Mtigwaki
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mtigwaki, Ontario is a fictional First Nations reserve in the comic strip For Better or For Worse. The town, located in Northwestern Ontario, is home for a tribe of the Anishinabek Nation. The name, pronounced [m̩tɪɡwʌkɪ] (or approximately mm-tigwak-ih), means "Land of Trees".
Elizabeth Patterson, one of the strip's main characters, lived and worked in Mtigwaki for two years while teaching elementary school.
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[edit] History
The fictional community is currently growing, despite government efforts to move the community. Highways, pipelines, and hydro are all distant from the area.
[edit] Geography
Fictional Mtigwaki is situated on a small unnamed lake close to Lake Nipigon in the Thunder Bay District. It is located at the mouth of the Spruce River, approximately 60 kilometres north of Beardmore and 180 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay. The nearest community is the (also fictional) town of Spruce Narrows.
The community has a bay and beaches. There is a dangerous current at the right side of the bay; parents discourage their children from going there.
[edit] Demographics
[edit] Economy
The area's primary industry is logging. Most residents of Mtigwaki work in Spruce Narrows.
[edit] Law and government
[edit] Education
[edit] Sites of interest
The community includes pow-wow grounds.
At the mouth of the Spruce River is a marina and general store. The store primarily stocks dried food and fishing equipment.
There is both a Catholic and a Protestant cemetery in Mtigwaki. A hidden cemetery exists, for those who followed traditional Anishinabek teachings. Burials at this third spot follow traditional rituals.
[edit] Sports
[edit] Notable residents
Fictional Elizabeth Patterson, part of Lynn Johnston's long-running "For Better or For Worse" comic strip, taught school in Mtigwaki for two years.
Laurie McLeod-Shabogesic is a real person and the teaching aide that helps Elizabeth out in the strip.
Paul Wright is a half Ojibway, half white police officer that dated Elizabeth and is currently stationed in Mtigwaki.
Susan Dokis or "Suds", who replaces Elizabeth as teacher, is now dating Paul and the storyline places her on the reserve.
Gary and Vivian run the general store.
Jesse Mukwa is a young native boy that lives in Mtigwaki and was a student of Elizabeth's.
[edit] In real life
For the series of strips in Mtigwaki, strip creator Lynn Johnston received the Debwewin Citation for excellence in Aboriginal issues journalism.
The community was created with Baloney & Bannock comic creator Perry McLeod-Shabogesic, of the N'biising Nation (Anishinabek Crane Clan). McLeod-Shabogesic collaborated with Johnston to create an authentic world for the characters to inhabit. His son, Falcon Skye McLeod-Shabogesic, created the Mtigwaki First Nation's logo, which is partially inspired by a dreamcatcher.
