Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation facts for kids
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| People | Nakoda |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 4 |
| Headquarters | Sintaluta |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Assiniboine 76 |
| Other reserve(s) |
|
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 892 |
| On other land | 0 |
| Off reserve | 2029 |
| Total population | 2921 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Scott Eashappie |
| Council |
Shawn “Tuguy” Spencer
|
| Tribal Council | |
| File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| cegakin.com | |
The Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation is a First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their traditional name is Assiniboine: céǧa kʾína [Chay-gah-keen], which means "Carries the kettle." They are also known as the Assiniboine First Nation or Assiniboine 76.
This Nation is part of the Nakoda (Assiniboine) people. Their main reserve is about 80 km (50 mi) east of Regina, Saskatchewan. It is also about 13 km (8 mi) south of Sintaluta. Their land is within the area covered by Treaty 4.
The Cypress Hills are important to the Nakoda people. This area is known as their traditional territory. Many First Nations bands were given reserves within their traditional lands.
Over time, the band has been known by several names. These include Chief Man Who Takes the Coat Reserve #76, Chief Long Lodge Reserve, and Assiniboine #76. Today, they are officially known as Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation.
Exploring the History of Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation
The Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation has a rich and complex history. Their story is closely tied to important events in Canadian history.
The Cypress Hills Incident of 1873
The ancestors of the Carry the Kettle Nation were involved in a sad event in 1873. This event is known as the ‘Cypress Hills Massacre.’ It happened on June 1, 1873, at Battle Creek in the Cypress Hills.
This incident was very serious. It helped lead the Canadian government to create the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). The NWMP is now known as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The NWMP arrived at the site two years later, in 1875. They investigated what happened. However, they could not bring the American people responsible to justice. Elders from Carry the Kettle Nation say that about 300 of their ancestors died that day.
Early Interactions and Treaty Signing
In 1875, the NWMP referred to the band as the ‘Cypress Mountain Assiniboine.’ This was because their traditional lands were in the Cypress Hills.
In 1877, the ancestors of the Nation signed an agreement to Treaty 4. This signing happened at Fort Walsh on September 25. Three important Assiniboine chiefs signed the treaty. They were Man Who Takes The Coat, Long Lodge, and Lean Man.
Establishing Reserves in Traditional Lands
After signing the treaty, the government began to set up reserves. In 1879, three separate reserves were planned in the Cypress Hills. These were for the three Assiniboine chiefs who signed Treaty 4.
The Assiniboine people wanted their reserve in the western Cypress Hills. This area, called the Head of the Mountain, was their spiritual home. They held important ceremonies there.
A farming instructor named J.J. English helped the Assiniboine people. He showed them how to farm in the area. They had successful crops of barley and potatoes in 1880 and 1881.
Important Meetings and Cultural Practices
In 1876, the Cypress Mountain Assiniboine invited Sitting Bull's Lakota tribe for a Sun Dance. This important ceremony took place at Medicine Lodge coulee. This area was about 18 miles west of Fort Walsh.
NWMP officers also saw a Sun Dance at Medicine Lodge coulee in 1876. This shows the cultural importance of the area to the Nakoda people.
Forced Relocation and Loss of Land
The original Assiniboine Reservation at the Head of the Mountain was very large. It covered about 340 square miles (880 km²). The Nakoda elders called their ancestral home Wazihe (the mountain by itself). They also spoke of Hay-Ipa (Head of a Mountain), a spiritual place.
The Railway's Impact
In May 1881, the government decided to change the route of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The new route would go through the Assiniboine reserve. To build the railway, the government needed to take the reserve land.
Government officials tried five times to get the chiefs to give up their land. However, the Carry the Kettle elders say that no land surrender was ever agreed to. These attempts happened between July 1881 and April 1882.
The Difficult Journey to New Lands
Because the railway was coming, the Assiniboine people were forced to move. They were made to leave their homes in the Cypress Hills. This happened in April 1882. They arrived south of Qu'Appelle and Indian Head in June 1882.
The Assiniboine people did not want these new reserves. They were not asked about the move. The entire band walked over 500 kilometers (310 mi) from the Cypress Hills. They walked to what is now the Carry the Kettle reserve. This difficult journey happened twice, once in 1882 and again in 1883.
The Nakoda people still wanted to live at their original reserve. It was spiritually important for their Sun Dance and vision quests. So, they returned to the Cypress Hills in October 1882. They faced starvation during the winter of 1882-1883.
In May 1883, the band was put on railway carts at Maple Creek. According to elders, their train derailed near Swift Current. Many Assiniboine people died or were injured. The survivors had to walk the rest of the way to Indian Head.
Population Changes and Land Reduction
The forced removals had a huge impact on the population. In 1880, the Cypress Hills Assiniboine Reserve had about 1,700 people. By 1883, the population of Assiniboine people near Indian Head was only 300.
Two new reserves were surveyed for the tribe in April 1882. These were for Chiefs Man Who Takes the Coat and Long Lodge. Today, the Carry the Kettle First Nation #76 is much smaller. It is only about 63 square miles (163 km²). This is a significant reduction from their original land.
The original 340 square mile reserve in the Cypress Hills was meant for 1,700 band members. This would have been one of the largest reserves in Canada.
Carry the Kettle Nation Today
The Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation continues to work for their community. They are actively involved in land claims and protecting their rights.
Land Claims and Legal Actions
In 2000, the Indian Claims Commission stated that no reserve was legally set up at Cypress Hills for the Assiniboine people. However, the Nation disagreed with this finding.
In 2014, the land claim was taken to federal court. The present-day Carry the Kettle reserve is south of Sintaluta. It covers about 72 square miles (186 km²). This is much smaller than their original 340 square mile reserve in the Cypress Hills.
In December 2017, Carry the Kettle Nation sued the federal and Saskatchewan governments. They wanted to stop developments that would affect their members' rights to hunt and gather on their traditional lands.
