Deshkan Ziibiing

What Deshkan Ziibiing does

Deshkan Ziibiing (legal name: Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, or COTTFN) is a sovereign self-governing First Nation established in 1760, headquartered at 320 Chippewa Road in Muncey, Ontario, on the north bank of the Thames River approximately 20 km southwest of London, Ontario. The Nation holds treaty rights under multiple pre-Confederation treaties, most notably the Longwoods Treaty of 1822 — the only Canadian treaty negotiated solely by COTTFN leadership, which secures a perpetual annual cash annuity of $2,400 and a recognized treaty territory of approximately 900 square miles. COTTFN is part of the Three Fires Confederacy alliance alongside Odawa/Ottawa and Bodaywadami/Potawatomi nations. Governance is exercised through an elected Chief and Council, currently led by Chief Joe Miskokomon (Ogimaa) and Head Councillor Jacqueline French, with the 2025/2027 Council inaugurated on September 17, 2025.

The Nation delivers community services to registered COTTFN members through 13 operating departments spanning Education (including the K-8 Antler River Elementary School), Health (Chippewa Health Centre), Housing, Justice, Anishinaabe'aadziwin (Culture, Language and Heritage), Employment & Training, Public Works, Early Years, Ontario Works, Child, Youth and Family Well-Being Services (CYFWBS), Treaty and Lands Entitlement (TLE), Membership & Estates, and Administration. Additional service infrastructure includes Chippewa Transit, a 24/7 Crisis Response Team line, the Emergency Alert System integration via Alertable.ca, and the Post-Secondary Education Support Program. Member communications are delivered through a WordPress website (cottfn.com), the monthly Mazinigan newsletter (PDF), and social channels on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, plus Constant Contact email subscriptions.

COTTFN operates as a government-funded entity rather than a revenue-generating business: services are provided at no direct cost to registered members, and operating funding flows from Canadian federal transfers, Ontario provincial grants, and treaty entitlements. Notable recent funding includes a $1M Ontario Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions grant received in May 2023 for community crisis response infrastructure (two eight-unit modular units and three crisis response vehicles). The organization is not publicly traded, has no parent company or subsidiaries, and reports 51-100 employees with no proprietary AI/ML or core technology systems disclosed. External partnerships support service extension across youth, justice, mental health, fitness, and workforce training, including tri-council collaboration with Munsee Delaware First Nation and Oneida Nation addressing illegal drugs and human trafficking in CMO communities.

Name

Deshkan Ziibiing

Legal name

Chippewas of the Thames First Nation

Website

https://cottfn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1760

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Deshkan Ziibiing (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) is a sovereign Indigenous self-governing nation in Muncey, Ontario, operating 13 departments that deliver education, health, housing, justice, cultural, and employment services to registered members, funded through government grants and treaty annuities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Community Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (92115), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH), State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI), Child Protection & Child Rights (BPAGABAG), District Student Services Administration (Special Ed, Counseling, Health) (EDADABAJ), Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) Programs (BPADAIAC)

Keywords

• Community services
• Indigenous governance
• Cultural preservation
• Education support
• Health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Muncey

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Grants: COTTFN operates primarily through government funding arrangements, including annual treaty annuity payments ($2,400 cash annuity under Longwoods Treaty of 1822, payable forever) and program-specific grants from federal and provincial governments such as the $1M Ontario government funding for mental health and addictions crisis response.

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Deshkan Ziibiing (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) is a self-governing First Nation that delivers community services to its registered members through 13 operating departments, including education, health, housing, employment and training, justice, public works, membership and estates, culture and language (Anishinaabe'aadziwin), early years, child and youth well-being, Ontario Works, and political/administration offices. Its deliverable service offerings include the Post-Secondary Education Support Program, the Antler River Elementary School (K-12), Chippewa Transit, the monthly Mazinigan newsletter, and a calendar of community events and programs. Services are provided at no direct cost to members and are funded through government transfers, grants, and treaty annuities.

