George Gordon First Nation
People | Punnichy |
---|---|
Province | Saskatchewan |
Land[1] | |
Main reserve | Gordon 86 |
Other reserve(s) | |
Land area | 150.757 km2 |
Population (2019)[1] | |
On reserve | 1191 |
Off reserve | 2561 |
Total population | 3752 |
Government[1] | |
Chief | Byron Bitternose |
Tribal Council[1] | |
Touchwood Agency Tribal Council |
The George Gordon First Nation (Cree: ᐳᓵᑲᓇᒌᕽ posâkanacîhk)[2] is a First Nations band government located near the village of Punnichy, Saskatchewan, in Canada. The nation has an enrolled population of 3,752 people, 1,191 of whom live on the band's reserves. Chief Byron Bitternose leads the First Nation.[1] Their territory is located on the Gordon 86 reserve, as arranged by Treaty 4.
History
In 1874, Treaty 4, which brokered the sale of indigenous land to the British Crown, was established between Queen Victoria and the Cree and Saulteaux First Nations. On September 15 of the same year, Kaneonuskatew (or, in his English name of George Gordon) was among the first of the indigenous leaders to make the agreement, signing as Chief of the George Gordon First Nation.[3] By 1884, half of the families belonging to the nation were farming, a development which had commenced in 1876, and would continue for many years.[3] Although both George Gordon and his son, Moses Gordon, were originally hereditary chiefs, the people have since adopted the practice of democratically voting their chiefs and councillors into office.[4]
The George Gordon First Nation was the location of
Reserves
Their reserves include:[11]
- George Gordon First Nation 86
- Gordon 86
- Last Mountain Lake 80A
- Treaty Four Reserve Grounds 77, shared with 32 other bands.
Programs and services
The George Gordon First Nation boasts a modern medical clinic, an education centre, a computer centre, an arena and a day care, as well as the Gordon Retail Centre and the Buffalo Ranch Project. Programs that are offered to band members include the Residential School Recovery and Wellness Centre, Brighter Futures, and Gordon Social Development. Other community infrastructures include a band office, pre-fab plant, fire hall, teachers centre, gymnasium, warehouse, water treatment plant, and machine shed.[3][4]
Notable people
- Judy Anderson, artist
- Lillian Dyck, Canadian senator from Saskatchewan
- Mary Longman, visual artist
- Edward Poitras, artist
- Arielle Twist, poet
See also
Notes
- ^ a b "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
- ^ Wolvengrey, Arok, editor. Cree: Words. Regina, University of Regina Press, 2001. https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/pos%C3%A2kanac%C3%AEhk/
- ^ a b c "George Gordon First Nation", The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
- ^ a b "Gordon First Nation" website Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Gordon's Location Report". National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
- ^ "Saskatchewan First Nation eyes wind power business to help future generations", Winnipeg Free Press
- ^ "School abuse victims getting $1.9B". From CBCNews.
- ^ "PM cites 'sad chapter' in apology for residential schools", CBC News, 11 June 2008
- ^ Macdonal,David B., and Graham Hudson. 2012."The Genocide Question and Indian Residential Schools in Canada", Canadian Journal of Political Science 45(2):427-449.
- ^ "Recovery and Wellness" Archived 2010-10-18 at the Wayback Machine, Gordon First Nation website
- ^ "First Nation Detail - George Gordon First Nation". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 26 November 2018.