Skownan First Nation
Encyclopedia
Skownan First Nation in a Saulteaux
(Ojibwa
y) First Nation located approximately 300 km north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
, on the south shore of Waterhen Lake, between Lake Winnipeg
and Lake Winnipegosis
. As of May, 2008, the First Nation have 1,236 registered people, of which their on-Reserve
population was 677.
) and later simply as Waterhen First Nation. The Skownan First Nation is a signatory to Treaty 2
. Their name comes from Ne-biimiskonaan, meaning "to turn around the point" or "turning point" in the Anishinaabe language.
The Council is a member of West Region Tribal Council, a regional Chiefs' Council.
, a Metis
community located 12 km south of the Waterhen Settlement).
Saulteaux
The Saulteaux are a First Nation in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.-Ethnic classification:The Saulteaux are a branch of the Ojibwe nations. They are sometimes also called Anihšināpē . Saulteaux is a French term meaning "people of the rapids," referring to...
(Ojibwa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
y) First Nation located approximately 300 km north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, 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...
, on the south shore of Waterhen Lake, between Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg is a large, lake in central North America, in the province of Manitoba, Canada, with its southern tip about north of the city of Winnipeg...
and Lake Winnipegosis
Lake Winnipegosis
Lake Winnipegosis is a large lake in central North America, in Manitoba, Canada, some 300 km northwest of Winnipeg. It is Canada's eleventh-largest lake...
. As of May, 2008, the First Nation have 1,236 registered people, of which their on-Reserve
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...
population was 677.
History
Originally, the First Nation was known as the Waterhen River Band of Saulteaux (opposed to the Waterhen Lake Band of CreeWaterhen Lake First Nation
Waterhen Lake First Nation is a Cree First Nation located in northwestern Saskatchewan. Total registered population in September, 2007, was 1749, of which the on-reserve Status population was 790. The First Nation is a member of the MLTC Program Services, a regional tribal Chiefs' Council...
) and later simply as Waterhen First Nation. The Skownan First Nation is a signatory to Treaty 2
Treaty 2
Treaty 2 was an agreement established August 21, 1871, between the Queen Victoria and various First Nations in southwest Manitoba and a small part of southeast Saskatchewan; treaty signatories from this region included the Ojibway tribes.-History:...
. Their name comes from Ne-biimiskonaan, meaning "to turn around the point" or "turning point" in the Anishinaabe language.
Governance
The Skownan First Nation elect their council on a two-year term under the authority of the Act Electoral System. The current Chief is Cameron Catcheway; the Councillors are Cameron Catcheway, Sterling Catcheway, Joseph Maud and Charlotte Nepinak. The Chief's and Councillors' terms began on November 4, 2010.The Council is a member of West Region Tribal Council, a regional Chiefs' Council.
Past Chiefs
- Francois/Broken Fingers: Treaty 2 Signatory 1871
- Katahkahwaynaas: 1872-1885
- Baptiste O'kitchekeshowenin/Nepinak: 1885-1922
- Hermus Nepinak: 1922-1950
- Alex Catcheway: 1951-1955 (terms 1-2)
- Moise Catcheway: 1955-1959 (terms 1-2)
- Alex Catcheway: 1959-1961 (term 3)
- Joe Catcheway: 1961-1963
- Carl Gabriel: 1963-1965
- Alphonse Catcheway: 1965-1967
- Moise Catcheway: 1967-1969 (term 3)
- Donald Catcheway: 1969-1971
- Moise Catcheway: 1971 - 1979 (terms 4-7)
- Harvey Nepinak: 1979-1983 (terms 1-2)
- Larry Catagas: 1983-1987
- Harvey Nepinak: 1987-1999 (terms 3-8)
- Bernard Catcheway: 1999-2003 (terms 1-2)
- Robert Lavallee: 2003-2005
- Harvey Nepinak: 2005-2010 (terms 9-11.5)
- Cameron Catcheway: 2010-
Reserve
The First Nation have reserved for themselves the 1,856.7 ha Waterhen 45 Indian Reserve. Located on the Reserve are the Skownan Settlement and the Waterhen Settlement (not to be confused with town of Waterhen, ManitobaWaterhen, Manitoba
Waterhen is a Northern Affairs Community in the Canadian province of Manitoba, located approximately 10 km south of the Skownan First Nation and approximately one hour northeast of Dauphin. at the junction of Provincial Road 328 and Provincial Road 276...
, a Metis
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...
community located 12 km south of the Waterhen Settlement).