Berens River First Nation facts for kids
| Treaty | Treaty 5 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Berens River, Manitoba |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Berens River 13 |
| Other reserve(s) |
Pigeon River 13A
|
| Land area | 25.469 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 2220 |
| Off reserve | 1326 |
| Total population | 3546 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Norman McKay |
| Tribal Council | |
| Southeast Resource Development Council | |
Berens River First Nation (which is Mememwi-ziibiing in the Ojibwe language) is a First Nations community in Manitoba, Canada. First Nations are the Indigenous peoples who lived in Canada long before European settlers arrived. This community has two special areas of land called reserves: Berens River 13 and Pigeon River 13A.
These reserves are located in the boreal forest, which is a huge forest area with lots of evergreen trees, east of Lake Winnipeg. The Berens River First Nation is led by a chief and five councillors. These leaders help make decisions for their community.
Berens River First Nation is part of the Southeast Resource Development Council. This council is like a group that helps nine different First Nations communities work together. Their main office is in Winnipeg.
The main community area, Berens River 13, is very close to a small town also called Berens River, Manitoba. Together, these two places form a larger community right where the Berens River flows into Lake Winnipeg. Both places use the Berens River Airport.
Contents
History of Berens River
The river we now call Berens River was originally known as Pigeon River. The river that is now called Pigeon River (to the south) used to have a different name. This shows how names and places can change over time.
Community Numbers
In February 2015, there were 3,246 registered members of the Berens River First Nation. This means 2,110 members lived on their reserve land, and 1,136 members lived off-reserve. By 2021, the population living on the Berens River 13 reserve had grown to 1,161 people.
Our Land and Reserves
Berens River First Nation has two important land areas, or reserves:
- Berens River 13 is a large area of land, about 2,547 hectares (which is about 6,300 acres). It is located where the Berens River meets the eastern shore of Lake Winnipeg.
- Pigeon River 13A is a smaller reserve, about 345 hectares (or 850 acres). It is located along the Pigeon River, which is south of the Berens River.
Famous People from Our Community
Many talented people have come from the Berens River First Nation:
- Jacob Berens (also known as Nah-wee-kee-sick-quah-yash) lived from about 1832 to 1916.
- William Berens (also known as Tabasigizikweas) lived from 1866 to 1947.
- Jamie Leach is an ice hockey player. He was part of the Pittsburgh Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup in 1992.
- Reggie Leach is a famous Canadian ice hockey player. He also won the Stanley Cup, was an NHL All-Star, and won the 1976 Canada Cup playing for Team Canada.
