Missinabie Cree
The Missinabie Cree are a distinct group of the Mushkegowuk Cree, with traditional territory centered in and around Missinaibi Lake, Dog Lake, and Wabatongushi Lake north of the Sault. The Missinabie Cree have used and occupied the lands and rich resources in this area from time immemorial to the present to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest to provide for the cultural, spiritual, and economic well-being of its people. Membership is scattered across Canada, with many members located in Northern Ontario communities.
An office in Sault Ste. Marie, located close to the waterfront at 559 Queen Street East, provides services to community members living in this area. This includes health and social programs, educational assistance, and more. The Circle of Creative Arts, an important intergenerational and intercultural arts centre, operated from 2011-2013 in a nearby rented store on Queen Street. Each year you can experience the culture of many Indigenous communities at the Echoes of the World Drum Festival, founded in 2009 by sisters and Missinabie Cree elders Jackie Fletcher and Shirley Horn.