Our Resources
Located in the heart of the boreal forest of Northwestern Ontario, Mishkeegogamang is surrounded by an abundance of natural resources:
Fish
whitefish, sturgeon, trout, pike, pickerel and perch. A few community members fish commercially, selling through the Freshwater Fish Marketing Board.
Animals
moose, black bear, woodland caribou, wolverine, beaver, marten, mink, fisher, otter, lynx, muskrat, and fox. Deer has not been common, but there are signs they may be coming back to the area.
Birds
Over 300 species of birds live in this area, including eagles, owls, hawks, pelicans, snow geese, swans, great blue herons, bitterns and snowbirds. Canada geese, mallard ducks, and loons are common in the lakes, and in the bush you could find spruce grouse, ruffed grouse and sharp-tailed grouse.
Trapping
Around 100 band members get trapping licenses each year. Beaver, mink, otter, lynx and muskrat are trapped, and the furs sent to auction houses such as the Fur Harvester's Auction of North Bay, Ontario, which sells furs all around the world.
Minerals
There is active mining in the area for gold, diamonds. The Placer Dome Musselwhite mine site is located off #808 North 140 kilometers north of Pickle Lake.
Lumber
The logging industry is active in the area. In ongoing negotiations with logging companies, Mishkeegogamang seeks to protect the forests of its traditional homelands.
Blueberries
July and August are the months for plentiful blueberry picking.
Wild rice
Grown in the past, but is not grown now partly because of fluctuating water levels.