Welcome!

For thousands of years the Algonquin people have preserved their history and culture by passing oral histories from generation to generation. Algonquins did not have a written language, in fact even today, application of the roman alphabet to the Algonquin language is difficult and controversial. For example, one may see the word Megwetch, Meegwech, or Meegwetc. Each means the same thing, "thank you", and each spelling is considered correct.

The Algonquin language has preserved our history, Canada's pre-history and the culture of Algonquin people. It is with this in mind that we present to you the recent histories of three Algonquin First Nations - Barriere Lake, Timiskaming and Wolf Lake - in audio format.

Over the last twenty years interviews were conducted with members from the three communities, producing nearly 200 tapes. We have gathered these tapes and compiled them into a digital library. The following is but a sampling of the interesting and informative stories dating from as early as the 1890's up to present day.