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Wanyandie Flats, Alberta facts for kids

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Wanyandie Flats is located in Alberta
Wanyandie Flats
Wanyandie Flats
Location in Alberta

Wanyandie Flats is a group of communities in northern Alberta, Canada. It is part of the Municipal District of Greenview No. 16. These communities are home to many Métis families.

In 1974, special agreements were made. These agreements set up several Métis co-ops and businesses in Wanyandie Flats. A co-op is like a group that works together for a common goal. These groups were given seven pieces of land, adding up to about 16.8 square kilometers (4,150 acres).

Each co-op and business has its own leader or manager. Most people in these communities are part of a group called the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation.

What are the Wanyandie Flats Communities?

The Wanyandie Flats area includes several different co-ops and businesses. They all work together to support the people living there. These are:

  • Joachim Enterprise
  • Kamisak (Grande Cache Lake) Enterprise
  • Muskeg See Pee Cooperative
  • Susa Creek Cooperative
  • Victor Lake Cooperative
  • Wanyandie Flats East Cooperative
  • Wanyandie Flats West Cooperative

After 1974, the government of Alberta made some changes to the agreements. These changes mean that the land cannot be sold or built on without the government's permission. Also, the land must be owned by the community as a whole, not by individual people. This means individuals cannot buy or sell parts of the land.

Who are the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation?

Most people living in the Wanyandie Flats co-ops and businesses are members of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation. This Nation is made up of different Indigenous groups, including Cree, Iroquois, Sekani, Dene, Ojibwe, Assiniboine, and Shuswap people.

Indigenous people have lived in the Grande Cache area for a very long time, about 10,000 years. The Aseniwuche Winewak Nation's community members faced many challenges. They were forced to leave their homes when Jasper National Park was created. Later, they were moved two more times, in 1912 and 1939. This happened because of coal mining operations in the Grande Cache area.

The community did not receive any money or help for the land that was taken from them. This land was used to create the national park, towns, and mining operations.

Today, the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation is not officially recognized by the government. However, they have made several requests to the government. They want their rights to be recognized, their land claims to be settled, and to receive payment for the land they lost. About 70% of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation's members live in one of the Wanyandie Flats co-ops or businesses today.

In January 2021, the Nation started a new process to deal with their claims. This happened after an earlier discussion with the government ended suddenly in 2018.

Where are the Communities Located?

The Wanyandie Flats communities are located near the Bighorn Highway (Highway 40). They are about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Grande Cache. The land is about 885 meters (2,904 feet) above sea level.

Wanyandie Creek is a small stream that flows north from the area into the Smoky River.

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