Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation facts for kids
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|
| People | Lakota |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 4 |
| Headquarters | Assiniboia |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 23.762 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 7 |
| Off reserve | 298 |
| Total population | 305 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Ellen Lecaine |
| Tribal Council | |
| File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| woodmountainlakotafn.ca | |
The Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation is a group of Lakota people in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. They are special because they are the only organized Lakota nation living in Canada. Their main community area, called a reserve, is known as Wood Mountain 160. It is located near Grasslands National Park. Most members of the First Nation live in other places, not on the reserve itself.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: The History of the Wood Mountain Lakota
Why the Lakota Came to Canada
In the middle of the 1800s, many Lakota people moved around a lot near the border between Canada and the United States. A famous Lakota leader named Sitting Bull led his people to a big victory at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After this battle, the U.S. Army tried to get revenge. Because of this, many Lakota families, led by Sitting Bull, moved across the border into Canada to find safety.
Staying in Canada: A New Home
Sitting Bull himself went back to the United States in 1881. However, 37 families from the Lakota group decided to stay in Canada. These families became the first members of what is now the Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation.
Creating the Reserve
The Canadian government set aside a temporary reserve for these families on October 29, 1910. This land was officially recognized on August 5, 1930. It's important to know that the Lakota people never signed a formal treaty with the Canadian government, unlike many other First Nations. Over time, many members of the Wood Mountain Lakota First Nation moved off the reserve. Some also married people from the surrounding non-Indigenous communities.
