White Bear First Nations facts for kids
| People | Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, Dakota |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 4 |
| Headquarters | Carlyle |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 171.922 km2 |
| Population (2020) | |
| On reserve | 867 |
| Off reserve | 1938 |
| Total population | 2805 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Annette Lonechild |
| Website | |
| whitebearfirstnation.ca | |
The White Bear First Nations are a group of Indigenous people who live in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. They are known by their names in other languages too: Cree: ᐚᐱ ᒪᐢᑿ (wâpi-maskwa) in Cree and Assiniboine: Matóska oyáde in Assiniboine. This community is made up of people from the Cree, Saulteaux, Nakota, and Dakota nations.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "White Bear First Nations" comes from a very important leader named Chief Wahpiimusqua. He lived from 1815 to 1900. His name, wâpimaskwa, means "white bear" in the Cree language.
In 1875, Chief Wahpiimusqua signed an agreement called an adhesion to Treaty 4. This was a special agreement between First Nations and the Canadian government. Even though he signed Treaty 4, his community eventually settled near Moose Mountain Provincial Park. This area is actually part of the Treaty 2 land.
Where They Live: Reserves
First Nations reserves are special areas of land set aside for Indigenous communities in Canada. They are like homelands where the community can live and govern themselves.
The White Bear First Nations have two main reserve lands:
- White Bear 70
- Treaty Four Reserve Grounds 77 (This reserve is shared by 33 different First Nations communities.)
