Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation facts for kids

The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation is a group of Indigenous people called the Nakoda. Their traditional name for themselves is Cade Wicashdabi. They live on lands called reserves near cities like Edmonton, Hinton, and Whitecourt in Alberta, Canada. Their main office is about 85 kilometers west of Edmonton. The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation is part of Treaty 6, an important agreement between First Nations and the Canadian government.

Understanding Reserves

Reserves are special areas of land in Canada. They are set aside for First Nations people to live on and manage. The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation has several reserves:

• Alexis Indian Reserve 133: This is their main reserve. It is about 70 kilometers northwest of Edmonton and covers over 6,175 hectares.
• Alexis Cardinal River Indian Reserve 234: This reserve is about 73 kilometers southeast of Hinton. It is about 4,661 hectares in size.
• Alexis Elk River Indian Reserve 233: This smaller reserve is about 87 kilometers southeast of Hinton. It covers 98 hectares.
• Alexis Whitecourt Indian Reserve 232: This reserve is about 13 kilometers northwest of Whitecourt. It is about 3,545 hectares in size.

Who Are the Nakoda People?

As of March 2019, there were 2,036 people officially registered as members of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation. About 967 of these members live on their reserves.

The people of the Alexis First Nation belong to the "Stoney" or "Nakoda" group. Sometimes, they are also linked to the Assiniboine people. The names "Stoney" and "Assiniboine" came from how these groups used heated stones to cook. Their traditional language is Nakoda/Stoney, which they call I'sga I?abi.

How the Nation is Governed

The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation has its own way of choosing its leaders. This system is based on section 10 of the Indian Act, a Canadian law.

The leaders are a Chief and a Council. They are elected by the community. The current Chief and Council were chosen on June 14, 2022. They will serve until June 17, 2026.

Here are the current leaders:

• Chief: Tony Alexis
• Councillor: Darwin Alexis
• Councillor: Dwayne Alexis
• Councillor: Hank Alexis
• Councillor: Tina Cardinal
• Councillor: Darren Kootenay
• Councillor: Lonnie Letendre
• Councillor: Emily Potts

Important Events and Gatherings

Pow-wow and Fastpitch Tournament

In the arbor during the grand entry, Alexis powwow 2007.

Every summer in July, the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation hosts its Annual Pow-wow Celebrations and a Fastpitch Tournament. A Pow-wow is a special gathering where Indigenous people celebrate their culture through dancing, singing, and drumming.

The Fastpitch tournament offers prizes, sometimes around $14,000, depending on how many teams join. The Pow-wow has different contests, like drum competitions and dance contests for various ages and styles. People from many different First Nations come to participate.

Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage

Lac Ste. Anne pilgrims enter the waters during the blessing of the lake.

The main community of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation is located by Lac Ste. Anne. The Nakota Sioux call this lake Wakâmne, which means "God's lake."

Each summer, many people, mostly First Nations and Métis, travel to the lake for a special pilgrimage. Up to 40,000 people attend this event over four days. It is a very important spiritual gathering.

See also

• List of Indian reserves in Alberta