Grants and Contributions:

The Niisaachewan Trails Network Plan and Priority Project Development, Ontario

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$50,000.00

Mar 20, 2025 - Mar 31, 2027

Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation (Niisaachewan) is located approximately 20 km north of the Kenora, the major service centre and tourism destination in the Northwest Ontario region. Niisaachewan’s main reserve is Dalles 38C (Dalles) consists of 3,257 hectares (8,048 acres) of land and is the main community for the Nation. Dalles is accessible by an access road that connects to Highway 658, a secondary highway maintained by the province. Dalles has an on-reserve population of approximately 173 members which accounts for approximately 35% of Niisaachewan’s total registered membership of 497 people. A large concentration of off-reserve members reside in the Kenora and Winnipeg areas. The Dalles reserve lands consist of two large parcels of land. One parcel is the site of the main community and has road access. The second parcel is undeveloped and separated from the main reserve by the Winnipeg River and only accessible by boat. Niisaachewan currently does not have a land use or community plan in place to provide direction on land use and development activities on reserve lands. Currently, there are no formal sidewalks or multi-use trails on Dalles reserve. As a result, the Nation is committed to constructing new trails, paths, and sidewalks throughout the reserve, but Niisaachewan does not currently have a trails network plan or strategy to help guide and prioritize this construction. The Niisaachewan Trails Network Plan and Priority Project Development will address this gap and provide the Nation with a strategy for developing their trail network. The purpose of the Niisaachewan Trails Network Plan and Priority Project Development will be to develop a trails strategy in the Niisaachewan community, Dalles 38C. The strategy will prioritize the development of safe trail connections between key destinations on the reserve, including health facilities, school and daycare centres, commercial sites, culturally significant areas, and administrative buildings. The main objectives of the project will be to: - Identify community needs and priorities for active transportation infrastructure - Develop a network map, which will identify and prioritize pedestrian and cycling connections throughout the community - Develop a written plan that articulates the community’s vision, goals, and policy recommendations to increase active transportation, and - Identify a priority project that Niisaachewan can construct in the next 1 to 2 years with capital funding. The plan will also include policies designed to encourage the community to use the active transportation network and incorporate Niisaachewan culture and Anishinaabemowin (language) into the trail network. These policies will focus on wayfinding signage, amenities (e.g. benches, water fountains, bike parking), pathway lighting, and the incorporation of the Nation’s history, language, and culture into the network.

Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Ontario, CA

278-2024-2025-Q4-00020

Grant

Grants and Contributions

Multi-year award for fiscal years 2024-25 to 2026-27.

Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation

Canada Public Transit Fund