Saddle Lake Cree Nation
Land[1] | |
---|---|
Reserve(s) |
|
Land area | 304.195 km2 |
Population (2019)[1] | |
On reserve | 6691 |
Off reserve | 4315 |
Total population | 11006 |
Government[1] | |
Chief | Terry Cardinal |
Website | |
saddlelakecreenation.ca |
Saddle Lake Cree Nation (
Saddle Lake's governing structure is unusual in that it has two separate councils and chiefs governing their two
In June 2013, the Nation reported a population of 9,934 people, of which 6,148 people lived on their own Reserve. Their reported population size makes Saddle Lake the second most populous First Nation in Alberta (after the Kainai Nation also known as the Blood people).[2] Of these 2,378 were members of the Whitefish Lake First Nation, with 1,778 of those living on-reserve,[3] and remainder are members of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation proper.
History
Pre-contact to treaty
In 1876, the Amiskwacīwiyiniwak, who were a loose
Amalgamation of bands
In 1902, four historical Cree bands were amalgamated as the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. The four Cree Bands were:
- Onchaminahos' Band, led by Chief Onchaminahos ("Little Hunter"; also known as Thomas Hunter);
- Seenum's Band, led by Chief Pakân ("Nut", also known as James Seenum);
- Blue Quill's Band, led by Chief Blue Quill; and
- Wasatnow's Band, led by Chief Muskegwatic ("Bear Ears").
However, the amalgamation process wasn't fully completed until 1953 when the treaty pay lists of the Little Hunter's, James Seenum's and Blue Quill's Bands were merged.[5]
Election reforms
Before 1985, First Nations women who married non-indigenous men automatically lost their
Reserves
There are three reserves under the governance of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, one of which is shared with five other bands:
- 96.20 hectares (237.7 acres) Blue Quills, formerly known as the "Blue Quill Indian Reserve 127", shared with five other bands (see article)
- 25,780.60 hectares (63,705.2 acres) Saddle Lake 125, containing the community of Saddle Lake, Alberta
- 4,542.70 hectares (11,225.3 acres) Whitefish Lake 128; the reserve is also known as "Whitefish Lake Indian Reserve 128" or as "Goodfish Lake Indian Reserve 128", and occasionally as "Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake Indian Reserve 128"
Originally, Chief Muskegwatic had also reserved Washatanow (or Hollow Hill Creek) Indian Reserve 126 along the north bank of the
Saddle Lake Indian Reserve 125 is bordered by Smoky Lake County, the County of St. Paul No. 19, and County of Two Hills No. 21.
Governance
Saddle Lake Cree Nation elect their officials through a Custom Electoral System. Additionally, this Cree Nation maintains two groups of elected officials:
Saddle Lake Cree Nation
Saddle Lake Cree Nation on the Saddle Lake Indian Reserve have elected Chief Eric Shirt, and Councillors John Large, Eddy Makokis, Leonard Jackson, Glen Jason Whiskeyjack, James Steinhauer, Pamela Quinn, Cherrilene Steinhauer, Darcy McGilvery.
Whitefish Lake First Nation
Saddle Lake Cree Nation on the White Fish Lake Indian Reserve, governing the Reserve as the Whitefish Lake First Nation, also have elected officials. The Whitefish Lake First Nation have elected Chief Tom Houle, and Councillors Stan Houle, Greg Sparklingeyes, and Kevin Halfe.
Notable people
- James Makokis, doctor, specialist in traditional medicine, transgender and Indigenous healthcare.[8]
- Doreen Spence, nurse, human rights activist.[9]
- Northern Cree, powwow and round dance drum group.[10]
- Lana Whiskeyjack, ipkDoc,[11] professor, women and gender activist, and artist.[12]
- Gwen Bridge, environmental scientist and conservation advocate.[13]
- Ralph Steinhauer, tenth lieutenant governor of Alberta
- Carl Quinn, singer-songwriter
References
- ^ "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ 2008 Official Population List, Alberta Municipal Affairs, Municipal Services Branch
- ^ "Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation #128". www.wfl128.ca. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ Devine, p. 148
- ^ "Amalgamation : Saddle Lake Cree Nation". www.saddlelake.ca. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- Canadian Press. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Treaty Signing : Saddle Lake Cree Nation". www.saddlelake.ca. Archived from the original on 20 March 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
- ^ Raffy Boudjikanian, A Cree doctor's caring approach for transgender patients, CBC News
- ^ "Doreen Spence". indspire.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-08.
- ^ "Northern Cree - Ewipihcihk (CR-6508)", CanyonRecords.com. Accessed: 08/23/17.
- ^ "iyiniw pimâtisiwin kiskeyihtamowin | University nuhelot'įne thaiyots'į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills". Retrieved 2019-07-19.
- ^ Lana Gets Her Talk, retrieved 2019-07-19
- ^ "Women in Science: Gwen Bridge". Canadian Science Publishing. Retrieved 2018-12-06.
External links
- Official site of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation
- Official site of the Whitefish Lake First Nation
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's profile of Saddle Lake Cree Nation
- Profile of White Fish Lake 128 from Northeast Alberta Information HUB Alliance