Pikwakanagan

The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation (AOPFN) is a proud and progressive Algonquin community, situated along the beautiful shores of Golden Lake and the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County, Ontario. The name Pikwakanagan, meaning “hilly place,” reflects the deep connection our people have to this land. Today, our community is home to approximately 450 members living on reserve, while nearly 3,800 registered members live throughout the surrounding region and beyond.

Located just 1.5 hours west of Ottawa, our 1,800-acre reserve forms part of the Algonquin Nation’s vast 9-million-acre traditional and unceded territory. These lands and waters have sustained our people since time immemorial, providing the resources, teachings, and cultural practices that continue to shape our identity. Guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings—honesty, humility, respect, courage, wisdom, love, and truth—we uphold values that have been passed down for generations and remain at the heart of our way of life.

For countless generations, the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan have exercised inherent rights to hunt, trap, fish, gather, and engage in cultural ceremonies across our traditional lands. These rights are not only expressions of our sovereignty but also vital practices that sustain our connection to the Creator, to the land, and to each other. We continue to assert Algonquin Aboriginal title and rights across our unceded territory, including the waterways that have long served as our highways of travel, trade, and sustenance.

As our Nation grows and develops, AOPFN remains firmly committed to protecting our cultural heritage and advancing the well-being of our people. By balancing tradition with progress, we strive to build a future that is strong, healthy, and sustainable—one that honours our ancestors, supports our present generations, and ensures opportunity for those yet to come.