Product overview

Deshkan Ziibiing (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation) operates as a First Nation government offering a portfolio of community services rather than a technology product company. The core offerings include the Post-Secondary Education Support Program for student funding and guidance, the monthly Mazinigan newsletter for community communications, Chippewa Transit for transportation services, Antler River Elementary School for K-12 education, and various community events and programs spanning health, employment, culture, and youth services. The organization uses a WordPress-based website (cottfn.com) to deliver information and services to its members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Post-Secondary Education Support Program A program that supports registered COTTFN members pursuing college, university, and other accredited post-secondary programs through funding, guidance, and wraparound supports including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and living allowances.
• Antler River Elementary School A K-12 school operated by COTTFN providing elementary education to community children of Deshkan Ziibiing.
• Chippewa Transit A community transit service providing transportation information and scheduling for community members of Deshkan Ziibiing, supporting both on-reserve mobility and connection to external services.
• Mazinigan Newsletter A monthly community newsletter of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, published in PDF format, providing updates on community news, events, and Nation initiatives to members.
• Community Events and Programs Various community events and programs including recovery support groups, language nights, educational workshops, fitness bootcamps, and cultural activities offered throughout the year to COTTFN members.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly youth housing assistance drop-in sessions held at Chippewa Health Centre where YOU staff help COTTFN youth access City of London's Coordinated Housing List. Contact: Milkella from YOU, 519-432-1112.
• Western University Community Legal Services ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for lunch & learn sessions on family court, child protection, and CAS issues. Hosted by COTTFN with Western Law providing legal guidance and resources. Contact: Stacey Puyenbroek, 226-919-4679, [email protected].
• Skills OntariominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkills Ontario Tech Truck program brings mobile skilled trades and technology education to youth at Antler River Elementary School. Program introduces young people to careers in skilled trades through hands-on activities and simulators.
• Westover Treatment CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFacilitates weekly Recovery Support Group: Coffee Hour sessions at Employment & Training Portable. Mike McGilvery from Westover Treatment provides support for community members in recovery. Contact: Cynthia Tribe, 519-878-0165.
• BoFit Personal Training StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly youth fitness bootcamp sessions (ages 14-25) held at BoFit studio in London, ON (820 Wharncliffe Rd S). Youth Mental Health Team coordinates youth participation. Contact: 519-564-5641 ext. 234.
• London Training CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with COTTFN Employment and Training for Safe Food Handling Training certification programs for community members.
• Munsee Delaware First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-council declaration signed alongside Munsee Delaware Chief Roger Thomas addressing illegal drugs and human trafficking within CMO communities. Joint commitment to combat illicit drug trafficking and human trafficking through collaborative action.
• Oneida NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTri-council declaration signed alongside Oneida Chief Todd Cornelius addressing illegal drugs and human trafficking within CMO communities. Joint commitment to collaborative action with specialized service agencies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Indigenous Services Canada / Crown-Indigenous Relations: Federal counterpart organization that transfers the majority of COTTFN's program funding. Relevant as the upstream funding/regulatory counterparty shaping COTTFN's operating context, not as a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Six Nations of the Grand River: Largest First Nation in Canada, located in Southern Ontario. Operates a much broader portfolio of departments, services, and economic enterprises, making it a relevant scale-up reference for COTTFN's governance and service-delivery model.

Direct peers

• Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation: Anishinaabe First Nation in Southern Ontario with similar governance structure, treaty-based funding profile, and a comparable mix of education, health, and cultural services for members.
• Aamjiwnaang First Nation: Nearby Anishinaabe First Nation near Sarnia, Ontario. Comparable in scale and scope of services, with overlapping Treaty 29/Longwoods-era territorial interests and similar self-governance trajectory.
• Munsee Delaware Nation: Adjacent First Nation and the third signatory of COTTFN's tri-council declaration on drugs and human trafficking. Provides comparable community services and shares the same Treaty/Territorial landscape in Southwestern Ontario.
• Kettle and Stony Point First Nation: Anishinaabe First Nation on the shore of Lake Huron in Southwestern Ontario. Operates a similar community-services portfolio under chief-and-council governance with comparable treaty-based funding profile.
• Oneida Nation of the Thames: Neighbouring First Nation in Southwestern Ontario, signatory of the tri-council declaration with COTTFN. Operates similar community-service departments for its members and shares regional governance and service-delivery context.
• Walpole Island First Nation (Bkejwanong): Unceded First Nation in Southwestern Ontario along the St. Clair River. Comparable sovereign status, treaty-based service funding, and community-services portfolio serving a similar-sized membership.
• Caldwell First Nation: First Nation in the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario. Operates analogous community services and self-governance structures, making it a comparable peer for community-service delivery models.
• Delaware Nation (Moravian of the Thames): First Nation in Southwestern Ontario with shared treaty and territorial context. Comparable scale and community-services mandate as COTTFN, including health, education, and cultural programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@officialcottfn6868
• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficialCottfn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/7025313
• Instagraminstagram.com/chippewasofthethames
• Xx.com/OfficialCottfn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deshkan Ziibiing