Lucky Man Cree Nation facts for kids
| People | Cree |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 6 |
| Headquarters | Saskatoon |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 30.786 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 6 |
| Off reserve | 109 |
| Total population | 115 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Crystal Okemow |
| Tribal Council | |
| Battlefords Tribal Council | |
The Lucky Man Cree Nation is a First Nation located in Saskatchewan, Canada. They are part of the Cree people. Their name in the Cree language is Cree: ᐸᐯᐍ (papêwê). For over 100 years, this First Nation was joined with the Little Pine First Nation. Today, they have their own land called the Lucky Man Reserve. This reserve is on the eastern edge of the RM of Meeting Lake. The Lucky Man Cree Nation has the smallest number of members among the groups who signed Treaty 6.
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History of the Lucky Man Cree Nation
This First Nation is named after Chief Papaway. His name, ᐸᐯᐍ (papewê), means "lucky man." He was a leader for the Little Pine First Nation when they signed Treaty 6 in 1879. This signing happened at a place called Fort Walsh.
Early Requests for Land
In 1883, Chief Papaway and his group settled near Battleford. The next year, he asked the government for a special area of land, called a reserve. He wanted this land to be next to the reserves of other leaders like Poundmaker, Little Pine, and Big Bear. However, the government said no. They felt these groups were too close to each other already.
Finding Their Own Land
By 1919, the Lucky Man group had become very small, with only nine people. They were living on the Little Pine reserve. In the 1970s, researchers from the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations found something important. They discovered that the Lucky Man group had signed Treaty 6 but never received their own land.
This discovery allowed the families of the Lucky Man group to come together again. In 1976, they officially reorganized as a First Nation. They then began to ask for the land they were promised under the treaty. This process is called treaty land entitlement.
A New Reserve for Lucky Man
A new leader, Chief Rod King, was elected. He worked hard to get a suitable reserve for his people. In 1989, more than a century after Treaty 6 was signed, the Lucky Man Cree Nation finally received their land. They were given the Mayfair provincial pasture. This land is about 12 sections in the Thickwood Hills.
Not many members live on this new reserve today. However, the First Nation has explored many business ideas for the land.
