Who Are the Oji-Cree?
The Oji-Cree (Anishinini or Severn Ojibwe) are an Indigenous people inhabiting the subarctic region of northwestern Ontario and northeastern Manitoba, around the Hudson Bay and James Bay lowlands. Numbering approximately 15,000-20,000, they live primarily in remote fly-in communities accessible only by air or winter roads. They speak Oji-Cree (Anishininiimowin), a language that blends Ojibwe and Cree features—reflecting their position in the cultural borderlands between these two great Algonquian nations. The Oji-Cree developed sophisticated adaptations to the challenging subarctic environment, combining Ojibwe and Cree traditions to create a distinctive culture suited to the northern forests and tundra transition zone.
Northern Adaptation
The Oji-Cree homeland is one of Canada's most challenging environments: long, harsh winters; short summers; vast distances; limited agricultural potential. Traditional economy centered on hunting (caribou, moose), trapping (beaver, marten, and other furbearers), and fishing. The fur trade integrated Oji-Cree into global markets while maintaining land-based subsistence. Seasonal rounds followed animal movements and resource availability. Birch bark canoes enabled summer travel; snowshoes and toboggans facilitated winter movement. The spiritual worldview emphasized proper relationships with animals and spirits of the land. This adaptation required intimate knowledge of the environment, passed through generations. The Oji-Cree developed between Ojibwe and Cree peoples, blending elements from both—their language, for example, is mutually intelligible with neither parent language.
Remote Communities
Contemporary Oji-Cree live primarily in remote communities accessible only by air (or winter roads when available). Communities like Sandy Lake, Deer Lake, Cat Lake, and others in the Sioux Lookout District are among Canada's most isolated. This remoteness preserved traditional culture longer than in more accessible areas; Oji-Cree communities maintained land-based activities and language vitality longer than many southern First Nations. However, remoteness also creates challenges: health services are limited; housing is inadequate and expensive to build; food costs are astronomical; economic opportunities are few. Youth face limited prospects; mental health crises, including suicide, have reached epidemic proportions in some communities. The 2016 State of Emergency declared by Attawapiskat First Nation (Cree, but similar conditions) highlighted the crisis affecting remote northern communities.
Contemporary Oji-Cree
Modern Oji-Cree navigate between traditional land-based life and contemporary challenges. Hunting, trapping, and fishing remain important for food security and cultural continuity. The Oji-Cree language is relatively healthy compared to many Indigenous languages—children still grow up speaking it in many communities. However, communities face severe socioeconomic challenges: unemployment rates often exceed 50%; housing shortages are critical; water and sewage infrastructure is inadequate. Resource development (particularly the "Ring of Fire" mining project in Ontario) promises economic opportunity but threatens traditional territories. First Nations, including Oji-Cree communities, negotiate impact-benefit agreements while asserting rights to environmental protection. The Oji-Cree demonstrate both the resilience of northern Indigenous cultures and the urgent need for investment in remote community infrastructure and economic development.
References
- Rogers, E. S. & Smith, J. G. H. (1981). Environment and Culture in the Shield and Mackenzie Borderlands
- Long, J. S. (2010). Treaty No. 9: Making the Agreement to Share the Land
- Feit, H. A. (2004). James Bay Crees' Life Projects and Politics