Green Lake, Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
Green Lake is a village in Saskatchewan
, Canada
. Its residents are predominantly Métis people
.
Green Lake is located northeast of Meadow Lake
, and northwest of Big River
. It lies in the southern boreal forest, and takes its name from nearby Green Lake.
Fishing, tourism, and farming, are the major industries.
(NWC) established a wintering post on Green Lake. In 1793 the NWC established a permanent post, and in 1810 the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) established itself on the lake. In 1816-1817, the NWC seized the HBC post and its men, however a HBC post was re-established by 1818, and in 1821 the two companies merged. Shortly after the merger, the Green Lake post was closed for several years, reopening in 1831, and continuing operation until 1973. The Green Lake post was an important post in north-central Saskatchewan, connecting many overland trails with the Churchill River
.
By the mid 19th century, missionaries had established the Roman Catholic Church
in Green Lake. In 1876 Treaty 6
, was signed, and soon after settlers began moving into the area. Natives were allowed to join Treaty 6, or had the option of taking scrip
. During the North-West Rebellion
the Bay store in Green Lake was ransacked by Cree
from Frog Lake.
In 1900 a telegraph service and post office were established, and a trail to Meadow Lake
was opened. In 1901 a new church was built by the community.
By 1939, the local Métis were described as destitute. To assist the people of Green Lake with employment and training, the provincial government set up Central Farm, a program of 99-year leases on 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) plots. In addition, a new road is built to Meadow Lake and Île-à-la-Crosse. In 1940, an outpost hospital was built by the government and run by Sisters of the Presentation of Mary
. The Sisters also oversaw the running of a cannery, carpentry, and sewing shops. By 1945 a Timber Board and Local Improvement District (LID) were established. A saw mill was opened under the Timber Board, which employed up to 100 men. Under the LID, the Central Farm was expanded, and the Silver Lake Farm was formed in 1965, consisting of mixed farming with an emphasis on cattle.
In 1947, Saskatchewan Highway#155 is established, replacing the existing bush trail, the "Old Bay Trail", connecting Green Lake to Beauval
. The highway is completed in 1957, extending to the south side of the Buffalo Narrows Channel. A year-round ferry is set up at Buffalo Narrows.
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police
(RCMP) detachment and a Red Cross Nursing Station were established in 1953.
In 1972, the LID was replaced by the Department of Northern Saskatchewan (DNS) with a Local Community Authority (LCA). Green Lake, and the area within a three mile (4.8 km) radius from the center of town became Northern Community Area 17. The first LCA members were elected in 1974. In 1974 a new sawmill was built, and in 1975-76 Saskatchewan Highway#55 to Meadow Lake was completed, and a DNS funded sewer and water system is installed.
In 1983, Green Lake is incorporated as a northern village.
In 1992 the village-owned sawmill, Green Lake Metis Wood Products Limited, is incorporated. The mill signs agreements with Weyerhaeuser
, Norsask Forest Products, Mistik Management and Province of Saskatchewan, before burning down in 2000. The mill was rebuilt in 2002, only to close in 2003.
In 1996, the Provincial Government gives Central Farm to the village of Green Lake, and in 2006 the village obtains ownership of the Silver Lake Farm as well. 1998, Green Lake Metis Farms Limited is incorporated, and the village operates the two farms with the aid of the board. Both farms are operated as cummunity pasture. Central farm is 9000 acres (36.4 km²), and Silver Lake is 3649.2 acres (14.8 km²).
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its residents are predominantly Métis people
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
.
Green Lake is located northeast of Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
Meadow Lake is a city located in north west Saskatchewan, Canada about north east of Lloydminster and north of North Battleford. On November 9, 2009, it officially became Saskatchewan's 14th city....
, and northwest of Big River
Big River, Saskatchewan
-External links:...
. It lies in the southern boreal forest, and takes its name from nearby Green Lake.
Fishing, tourism, and farming, are the major industries.
History
The Northern Village of Green Lake dates back to 1782, when the North West CompanyNorth West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
(NWC) established a wintering post on Green Lake. In 1793 the NWC established a permanent post, and in 1810 the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) established itself on the lake. In 1816-1817, the NWC seized the HBC post and its men, however a HBC post was re-established by 1818, and in 1821 the two companies merged. Shortly after the merger, the Green Lake post was closed for several years, reopening in 1831, and continuing operation until 1973. The Green Lake post was an important post in north-central Saskatchewan, connecting many overland trails with the Churchill River
Churchill River (Hudson Bay)
The Churchill River is a major river in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. From the head of the Churchill Lake it is 1,609 km long. It was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and governor of the Hudson's Bay Company from 1685 to 1691...
