Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations facts for kids
 |
|
| People | Assiniboine |
|---|---|
| Treaty | |
| Headquarters | Cando |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 180.827 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 723 |
| Off reserve | 709 |
| Total population | 1432 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Tanya Aguilar-Antiman Stone |
| Tribal Council | |
| Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs | |
| Website | |
| mosquitofn.ca | |
The Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations is a group of Assiniboine people in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their traditional name in the Assiniboine language is Assiniboine: Capų́ga-Matópa-Hústaga oyáde. This First Nation is home to over 1,400 members, with many living on their reserve lands.
This First Nation is special because it is the only one in Canada that is officially part of both Treaty 4 and Treaty 6.
Contents
Understanding the Name
The name "Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations" comes from three different groups. Around the late 1800s, these three groups came together. They were:
- Mosquito Band #109
- Grizzly Bear's Head Band #110
- Lean Man Band #111
Chief Misketo signed Treaty 6 in 1890. This agreement officially brought the three tribes together as one reserve. The full name tries to include all three original communities. Sometimes you might see the name written with hyphens or commas in different ways.
Where They Live: Geography
The Mosquito First Nation is an Assiniboine Nation. It is located in the Eagle Hills area. This is about 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) south of Battleford. The community is near the old Swift Current-Battleford Trail.
The land belonging to the First Nation is very large. It covers nearly 50,000 acres (about 200 square kilometers).
A Look Back: History
The history of the Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nations is very interesting. It involves different groups joining together over time.
Chief Mosquito and Treaty 6
In August 1878, Chief Mosquito signed an agreement called an adhesion to Treaty 6. He did this in Battleford. He had taken over as leader of the Band from Little Chief.
Grizzly Bear's Head and Treaty 4
The Grizzly Bear's Head Band first signed Treaty 4 in 1877. This happened at Cypress Hills under Chief Tepee Hoska. After Chief Tepee Hoska passed away in 1882, the Band moved to the Battleford area. The Grizzly Bear's Head Band and the Mosquito Band officially joined together in 1951.
Lean Man's Journey
The Lean Man Band also signed an adhesion to Treaty 4. They settled in the Treaty 6 area south of Battleford in May 1882. By 1931, there was only one person left in the Lean Man Band. This person then joined with the Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Band.
In 1948, the leaders of the Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Lean Man Band made an important decision. They declared that the three bands should stay together forever.
Lean Man's Treaty Details
Lean Man signed a treaty on September 25, 1877, at Fort Walsh. Their payments were listed under Treaty 4. However, they did not get reserve lands until 1884. Since 1882, they have been considered a Treaty 6 band.
On the official Treaty 4 document, the Nakoda words "Wica Hostaka" are written next to Lean Man's mark. In the Nakoda/Assiniboine language, 'Wica' means Man and "Hostaka" means Lean.
For a while, Lean Man's group did not settle on a reserve. They kept moving back and forth across the border. In 1882, Fort Walsh closed. Lean Man then moved north into Treaty 6 territory. They were given a reserve along with Grizzly Bear's Head. This is why they were listed under Treaty 6 for future payments.
Grizzly Bear's Head's Story
During the 1877 treaty meeting at Fort Walsh, some groups were not allowed to sign. This was because they were already getting payments from the United States. One such group was Little Chief's band.
In 1879, Little Chief's band moved back into Canada. They were paid for previous years and listed under Treaty 4. There is no record that Little Chief formally signed the treaty. In 1880, Chief Bear's Head became the leader of the band. The group was then called "Bear's Head band."
In 1882, after Fort Walsh closed, this band also moved north. They settled on the same reserve as Lean Man's group. This meant they were also listed under Treaty 6 for all future payments.
Mosquito's Role
Chief Misketo, also known as Sukeman, signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 on August 29, 1878. Records show their payments started in 1878 under Treaty 6. Their reserve lands were surveyed in 1879. These lands were next to the Red Pheasant reserve in the Eagle Hills.
Chief Mosquito remained the main Chief of the three bands. The Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Lean Man Band is recognized as part of both Treaty Four and Treaty Six areas. This makes them unique in Canada. Even today, Treaty Four Gatherings in the Fort Qu'Appelle area save a place for the Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head Lean Man Band in their meetings.
