Opaskwayak Cree Nation facts for kids

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (often called OCN) is a First Nation community in Manitoba, Canada. The name Opaskwayak comes from the Cree words meaning "at the wooded narrows."

The main OCN reserve is one of three communities that make up "The Pas area" in northern Manitoba. The other two are the Town of The Pas and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey.

Most people from OCN who live on a reserve are near the Town of The Pas. This area is known as the OCN 21E reserve. The band also has many other reserves. These stretch from Goose Lake in the north to Mountain Cabin, Saskatchewan, in the south. You can reach OCN by train, road, boat, and plane.

The people of OCN are Swampy Cree. They speak a dialect of the Swampy Cree language called the n-dialect. The Opaskwayak people first signed Treaty 5 in 1876.

Every August, the First Nation hosts the Opaskwayak Indian Days. This is a special annual event.

History of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation

When the Opaskwayak people signed Treaty 5 in 1876, the federal government agreed to give them rights to timber. In 1904, the band opened a sawmill on Mission Island. This island is in the Saskatchewan River.

Soon after, the band gave up their land on the south side of the river. In 1908, they moved their sawmill to the north side. The sawmill worked on and off until 1930. It provided wood for many homes built in the early 1900s.

According to stories passed down through generations, Cree peoples have lived in north-central Manitoba for a very long time. This has been supported by archaeological finds. The oldest evidence of people living in the area dates back 2,600 to 4,000 years.

The current townsite of Opaskwayak, known as reserve parcel 21E, was a historic gathering place. People traveled there for spiritual healing. The Cree people in the area would meet here every summer. They would fish, harvest plants, and grow crops.

This time was also important for making social connections. People practiced ceremonial ways of life, like the Midewiwin, or Grand Medicine Society.

The Opaskwayak people speak the Swampy Cree language n-dialect. There were many local bands who shared the same territory. These bands were made up of related families. They would come together throughout the year for social, cultural, and ceremonial activities.

MacKay Indian Residential School

In 1912, a place about 11 kilometres (7 miles) northwest of The Pas was chosen. This area bordered the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. A representative from the federal Indian Department picked it. It was to be the site for a new Indian Residential School.

Workers cleared 8 hectares (20 acres) of forest. A building was constructed between the fall of 1912 and June 1914. The school opened for classes in October 1914. It was named the MacKay Indian Residential School. This name honored John Alexander Mackay, an Anglican archdeacon from Saskatchewan.

In its first year, 81 students attended the school. The land was not good for large-scale farming. So, the school only had a vegetable garden to grow food for the students.

The Bishop and Diocese of Saskatchewan managed the school until January 1922. Then, it was transferred to the Missionary Society of the Anglican Church of Canada. A fire destroyed the school on March 19, 1933. It was never rebuilt. Many students were sent to other schools. Another residential school with the same name operated in Dauphin from 1955 to 1980.

Today, the former school site is used for community events.

Community Life, Learning, and Fun

OCN has an indoor ice hockey arena. It is called the Gordon Lathlin Memorial Centre. This center is named after former Chief Gordon William Lathlin (1933-1976). He helped the band grow its economy. He started several successful businesses. He also oversaw the building of a shopping mall on the reserve.

Opaskwayak has two hockey teams: OCN Blizzard (junior A) and OCN Storm (junior B).

OCN has developed many other facilities. These include a community centre called the 'Veteran's Hall'. It is used for events like bingos, socials, and other community gatherings. The local hotel, Kikiwak Inn, was built and finished in July 1996. The Otineka Shopping Mall was built in the early 1970s and opened in 1975. It has various stores. The McGillivary Care Home was built in 1982 for community elders.

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation community has two churches on the reserve. The Church of Redeemer is in Big Eddy, Manitoba. The Church of Messiah is in the townsite area. Both of these churches were recently built to replace older ones.

Education and Learning Opportunities

For education on the reserve, OCN has the Hilda Young Child Care Centre. It also has Joe A. Ross School and Oscar Lathlin Collegiate. The band government also helps students who go to colleges and universities. These students attend schools across Canada and the United States.

In January 2023, Opaskwayak, along with the federal and provincial governments, announced a new project. They will build an apartment block in downtown Winnipeg. OCN will own and operate this building. OCN plans to rent some units to First Nations students. However, the apartments will be open to other people too.

The building will be 7-stories tall. It is next to the University of Winnipeg's Axworthy Health & RecPlex. Paragon Design Build and Bockstael Construction are building it. Construction is expected to take 18 months and finish by summer 2024.

The total funding for this project is $17.4 million. Contributions come from Opaskwayak, the Government of Manitoba through Efficiency Manitoba, and the Government of Canada through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

How the Opaskwayak Cree Nation is Governed

The Opaskwayak Cree Nation is led by a Chief and eight Councillors. These leaders are elected by the community. They serve for a three-year term. The election rules were adopted by the members in 2012.

The reserve includes 24 pieces of land. These vary in size from 10 to 5200 acres. The total area is about 45,000 acres. The most populated areas are in and around The Pas. Most of the reserve's boundaries are shared with the Rural Municipality of Kelsey and The Pas. The rest borders the unorganized part of Census Division No. 21.

Notable People from OCN

• Wilfred Buck, an educator
• Amanda Lathlin, a politician
• Oscar Lathlin, a politician
• Greg Younging, a writer

See also

• OCN Storm
• OCN Blizzard