.
By the mid 19th century, missionaries had established the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Green Lake. In 1876 Treaty 6
Treaty 6
Treaty 6 is an agreement between the Canadian monarch and the Plain and Wood Cree Indians and other tribes of Indians at Fort Carlton, Fort Pitt and Battle River. The area agreed upon by the Plain and Wood Cree represents most of the central area of the current provinces of Saskatchewan and...
, was signed, and soon after settlers began moving into the area. Natives were allowed to join Treaty 6, or had the option of taking scrip
Scrip
Scrip is an American term for any substitute for currency which is not legal tender and is often a form of credit. Scrips were created as company payment of employees and also as a means of payment in times where regular money is unavailable, such as remote coal towns, military bases, ships on long...
. During the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
the Bay store in Green Lake was ransacked by Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
from Frog Lake.
In 1900 a telegraph service and post office were established, and a trail to Meadow Lake
Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
Meadow Lake is a city located in north west Saskatchewan, Canada about north east of Lloydminster and north of North Battleford. On November 9, 2009, it officially became Saskatchewan's 14th city....
was opened. In 1901 a new church was built by the community.
By 1939, the local Métis were described as destitute. To assist the people of Green Lake with employment and training, the provincial government set up Central Farm, a program of 99-year leases on 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) plots. In addition, a new road is built to Meadow Lake and Île-à-la-Crosse. In 1940, an outpost hospital was built by the government and run by Sisters of the Presentation of Mary
Sisters of the Presentation of Mary
The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary are a religious congregation in the Latin Rite branch of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1796 at Thueyts in the Ardèche department of south-central France, by Blessed Anne-Marie Rivier ; originally, the congregation was devoted to the education of...
. The Sisters also oversaw the running of a cannery, carpentry, and sewing shops. By 1945 a Timber Board and Local Improvement District (LID) were established. A saw mill was opened under the Timber Board, which employed up to 100 men. Under the LID, the Central Farm was expanded, and the Silver Lake Farm was formed in 1965, consisting of mixed farming with an emphasis on cattle.
In 1947, Saskatchewan Highway#155 is established, replacing the existing bush trail, the "Old Bay Trail", connecting Green Lake to Beauval
Beauval, Saskatchewan
Beauval, Saskatchewan is a small community located in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. It was founded in the early 20th century as a Roman Catholic mission and as a transportation center.-History:...
. The highway is completed in 1957, extending to the south side of the Buffalo Narrows Channel. A year-round ferry is set up at Buffalo Narrows.
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
(RCMP) detachment and a Red Cross Nursing Station were established in 1953.
In 1972, the LID was replaced by the Department of Northern Saskatchewan (DNS) with a Local Community Authority (LCA). Green Lake, and the area within a three mile (4.8 km) radius from the center of town became Northern Community Area 17. The first LCA members were elected in 1974. In 1974 a new sawmill was built, and in 1975-76 Saskatchewan Highway#55 to Meadow Lake was completed, and a DNS funded sewer and water system is installed.
In 1983, Green Lake is incorporated as a northern village.
In 1992 the village-owned sawmill, Green Lake Metis Wood Products Limited, is incorporated. The mill signs agreements with Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser
Weyerhaeuser is one of the largest pulp and paper companies in the world. It is the world's largest private sector owner of softwood timberland; and the second largest owner of United States timberland, behind Plum Creek Timber...
, Norsask Forest Products, Mistik Management and Province of Saskatchewan, before burning down in 2000. The mill was rebuilt in 2002, only to close in 2003.
In 1996, the Provincial Government gives Central Farm to the village of Green Lake, and in 2006 the village obtains ownership of the Silver Lake Farm as well. 1998, Green Lake Metis Farms Limited is incorporated, and the village operates the two farms with the aid of the board. Both farms are operated as cummunity pasture. Central farm is 9000 acres (36.4 km²), and Silver Lake is 3649.2 acres (14.8 km²).
External links
- Northern village of Green Lake - Official village website
- Keewatin Career Development - Green Lake
- Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan - Green Lake