Hay River Reserve
Encyclopedia
Hay River Reserve is the only Indian reserve
in Canada
's Northwest Territories
. Located in the South Slave Region
, it is a Slavey community with a population of 309 (97.1% First Nations
) as of the 2006 census
. The main languages on the reserve are South Slavey, Chipewyan
and English
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 325 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.6 from 1996.
Although the Dene
had been using the area around the mouth of the Hay River
for many years as a fishing site it was not settled until the 1890s when Chief Chiatlo led a group to the site. Later both the Anglican
, with a mission school, and the Roman Catholic Church
along with trading post
s and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
arrived. However, the NWT Government says that the first building in the area was the Hudson's Bay Company
, followed by the Roman Catholic Mission and then the Anglican Mission.
The original site was located right at the mouth of the river just east of Vale Island at 60°51′32"N 115°43′33"W However, this site was subject to flooding and it was decided to move to a different area. The current site is located on the south shore of the Hay River
, near the mouth of Great Slave Lake
In 1974 the then chief, Daniel Sonfrere, negotiated a settlement with the Government of Canada
and the first reserve in the NWT was formed.
The reserve covers an area of 134.21 km² (51.8 sq mi) and claims a band
membership of 525 people. and is a member of the Dehcho First Nations
. The reserve is governed by a Band Council, consisting of a Chief and four Councilors, which is elected every two years on "Treaty Day". Along with the Fort Providence
Dene Band the reserve operates "Evergreen Forestry Management Ltd." The reserve also runs the Ehdah Cho Store, "Tu-Cho Gha Contracting" and the "Nats’jee Keh Treatment Centre".
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
in 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...
's Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. Located in the South Slave Region
South Slave Region
The South Slave Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories. The region consists of seven communities with the regional offices situated in Fort Smith and Hay River. With the exception of Enterprise and Hay River the communities are predominately First...
, it is a Slavey community with a population of 309 (97.1% First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
) as of the 2006 census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
. The main languages on the reserve are South Slavey, Chipewyan
Chipewyan
The Chipewyan are a Dene Aboriginal people in Canada, whose ancestors were the Taltheilei...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. In 2009 the Government of the Northwest Territories reported that the population was 325 with an average yearly growth rate of 1.6 from 1996.
Although the Dene
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
had been using the area around the mouth of the Hay River
Hay River (Canada)
Hay River is a large river in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada.It originates in the muskeg of north western Alberta, flows west to British Columbia, then returns to Alberta, where it follows a northern course towards the Northwest Territories, where it discharges in the...
for many years as a fishing site it was not settled until the 1890s when Chief Chiatlo led a group to the site. Later both the Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
, with a mission school, and 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...
along with trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
s and the 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,...
arrived. However, the NWT Government says that the first building in the area was the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
, followed by the Roman Catholic Mission and then the Anglican Mission.
The original site was located right at the mouth of the river just east of Vale Island at 60°51′32"N 115°43′33"W However, this site was subject to flooding and it was decided to move to a different area. The current site is located on the south shore of the Hay River
Hay River (Canada)
Hay River is a large river in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada.It originates in the muskeg of north western Alberta, flows west to British Columbia, then returns to Alberta, where it follows a northern course towards the Northwest Territories, where it discharges in the...
, near the mouth of Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake
Great Slave Lake is the second-largest lake in the Northwest Territories of Canada , the deepest lake in North America at , and the ninth-largest lake in the world. It is long and wide. It covers an area of in the southern part of the territory. Its given volume ranges from to and up to ...
In 1974 the then chief, Daniel Sonfrere, negotiated a settlement with the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and the first reserve in the NWT was formed.
The reserve covers an area of 134.21 km² (51.8 sq mi) and claims a band
First Nations Government (Canada)
The fundamental legal unit of government for Canadian First Nations is the band.-Band:A band is typically, but not always, composed of a single community. Many bands, especially in British Columbia, control multiple Indian reserves, that is, multiple parcels of land...
membership of 525 people. and is a member of the Dehcho First Nations
Dehcho First Nations
The Dehcho First Nations is an organization representing the Dene and Métis people of the Northwest Territories, Canada.-Members:*Acho Dene Koe Band - Fort Liard*Fort Liard Métis Local 67 - Fort Liard Métis*Deh Gah Gotie Dene Council - Fort Providence...
. The reserve is governed by a Band Council, consisting of a Chief and four Councilors, which is elected every two years on "Treaty Day". Along with the Fort Providence
Fort Providence, Northwest Territories
Fort Providence is a hamlet in the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, Canada...
Dene Band the reserve operates "Evergreen Forestry Management Ltd." The reserve also runs the Ehdah Cho Store, "Tu-Cho Gha Contracting" and the "Nats’jee Keh Treatment Centre".
See also
- Hay RiverHay River, Northwest TerritoriesHay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
- Hay River AirportHay River AirportHay River Airport is located north of Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada. Sandhill cranes may be found nesting on the aerodrome from May until September.-Airlines and destinations:...
- Hay River Water AerodromeHay River Water AerodromeHay River Water Aerodrome , is located northeast of Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada, and is open from the middle of May until October....
- Hay River (District) Heliport