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Our Community |
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Dokis is very proud of their members and the important accomplishments they’ve made in their lives, their community, and their careers. Catherine Restoule at 90 years old is the eldest member on the reserve. Elders are highly respected because they have encountered and overcome many hardships and obstacles in their lives. They are our key to the past and from them we have much to learn. Our future lies in our youth. They will be the leaders of tomorrow, blazing new trails and a new way of life for the Dokis First Nation. This will not be an easy task for them to face, but with a good education, strong goals and values, support and assistance from their people, and pride in themselves and their culture, they can do anything. They will lead the Dokis First Nation into the 21st century. In closing is the following quote by Chief Dan George, and inspiration to us all: “There is a longing in the heart of my people to reach out and grasp that which is needed for our survival. There is a longing among youth of my nation to secure for themselves and their people the skills that will provide them with a sense of worth and purpose. They will be our new warriors. Their training will be much longer and more demanding that it was in the older days. The long years of study will demand more determination; separation from home and family will demand endurance. But they will emerge will their hand held forward, not to receive welfare, but to grasp the place in society that is rightly ours.” This was an excerpt from “My Heart Soars”, Chief Dan George. Languages: Ojibway, English and French Spirituality: Catholic and Native Culture Families: Majority of Dokis First Nation is Restoule’s or Dokis’
The Little French River Ziibiins - Ojibwe Name This beautiful little river as described by French Explorers starts near Wajasjk Cottages in Dokis First Nation and ends at the Five Finger rapids on the Lower French River. The Little French River is over 25 miles in length and over 100 yards wide in most areas. The Little French River is composed of a combination of many abiotic and biotic features such as:
In terms of Cultural and Heritage use, some evidence of past Native use was evident near the free flow and existing dam site. The areas adjacent to the flows were examined a little by an archaeologist in 1994; his conclusion was these areas were used for traditional camping and fishing routines prior to the Twentieth Century. Before the placement of the Little French Dam, the rest of the “Little French” could be accessed by boat. Deep Pockets of Water Just because it is called the “Little French”, it still has to be considered a large river system in terms of the amount of flow it generates and depths it can reach. Unfortunately the river portion from below the dam to the five-finger rapids has never been formally sounded for depth charting. In light of this fact our personal experiences have noted a mean depth of 40' above the dam and a mean depth of 30' below the dam. Most people in the area agree that more research is needed to start drawing the Little French scenario. Large Littoral Areas The Little French River system is uniquely forming littoral areas in back bays as the river makes sharp hairpin curves. Most of the rivers shore drops in a sloping angle that is difficult for normal “lake type littoral areas', so that is why these bays should not be over developed in any way as to make their wildlife use redundant. Diversity of Wildlife Use
“The diverse habitat and wildlife use of the Little French river is an Ecologist Heaven.” Every animal in the vicinity of this river system must use the areas for there own particular reasons. Its diversity is as widespread as to supply fresh drinking water for impregnated deer and moose while other water bodies are still frozen. The Little French River is a lifeline for all adjacent land including islands, the inlands within this well-balanced eco-system is typical of the Great Lakes; St. Lawrence Forest however there is no land development below the dam and a few cottages on its shoreline. Proficient Spawning Areas The Natives from Dokis have always speared the spawning walleye, sturgeon and musky of the Little French River. Areas along the river such as “the poplar rapids” produced many stories about large fish in the Dokis area. Many residents from Dokis suggest that the largest walleyes and sturgeons spawn in the Little French River waters including the “five finger rapids”. The Little French River system contains many small cobble stone type rapids and the majority of these are towards the inlets of the Little French Dam. Most rapids in this watershed are wide and shallow and the slope is long with many exposed rocks, which is also very typical of an extraordinary spawning bed. Meandering Stream Patterns The geological features of the Little French River are typical of a granite-based watershed, however what is somewhat notable is the association with a meandering stream pattern. Although the bedrock is mainly composed of igneous and metamorphic materials, the scouring of the meandering effect has created some sedimentary conditions and layering of the granite sub-deposits. Fish Populations It is our understanding that creel surveys in the “Little French” is limited only to the fisherman and traditional knowledge of the Dokis Band of Ojibwes. As previously mentioned in this report the Little French River is an important fishery resource with diverse factors that contribute to the enjoyment of its use. From the perspective of the existing fish populations this diversity in habitat is synonymous with the many types of fish that are said to reside here, and they are as follows: Fish Families
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