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Nishnawbe Aski Nation (Canada)

First Nation

image by Jens Pattke, 1 September 2013

The flag
NAN Veterans Flag
Police force

See also:

The flag

The Great White Bear stands in the circle - the traditional symbol of life of the North American Indian. The background is red - symbolic of the Red Man. His feet are firmly planted on the bottom line - representing Earth. His head touches the top line - symbolic of his relationship to the Heavens and to the Great Spirit. He stands with feet stretched out to the four smaller circles which represent the North, East, South and West - to show that he has nothing to hide. The circles joining his rib cage represent our various communities. The lines of the rib cage of the Great Bear symbolize the traditions, the culture, the songs, the legends and the prayers of our People that bind our communities together as one. These lines are essential, for without the protection of the rib cage, the heart is open for anyone seeking to destroy that life.
Source: www.nan.on.ca
Darrell Neuman, 1 July 2013

NAN Veterans Flag

image located by Valentin Poposki, 22 April 2007
Source: www.dauphinislandtimes.com/node/367

Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Stan Beardy, together with Chapleau Cree First Nation Chief Keith Corston, NAN Chiefs and delegates, representative of Veterans Affairs Canada Andre Paquette, Col. Stephan Cadden, the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Rangers, honoured the wartime contributions of Aboriginal veterans with the official unveiling of the NAN Veterans Flag during a special ceremony at the opening of the XXVIII Keewaywin NAN Chiefs Assembly (Aug. 11-13) in Chapleau. (THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 11, 2009)

The NAN flag was designed by Aboriginal artist Patrick Cheechoo. It features an Elder veteran holding an eagle staff along with a goose, bear, the rising sun and seven eagle feathers representing honour for veterans, unity and sovereignty of NAN First Nations and the seven sacred teachings. "I am honoured to have designed this image. It was an exercise that has reminded me of something that I should never forget - we must always remember and be thankful for the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women and Men who fought for our freedoms," said Cheechoo, who was raised in Constance Lake First Nation and currently resides in Thunder Bay. "We have an obligation to our Veterans. It is because of these NAN women and men that we are blessed with daily sunrises in a land where we, the First Peoples, have sovereignty to protect and treasure our culture, our tradition, our birthright."

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty 5 - an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario.

Darrell Neuman, 2 July 2010

Police Force

image by Jens Pattke, 1 September 2013

The band flag can be seen at www.tbnewswatch.com along with a tribal police force flag - blue with a seal in the center.
Dave Fowler, 31 August 2013