O'Chiese First Nation facts for kids
| People | Anishinaabe |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 6 |
| Headquarters | Rocky Mountain House |
| Province | Alberta |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | O'Chiese 203 |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 141.32 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 926 |
| Off reserve | 527 |
| Total population | 1453 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Ray “Douglas” Beaverbones |
| Tribal Council | |
| Yellowhead Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| ochiese.ca | |
The O'Chiese First Nation (say it like "oh-CHEESE") is a group of Indigenous people in Alberta, Canada. They are part of the Saulteaux people, who are a branch of the larger Anishinaabe family.
Their main home is a special area of land called the O'Chiese 203A Indian reserve. This reserve is about 14,132 hectares (which is like 35,000 football fields). It's located about 52 kilometers northwest of Rocky Mountain House. There is also a smaller area called the O'Chiese Cemetery 203A.
In November 2013, about 1,250 people were registered members of the O'Chiese First Nation. Most of them, around 831 people, lived on the reserve. The main language spoken there is the Western Ojibwa language.
Long ago, the ancestors of the O'Chiese First Nation used to set up their winter camps near the Baptiste River. They hunted animals like moose and deer. They also trapped small animals for the fur trade. In the summer, they would travel far south, even as far as the Milk River in Montana.
How the O'Chiese First Nation is Governed
The O'Chiese First Nation chooses its leaders using a system called the Act Electoral System. This is how they vote for their Chief and Council members.
The First Nation is also connected to the Yellowhead Tribal Council. This council helps different First Nations work together on common goals.
The O'Chiese First Nation is a part of Treaty 6. This is an agreement signed on May 13, 1950, between the First Nations and the Canadian government. Treaties like this are important agreements about land and rights.
