Onion Lake Cree Nation facts for kids
| People | Cree |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 6 |
| Headquarters | Onion Lake |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 585.711 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 3954 |
| On other land | 1 |
| Off reserve | 2520 |
| Total population | 6475 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Henry Lewis |
| Website | |
| onionlake.ca | |
The Onion Lake Cree Nation (Cree: ᐑᐦᒉᑲᐢᑯᓰᐏᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ, wîhcêkaskosîwi-sâkahikanihk) is a First Nation group in Canada. They are part of the Plains Cree people. This community is located right on the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. It is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of the city of Lloydminster.
The Onion Lake Cree Nation has a total land area of about 585.7 square kilometers (226.1 square miles). As of August 2019, there were 6,475 registered members.
Where is Onion Lake?
The Onion Lake Cree Nation's land crosses two provinces. Part of it is in Alberta's County of Vermilion River. The other part is in Saskatchewan's Rural Municipality of Frenchman Butte No. 501. You can find it where Highway 17 meets Alberta Highway 641/Saskatchewan Highway 797.
The Makaoo 120 reserve is a piece of land that lies in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. The Seekaskootch 119 reserve is entirely within Saskatchewan.
A Bit of History
Long ago, the Makaoo and Seekaskootch reserves were separate. Each had its own band government. In 1914, these two groups decided to join together. This is how the Onion Lake Cree Nation was formed.
During the First World War, a famous poster showed Moo-Che-We-In-Es. He was from the Onion Lake Cree Nation. The poster showed him donating money to help the war effort. He sent a letter written in Western Cree syllabics.
Education in Onion Lake
The Onion Lake Cree Nation believes in strong education for its young people. There are five schools right within the community:
- Sakāskohc High School
- Eagleview Middle School
- Chief Taylor Elementary School
- Pewasenakwan Primary School
- Kihēw Waciston Cree Immersion School
The Kihēw Waciston Cree Immersion School helps students learn the Cree language. This keeps their culture and traditions strong.
What Does "Onion Lake" Mean?
The name "Onion Lake" comes from the Cree language. The original Cree name is Wicekikaskosîwi-sâkahikan. This means "Wild Onion" smelly plant. It refers to a nearby lake where many wild onions grew.
Today, when Cree speakers talk about the community, they often say wîhcekaskosîwi-sâkahikanihk. This means "[domestic] onion lake."
