The historic Council House was built in 1882. It served as the seat of Anishinaabe governance within the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and a gathering point for band members for over 100 years. It is modeled on a standard building type constructed of brick and clap wood. In the 1970s the Council House underwent a series of renovations. The windows replaced taller and slimmer windows with more energy efficient windows, carpeting replaced the wooden floor, and a heating system was installed. Always serving as the heart of the community, the Old Council House has doubled as a community centre, schoolhouse, concert hall, and even a factory to make burlap upholstery for car seats – manufacturing equipment was pushed aside for council meetings.
Restoring the Old Council House is part of a broader effort to preserve Anishinaabe language, history and culture. Through the restoration of the historic Old Council House, the community will have a place to repatriate artifacts scattered around the world, welcome band members who live off the reserve and have never visited the land their ancestors called home and return Anishinaabe governance to its historic location. With Government of Canada support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) as well as funding from the MCFN Community Trust and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Council House has been restored to its foundation so it can last another 100 years.
Maintenance and care for public buildings are provided by the Public Works Department.
