Muskoday First Nation facts for kids
 |
|
| People | |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 6 |
| Headquarters | Muskoday |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Muskoday Reserve |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 102.856 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 624 |
| Off reserve | 1318 |
| Total population | 1942 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Ava Bear |
| Council |
Clayton Crain, Merle Crain, Delbert Bear, Tracy Bear, Beryl Bear
|
| Tribal Council | |
| Saskatoon Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| muskodayfn.ca | |
The Muskoday First Nation (which means "grassy plain" in Cree) is a First Nation community in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is made up of Cree and Saulteaux peoples. This First Nation was once known as the John Smith First Nation.
As of 2014, about 1,828 people were registered members of the Muskoday First Nation. Around 623 of these members live on the reserve land. The rest, about 1,204 people, live in other places. The Muskoday territory is located in a beautiful area with aspen trees and grasslands. It is close to the towns of Birch Hills and Prince Albert.
Contents
How Muskoday First Nation Started
The land for the Muskoday First Nation was settled in the 1870s. This happened when Chief John Smith and his band of Cree and Saulteaux people moved there. They came from a place near Selkirk, Manitoba, and settled along the South Saskatchewan River.
In 1876, Chief Smith signed Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton. This agreement made their settlement a legal Indian reserve. Chief John Smith was the brother of Chief James Smith, who founded the James Smith Cree Nation. For a while in the late 1800s, James Isbister worked as a farm instructor at Muskoday.
Key Moments in Muskoday's History
The Muskoday First Nation has a rich history with many important events:
Early Days and Growth
- In the 1800s, Chief John Smith settled along the South Saskatchewan River.
- A day school was set up, and farming began to grow. By the 1870s, they had a large cattle herd.
- On August 19, 1876, Chief John Smith signed Treaty 6. This created the John Smith Indian Reserve.
- In the early 1900s, the first church was built in Muskoday.
- Chief John Smith passed away in 1924.
- The 1930s brought new things like the first car and the first sports day.
- In 1951, the first government house was built, and the Indian Act was updated.
- The first Band office opened in the early 1960s.
Modern Developments and Changes
- In 1967, the Gardiner Dam was built on the Saskatchewan River.
- The Muskoday kindergarten opened in 1967.
- In 1968, the government took over residential schools.
- The first color television arrived in Muskoday in 1968.
- Highway 3, which runs through the reserve, was paved in 1969.
- The first convenience store opened in 1969.
- A bridge was officially opened in 1970, connecting parts of the reserve.
- The first Pow wow was held in 1971, and the first Pow wow arbor (a special gathering place) was built in 1973. This was the first in Canada!
- Telephone and running water services came to Muskoday in 1972 and 1973.
- The first health clinic opened in 1976.
- In 1980, the first village was established.
- The Saskatoon Tribal Council was created in 1982.
- A Fire Hall was built in 1984, one of the first in Canada for a First Nation.
- The Muskoday daycare opened in 1987, and a Water Treatment Plant opened in 1989.
- In 1993, the John Smith/Muskoday Reserve officially changed its name to Muskoday First Nation. The first Muskoday flag and post office also appeared that year.
- In 1997, the community started farming buffalo again.
- Muskoday approved its own Land Code in 1998, which helps them manage their lands.
- A market garden and cultural grounds were set up in 1999.
- Water was piped from Prince Albert in 1999-2000, and a restaurant opened in 2000.
- In 2006, the Muskoday Community School officially opened.
- In 2007, Muskoday approved a Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) settlement.
- New Pow wow arbors were built in 2009.
- In 2013, Muskoday received reserve status for new lands (Muskoday #99A and #99B) as part of their TLE.
- Muskoday co-hosted the Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games in 2013.
- In 2015, Muskoday was recognized for its work on land management. They also completed a land exchange with a nearby town, a first for a Land Code community in Canada.
- In 2016, the Muskoday Trespass Law was passed by the Chief and Council.
During the 1970s, the John Smith First Nation officially became the Muskoday First Nation. Around the same time, a highway was built through the reserve, connecting Birch Hills with Prince Albert. The Muskoday Bridge was then built over the South Saskatchewan River, which divides the reserve lands.
Unlike many other Cree Nations in the area, Muskoday was mostly Anglican in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, traditional spiritual practices remained strong. Today, the community has St. James Anglican Church and the Muskoday Baptist Church.
How Muskoday First Nation is Governed
The Muskoday First Nation uses an election system to choose its leaders. The current leaders include Chief Ava Bear, who is Muskoday's first female Chief. There are also five councillors: Clayton Crain, Merle Crain, Beryl Bear, Tracy Bear, and Delbert Bear. Their two-year term began in 2021.
The First Nation is part of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, along with six other First Nations. This council was created in 1982 to help the First Nations in the Saskatoon area. The Saskatoon Tribal Council works to protect the social, economic, and political rights of its member First Nations. This includes their rights to land, resources, culture, language, and self-government. They also aim to build good relationships between First Nation and non-First Nation people.
Services for the Community
The Muskoday First Nation government provides many services to its people. In 1997, the First Nation created its own Land Code. This means they manage their own lands instead of the federal Government of Canada managing them. This step helped them develop more services for their community members.
These services include:
- A housing area known as "the village."
- A water treatment plant.
- A community health center.
- An administration building and band hall.
In 2005, the Muskoday First Nation finished building its own school for Kindergarten to Grade 9 students. Other important services include the Muskoday Awasis Daycare/Headstart Center, the Muskoday Volunteer Fire Department, and the Muskoday Development Corporation.
Besides these government services, the community also has a gas station, a convenience store, and a post office.
Muskoday Reserve Lands
The First Nation has set aside 9,686.8 hectares (about 23,936.6 acres) of land for itself. This land is called the Muskoday First Nation Reserve. It used to be known as the Muskoday 99 Indian Reserve. The main community of Muskoday is located on this reserve, about 19 kilometers southeast of Prince Albert.
Like many First Nations in Canada, Muskoday First Nation is involved in ongoing discussions with the Canadian government. These talks often focus on land ownership and rights. When Treaty 6 was signed, the Muskoday First Nation did not receive the correct amount of land. This led them to file a Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) claim. It was found that they were owed about 6,144 acres (2,486.4 hectares).
The TLE claim was approved. On May 23, 2007, Muskoday members voted to accept the TLE settlement. This agreement means Muskoday will receive about $10.3 million over five years. To meet the conditions of the TLE, Muskoday must buy at least 6,144 acres (24.86 square kilometers) of land during that five-year period.
