Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation facts for kids
Flag of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation.
|
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| People | Cree |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 5 |
| Headquarters | Nelson House |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Nelson House 170 |
| Other reserve(s) |
|
| Land area | 237.088 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 2997 |
| On other land | 156 |
| Off reserve | 2129 |
| Total population | 5282 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Marcel Moody |
| Council |
|
The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) is a Cree First Nations community. It is located in Nelson House, Manitoba, Canada. Its main home area is called Nelson House 170.
The community's name, Nisichawayasihk, means 'where three rivers meet' in the Cree language. This describes Nelson House perfectly. It sits where the Burntwood, Footprint, and Rat Rivers come together. Nelson House is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Thompson. You can reach it by driving on Provincial Road 391.
Contents
Discovering Nisichawayasihk Cree History
The people of Nisichawayasihk are mostly descendants of Cree peoples. These Indigenous groups have lived in the Canadian Shield region for a very long time. They have been there since the glaciers melted, about 10,000 years ago.
The Nisichawayasihk people call themselves the Nisichawayasi Nehethowak. This means 'Cree from where three rivers meet'. They are also known as Rocky Cree (Asiniskaw Ithiniwak). This name means 'People from where there is an abundance of rocks'.
Understanding Treaty 5 and Its Impact
In the mid-1870s, Indigenous peoples near Lake Winnipeg wanted to make a treaty with the Canadian government. They had heard about agreements made with other Indigenous nations. These agreements offered help with money, tools, and protection for their lands.
Treaty 5 was the government's answer. This important document protected the Cree homelands for their use. It also guaranteed certain rights and benefits for Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation members and their families.
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation's Governance and People
The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation is led by an elected chief and council. They hold elections based on their own democratic rules. The current Chief is Marcel Moody.
About 3,000 NCN members live in Nelson House. Another 2,100 live outside the reserve lands. The total population of the NCN is around 5,200 people. This makes it a large and widespread community.
Exploring Nelson House Communities
Nelson House is made up of eleven different areas. Residents know these areas by names like Westwood, School Road, and Hillside. Other areas include Dogpoint, R.C. Point, and Little R.C. Point. You can also find New Area, Hart's Point, Michelle Point, Bay Road, and Moore's Bay.
Like many rural areas in Canada, Nelson House does not have a central water or sewage system. People living in these areas often use private wells for water. They might also get water from a nearby lake or river. For waste, they use their own septic tanks.
Hydroelectric Projects and Community Growth
In the 1960s and 1970s, big hydroelectric projects began in Manitoba. These projects used the Churchill and Nelson rivers. The Churchill River Diversion project directly affected Nisichawayasihk members. This included those living in Nelson House.
Because of these projects, large areas of traditional hunting, fishing, and trapping lands were flooded. This meant the community had to adapt to big changes.
Partnerships for a Brighter Future
The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) signed the Northern Flood Agreement (NFA). This agreement was made with the federal government, Manitoba Hydro, and the Province of Manitoba. In 1996, NCN signed another agreement to put the NFA into action.
Using money from this agreement, NCN bought the Mystery Lake Motor Hotel in Thompson. In 2006, NCN signed a new agreement with Manitoba Hydro. This was for the Wuskwatim hydroelectric project. This project is on the Burntwood River, about 30 km from Nelson House.
The NCN was involved in building the Wuskwatim project. As a partner, they will also share in the money it earns in the future. This was the first time such an arrangement happened in Manitoba.
Training for New Opportunities
In 2006, the Atoskiwin Training and Employment Centre (ATEC) opened in Nelson House. ATEC is also a first for Manitoba. It helps train NCN members and other Indigenous people. They learn skills for northern hydro projects and other job opportunities.
Understanding Nisichawayasihk Cree Reserve Lands
Nelson House includes four NCN reserves. These lands together cover about 14,460 acres (58.5 square kilometers).
- Nelson House 170 is on the north shore of Footprint Lake. It covers about 18.60 square kilometers (4,596 acres).
- Nelson House 170A is south of the west end of Footprint Lake. It covers about 11.615 square kilometers (2,870 acres).
- Nelson House 170B is south of the central part of Footprint Lake. It covers about 28.268 square kilometers (6,985 acres).
- Nelson House 170C is on the north-east shore of Footprint Lake. It covers about 32,000 square meters (7.9 acres).
Developing an Urban Reserve
In 2004, the city of Thompson, Manitoba, agreed to let the NCN turn a piece of property into Treaty Land. This was needed because NCN had less land than they were promised in the Treaty Land Entitlement agreement from the 1990s.
This was a special event. It was one of the few times private land bought by a First Nations community became an urban reserve. The Thompson City Council officially approved NCN’s plan for the urban reserve in February 2005. In April 2016, the reserve gained an additional 17,020 square meters (4.2 acres) of land.
