Saddle Lake Cree Nation

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Saddle Lake Cree Nation is a First Nations - ethnicity of Amiskwacīwiyiniwak ( Beaver Hills Cree ), which belongs to the Plains Cree. They used to speak the Plains Cree language and were located in central Alberta , Canada. The ethnic group has signed Treaty 6 with the Canadian government. The governance structure of these First Nations is unusual, as two separate councils and chiefs manage two different reservations. One reservation is called Saddle Lake Cree Nation and the other is Whitefish Lake First Nation. The Saddle Lake and Whitefish form an area of ​​governance under the provisions of the Indian Act .

In June 2013, the total population was 9,934 people, 6,148 of whom lived on their own reservation. The Saddle Lake is the second largest First Nation tribe in Alberta.

history

In 1876, the Amiskwacīwiyiniwak , which were a loose confederation of Cree and Assiniboine ethnic groups, became contracting parties with Canada through the Treaty of 6. Chief Onchaminahos (“Little Hunter”) of the Saddle Lake Band of Cree and Chief Pakân (“Nut”) of the Whitefish Lake Band of Cree represented the Saddle Lake Cree Nation at the negotiations and signing at Fort Pitt . Chief Pakan, together with Big Bear, advocated a large reserve covering an area of ​​2600 km². There should be a place for all the Plains and Woods Cree from the west so that they could hunt and farm together.

When the Canadian government did not agree, Pakans and Big Bears peoples refused to colonize the reserve until they were offered better conditions. Pakan then drove to Regina with the Métis interpreter Peter Erasmus in 1884 to discuss the matter with the Indian Commissioner .

In 1902, four Cree peoples were united to form the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. The four Cree peoples were:

  • Onchaminahos' people, led by Chief Onchaminahos ("Little Hunter");
  • Seenum's people, led by Chief Pakân ("nut")
  • Blue Quill's people, led by Chief Blue Quill; and
  • Wasatnow's people, led by Chief Muskegwatic ("Bear Ears")

Reservations

There are three reservations under the administration of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, one of which is shared with five other groups:

  • 96.20 acres of Blue Quills First Nation Indian Reservation, shared with five other groups
  • 25,780.60 acres Saddle Lake Indian Reservation 125
  • 4,542.70 hectares of White Fish Lake Indian Reservation 128 (also known as "Whitefish Lake Indian Reserve 128")

Originally, Chief Muskegwatic had also wanted to incorporate the Washatanow Indian Reservation 126 along the north bank of the North Saskatchewan River into the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. This reservation was exchanged for an equivalent piece of land adjacent to Saddle Lake Indian Reserve 125 in 1896. This land is now known as the "Cache Lake Addition" of the 125 Saddle Lake Indian Reservation. The Blue Quill Indian Reservation 127 was originally intended for the Blue Quills people, but in 1896 the Saddle Lake Boarding School was relocated there from Lac la Biche , Alberta. The Blue Quills people moved to the Saddle Lake Indian Reservation. Starting in 1931, the Blue Quill Indian Reserve 127 was divided again when the boarding school moved to St. Paul , Alberta.

Saddle Lake Indian Reservation 125 is bordered by Smoky Lake County, the County of St. Paul No. 19 and the County of Two Hills No. 21st

Governance

The Saddle Lake Cree Nation elects its representatives using its own electoral system. This Cree nation elects two different groups of representatives:

Saddle Lake Cree Nation

The Saddle Lake Cree Nation on the Saddle Lake Indian Reservation elected Chief Leonard Jackson and Councilors Herb Cardinal, Terry Cardinal, Charlene Houle-White, Shannon Houle, John Large, John Shirt, Dennis Steinhauer and G. Jason Whiskeyjack in 2013. The term of office is three years.

Whitefish Lake First Nation

The Saddle Lake Cree Nation on the White Fish Lake Indian Reservation has also elected its representatives. You have Chief James Jackson and Council members Leslie Cardinal, Brian Favel and Sandy Jackson. Her three-year term began on November 27, 2011.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 2008 Official Population List , Alberta Municipal Affairs, Municipal Services Branch
  2. ↑ Devine, p. 148
  3. ↑ http://www.saddlelake.ca/noflash/?page_id=223
  4. ↑ http://www.saddlelake.ca/noflash/?page_id=222
  5. ↑ http://www.saddlelake.ca/noflash/?page_id=234
  6. ↑ http://www.wfl128.ca/chief.html