Green Lake, Saskatchewan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Green Lake ᐊᒁᑯᐲᐏ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ
Northern village
Green Lake, Saskatchewan Location in Saskatchewan
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
District	Northern Saskatchewan Administration District
Area
• Land	121.92 km2 (47.07 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	418
• Density	3.4/km2 (9/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central Standard Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5
Postal code	S0M 1B0
Highways	Hwy 55 / Hwy 155
Post office established	1901
Website	Official Website: http://www.nvgreenlake.ca/

Green Lake (Woods Cree: ᐊᒁᑯᐲᐏ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ, romanized: akwâkopîwi-sâkahikanihk) is a small community in Saskatchewan, Canada. It's known as a northern village. Most of the people living here are Métis. Green Lake is found in the southern part of the boreal forest. It gets its name from the nearby Green Lake. The main jobs here are fishing, tourism, and farming.

Green Lake's Past

The story of Green Lake began in 1782. The North West Company (NWC) set up a winter camp here. By 1793, they had a permanent trading post. The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) also opened a post in 1810.

Early Trading Posts

The NWC and HBC were big rivals. In 1816, the NWC took over the HBC post. But the HBC opened a new one by 1818. In 1821, the two companies joined together. The Green Lake post closed for a few years. It reopened in 1831 and stayed open until 1973. This post was very important. It connected many land trails to the Churchill River.

Community Growth

By the mid-1800s, missionaries brought the Roman Catholic Church to Green Lake. In 1876, Treaty 6 was signed. This treaty allowed settlers to move into the area. Local Indigenous people could join the treaty or take scrip (a land certificate). During the North-West Rebellion in 1885, the HBC store was raided. This was done by Cree people from Frog Lake.

In 1900, Green Lake got a telegraph service. A post office was also set up. A new trail to Meadow Lake opened. The community built a new church in 1901.

Métis Rehabilitation Program

Around 1939, the local Métis people faced a government program. It was called the Green Lake Metis Rehabilitation Program. This program aimed to help Métis people fit into mainstream society. Some Métis families from southern Saskatchewan moved to Green Lake. However, they found it hard to adjust to the northern lifestyle. Many of them moved away to Prince Albert or Meadow Lake.

The provincial government started a program called Central Farm. This program offered 99-year leases on 40-acre plots. A new road was built to Meadow Lake and Île-à-la-Crosse. In 1940, an outpost hospital was built. It was run by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. The Sisters also managed a cannery, carpentry, and sewing shops.

By 1945, a Timber Board and a Local Improvement District (LID) were created. A sawmill opened under the Timber Board. It employed up to 100 men. The Central Farm was expanded under the LID. The Silver Lake Farm was started in 1965. It focused on mixed farming, especially cattle.

Modern Connections

In 1947, Saskatchewan Highway 155 was built. It replaced an old trail and connected Green Lake to Beauval. The highway was finished in 1957. It reached the south side of the Buffalo Narrows Channel. A year-round ferry was set up at Buffalo Narrows.

In 1953, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) office opened. A Red Cross Nursing Station was also established.

In 1972, the LID was replaced. The Department of Northern Saskatchewan (DNS) took over. Green Lake became Northern Community Area 17. The first local leaders were elected in 1974. A new sawmill was built in 1974. In 1975-76, Saskatchewan Highway 55 to Meadow Lake was completed. A new sewer and water system was installed with DNS funding.

In 1983, Green Lake officially became a northern village.

Recent Developments

In 1992, a community-owned sawmill opened. It was called Green Lake Metis Wood Products Limited. The mill worked with big companies. But it burned down in 2000. It was rebuilt in 2002 but closed again in 2003.

In 1996, the provincial government gave Central Farm to Green Lake. In 2006, the village also got ownership of Silver Lake Farm. In 1998, Green Lake Metis Farms Limited was created. The community now runs both farms as community pastures. Central Farm is about 9,000 acres (36 km2). Silver Lake Farm is about 3,649 acres (14.77 km2).

Green Lake's Trading Posts

Green Lake was home to important fur trading posts. These posts helped move supplies north.

Green Lake House and Essex House

In 1782, the North West Company built Green Lake House. It was on the southwest shore of the lake. At first, it was only used in winter. It was an outpost of Lac Île-à-la-Crosse. Supplies like pemmican (a type of dried meat) were sent from the Saskatchewan River to northern posts.

In 1799, the Hudson's Bay Company built Essex House. It was on the northwest shore of the lake. The NWC then moved its post directly across from its rival. By the next winter, the NWC had 30 men and the HBC had 11.

The rivalry between the companies was strong. In 1806, the Nor'Westers burned down the HBC post. It was rebuilt in 1810. But the Nor'Westers burned it again in 1811. It was rebuilt once more in 1815.

In 1821, the two companies merged. HBC operations moved to Green Lake House. This post became very important for sending supplies north. An ox-cart road was built from Fort Carlton in 1875–76. The HBC store finally closed in 1973.

Looting of Green Lake House

During the North-West Rebellion in 1885, the Hudson's Bay Company post in Green Lake had many goods. These goods were waiting to be sent north. They included a year's supply for other posts.

On April 25, 1885, James Sinclair, the post manager, got a warning. He quickly ordered lead balls and shot to be thrown into the lake. He loaded four boats with powder and rifles. These boats were sent towards Île-à-la-Crosse that night. The next morning, April 26, he loaded the rest of his men and their families onto another boat.

As they were leaving, 25 Cree men from Loon Lake stopped them. Sinclair was taken prisoner. The others were allowed to leave. The Cree men demanded food. They broke open boxes and bags of sugar and flour. They took what they wanted and destroyed the rest.

While the post was being looted, Sinclair escaped. He fled by canoe with two Métis men. Sinclair was able to rejoin the boats. His wife gave birth to a baby girl that night. The baby was baptized right away.

Green Lake's Population

Green Lake is a small community. Its population changes over time.

In 2021, the population of Green Lake was 411 people. They lived in 168 homes. This was a small decrease from 429 people in 2016. The land area of Green Lake is about 121.18 square kilometers. This means there were about 3.4 people living in each square kilometer in 2021.

The average age of people in Green Lake in 2021 was 39.2 years old.