other settlers. In the 21st century, the Canadian government awarded the Mississauga of the New Credit First Nation nearly $145 million in settlement of this land claim.

Legacy

  • The city of Mississauga is named after them.
  • The Western and Eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) are named after them.
  • Fort Mississauga is named after them.

Today

All the Mississaugas are a subset of the Ojibwe nation of 200,000 people.

Historically, there were five First Nations that made up the Mississauga Nations. Today, there are six, listed here along with their historical counterparts, where applicable:

  • Mississauga First Nation — Mississagi River 8 Reserve
  • Mississaugas of Chibaouinani (historical)
  • Alderville First Nation (formerly: Mississaugas of Alnwick) — Alderville First Nation Reserve, Sugar Island 37A Reserve
  • Mississaugas of the Credit (historical)
  • Mississaugas of Beldom (historical)
  • Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation — New Credit 40A Reserve. One of the largest communities; as of 2005, the Mississaugas of the Credit had a population of 1,375.
  • Mississaugas of Matchedash (historical)
  • Mississaugas of Rice Lake, Mud Lake and Scugog Lake (historical)
  • Curve Lake First Nation (formerly: Mississaugas of Mud Lake) — Curve Lake First Nation 35 Reserve, Curve Lake 35A Reserve and Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A
  • Mississaugas of Grape Island (historical)
  • Hiawatha First Nation (formerly: Mississaugas of Rice Lake) — Hiawatha First Nation Indian Reserve, Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A
  • Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation — Mississaugas of Scugog Island Reserve, Islands in the Trent Waters Indian Reserve 36A

Notable people

  • Peter Jones (1802–1856), Mississauga missionary and writer
  • Edmonia Lewis (ca. 1844–1907), Mississauga Ojibwe/African-American sculptor
  • Quenippenon, Mississauga Chief

See also

  • Crawford Purchase
  • Toronto Purchase

References

  • Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations
  • Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation
  • United Anishnaabeg Council
  • Ogemawahj Tribal Council