Mc-dow-ell | McDowell Lake First Nation

McDowell Lake First Nation is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) community situated in the boreal forest landscape of Northwestern Ontario, with strong traditional connections to the land and waters

POPULATION

Rank #626 nationally

GEOGRAPHY

45.4 KM²

Rank #0 nationally

BAND COUNCIL TERM

03/31/2026

Term Expiration

Conflict Score

Community Profile

Overview

Last Updated 2025-08-06 04:02:57 UTC

Name

McDowell Lake (ISC Code: 326)

Former Names

Red Lake Band, McDowell Lake Band

Band Style

First Nation

Cultural Area

Boreal Forest, Northwestern Ontario

Indigenous Language

Ojibway (Anishinaabemowin)

Number of Registered Members

Band Website

https://kochiefs.ca/first-nations/mcdowell-lake/

Phone Number

(807) 735-1381

Fax Number

(807) 735-1383

Address

PO BOX 321, RED LAKE, ON

General Email

Not Available

Band Council

Governance Type

Not Applicable

Chief

LOIS LORRAINE JAMES

Term Expires

03/31/2026

Number of Council Members

LOIS LORRAINE JAMES

Chief

📧 Email not available

📞 Phone not available

MELANIE LORRAINE BEARDY

Councillor

📧 Email not available

📞 Phone not available

VERLIN LLOYD JAMES

Councillor

📧 Email not available

📞 Phone not available

Administrative Contacts

Financial Overview

No expert reports available yet.

Band Financial Statements

2024 - Report Not Available

2023 - Report Not Available

2022 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2021 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2020 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2019 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2018 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2017 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2016 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2015 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2014 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2013 - Audited consolidated financial statements

2012 - McDowell Lake20122013.pdf

2011 - McDowell Lake20112012.pdf

2010 - McDowell Lake20102011.pdf

2009 - McDowell Lake20092010.pdf

2006 - McDowell Lake20062007.pdf

2005 - McDowell Lake20052006.pdf

2002 - McDowell Lake20022003.pdf

Band Council Remuneration

2024 - Report Not Available

2023 - Report Not Available

2022 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2021 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2020 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2019 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2018 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2017 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2016 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2015 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2014 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

2013 - Schedule of Remuneration and Expenses

Band Owned Corporations

No Content Available

Laws, Bylaws, and Codes

No content available

Intergovernmental Agreements

No content available

Active Court Cases

No active court cases at this time.

Downloadable Court Records

James v. McDowell Lake First Nation

Location Map

Reserves

ISC Code: 10253
MISHI SAKAHIKANIING
4536.0 Hectares

[nil, nil]

News Coverage Summary

No Content Available

Media Reports

First planes carrying wildfire evacuees from northwestern Ontario head to Toronto area

Lithium mine developer looks for infrastructure funding to reach the EV market

Power restored to 6 northwestern Ontario First Nations after 4- day outages due to wildfires

Northwest District Wildfire Update – July 25, 2025 Four New Fires Confirmed, Red Lake 62 and 67 Continue to Challenge Crews

Power restored to 6 northwestern Ontario First Nations after 4-day outage

Power restored to 6 northwestern Ontario First Nations after 4-day outages due to wildfires

Dame Whina Cooper’s legacy celebrated through mokopuna’s clothing collection

Red Lake Mayor Mota – “Berens River Bridge is the key component”

Pikangikum First Nation faces power outage amid evacuation prompted by nearby wildfire

Scholarship will benefit Indigenous trades students

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and Wapekeka First Nation Energized by Wataynikaneyap Power

First Nations in Ontario

Son of AFL champion starring on the basketball court

Man, woman face slew of theft-related charges after items stolen from vehicle

2 Edmonton women among competitors at Miss Indigenous Canada pageant

Poplar Hill First Nation energized by Wataynikaneyap Power transmission system

Hockey is community service as well as sport

Aboriginal and Māori groups call for apology after 'dispespectful' treatment of Welcome to Country

Ontario, Pikangikum First Nation and Canada Partnering to Advance Construction of Berens River Bridge

Pikangikum bridge and all-weather road to be built

Ford government proposes to scrap controversial law placing 'restrictions' on development in northern Ontario

Arizona News

Wataynikaneyap Power celebrates construction completion of “the Line that Brings Light”

Wataynikaneyap Power transmission project recognized as Top Project

Good Sam 500 a homecoming for Glendale native McDowell

Indigenous community aid group returns for summer drive

Alex McDowell's Planet Junk asks students to "destroy the world"

How a Native American tribe changed the gambling industry by standing up to the FBI

Warm clothing the latest campaign drive for Mikinakoos Children’s Fund

Kroger releases list of 101 Albertsons, Safeway locations it plans to offload in Arizona amid merger

Celebrating the dam that wasn't built

Alanis Obomsawin Wins MacDowell Medal (Published 2023)

Teacher and students from Cumberland House get children’s book published

NABI celebrates 20th year with 144 teams from 120 tribal communities

Keewaytinook Okimakanak Chiefs Win Water’s Next Award

Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay holds onto lead at Canadian Junior Boys Golf Championships

Indigenous youth honour Indian Residential School Survivors and the children who never made it home with memorial of orange flowers – Anishinabek News

One of Toronto’s oldest mysteries: The unsolved disappearance of Marion McDowell

North Carolina receives federal help for 25 counties; Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians following Helene

Brady McKinlay, Chandler McDowell and Carter Graf in the hunt for junior national golf title in Medicine Hat

Most northwest winter roads closed to transports

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Welcomes Three New Tribal Council Members

How Colorado River Basin tribes are managing water amid historic drought

Marking 50 years since the Shell Lake murders, Canada's worst random mass killing

Indian Spring Wash hike to the Verde River pays off with mountain views

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and Wapekeka First Nation Energized by Wataynikaneyap Power

Parties agree to plan to build permanent Berens River bridge

Northern Ontario Grid Connection Project

Ring of Fire development to be 'slow, contested' if Far North Act replacement stands as-is, legal expert says

Dacoda Wahpekeche

Teresa McDowell receives $5,000 Anishinaabe Arts Initiative fellowship

Medical Aid Collection Day: Giving used medical equipment and those in northern Ontario communities a new lease on life

Pre-election goodies for First Nation bridges, clean water projects

In Drying Colorado River Basin, Indian Tribes Are Water Dealmakers

Poplar Hill First Nation Connected to Provincial Power Grid

Local rugby players shine in international U-19 championship

Many Indigenous communities lack internet infrastructure. Some are building it themselves

Warm clothing the latest campaign drive for Mikinakoos Children’s Fund

Ontario, Pikangikum First Nation and Canada Partnering to Advance Construction of Berens River Bridge

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Holds 2022 General Election

Federal government commits additional $20M to Ontario winter roads

Youth from Big Island Lake Cree Nation to perform in dance showcase in Toronto

Indigenous Leaders: Mission accomplished, Watay Power declares on northwestern Ont. power line project

Salmon in the city

Six Northwestern Ontario First Nations funded for multi-purpose centres

Fort Severn high school has grand opening

‘Milestone’ bridge announcement made in Pikangikum

Berens River bridge, road funding will be regional catalyst for northwest First Nations

2024-26 Fishing Guide

Wataynikaneyap Power Connects 12 First Nations to Ontario Grid, Ending Diesel Dependency

Feds announce money for Pikangikum-area bridge project

Ontario township learns support of six First Nations helped energy giant win bid to build unwanted wind farm

Thunder Bay Indigenous and non-Indigenous teens adapt mentorship program to pandemic restrictions

Remembering the victims of residential schools

Nishnawbe Aski Nation on board with Far North Act repeal

Decolonizing cottage country

2 Edmonton women among competitors at Miss Indigenous Canada pageant

Bridge, road funding will be regional catalyst for northwest First Nations

Why mountains matter in Canada

Pre-election budget goodie to fund Berens River bridge and road

Watay celebrates energization of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug and Wapekeka

Wataynikaneyap connects Kingfisher Lake First Nation to the grid

New collaborative publication puts mountains on the map for Canadians

Six Northwestern Ontario First Nations funded for multi-purpose centres

Wataynikaneyap Power Energizes Remote First Nation Communities

Bearskin Lake First Nation welcomes the “The line that brings light”

Gila River Indian Community to get $233 million for water conservation, infrastructure

What a ‘1,000-year drought’ means for Native Americans

Native people won the right to vote in 1948, but the road to the ballot box is still bumpy

Ontario Investing Nearly $17 Million to Support Workers in Northern Ontario

Miss Native royalty selected by Mesa Community College

‘A living spirit’: Native people push for changes to protect the Colorado River

International Mountain Day: ‘Benchmark’ assessment reveals depth of Indigenous Peoples’ relationship with Canada’s mountains

Flash flooding predicted for McDowell; Lake James may reach record high levels

Pikangikum bridge and all-weather road to be built

Wataynikaneyap Power Completes Construction of “the Line that Brings Light”

Crisis on the Colorado: The Indigenous fight for water rights

Canada boosts support for winter roads, connections to remote Ontario First Nations

Wataynikaneyap Power checks Sachigo Lake and Deer Lake communities off its list

Ontario backs largest Indigenous-led energy project in province’s history

Indigenous Leaders: Mission accomplished, Watay Power declares on northwestern Ont. power line project

Ontario Supporting the Largest Indigenous-led Energy Project in Province’s History

Illinois, Midwest athletes to look out for at the upcoming Track and Field Olympic Trials

Wataynikaneyap Power Completes “The Line That Brings Light” to Northwestern Ontario First Nations

Academic Research

Fish and fishing practices in the upper severn river watershed: listening to stories and exploring changes over time

The Archaic Stage of the Potomac River Piedmont: A Techno-ecological Approach to Archeological Data

A Systematic Mapping Study of Place-and Land-Based Learning with Indigenous Populations in K-12 STEM Education

Lived experiences of 'peak water'in the high mountains of Nepal and Peru

Sayings of the ancestors: The spiritual life of the Sibundoy Indians

Revitalizing Indigenous Languages in Toronto: The Responsibilities and Potential Roles of non-Indigenous People

Adaptation to glacio-hydrological change in high mountains

Water-rights Settlements and Reclamation in Central Arizona as a Cross-cultural Experience: A Reexamination of Native Water Policy

Swamp Capitalism: Ecology, Extraction, and the Roots of Environmental Racism in Louisiana

… ECONOMY OF FEDERAL RESETTLEMENT POLICIES AFFECTING NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES: THE FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI CASE (APPLIED …

Sayings of the ancestors: The spiritual life of the Sibundoy Indians

Revitalizing Indigenous Languages in Toronto: The Responsibilities and Potential Roles of non-Indigenous Peoples

From needs to actions: prospects for planned adaptations in high mountain communities

Sayings of the ancestors: The spiritual life of the Sibundoy Indians

Geographic variations in water quality and recreational use along the upper Wallowa River and selected tributaries

Sayings of the ancestors: The spiritual life of the Sibundoy Indians

The Effects of the Central Arizona Project on the Fort McDowell Indian Community

Sayings of the ancestors: The spiritual life of the Sibundoy Indians

Constructing the Ecological Native: Discourse Hybridity in the Colombian Andes

Sayings of the ancestors: The spiritual life of the Sibundoy Indians

Band Publications

No Content Available

Third Party Reports

No Content Available