Cross Lake First Nation Explained

Band Name:Cross Lake Band
Band Number:276
Endonym:ᐱᒥᒋᑲᒫᐠ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑ
pimicikamâk nîhithawî
People:Cree
Treaty:Treaty 5
Headquarters:Cross Lake
Province:Manitoba
Main Reserve:Cross Lake 19
Area:104.386
Pop Year:2019
On Reserve:6223
On Other Land:166
Off Reserve:2520
Chief:David A. Monias
Council:
    • Mervin Garrick
    • Donald Mckay
    • Wayne Mcleod
    • Noretta Miswaggon
    • Ivan Monias
    • Shirley Robinson
    • Kyle Scribe
    • Lee Thomas
    Website:https://crosslakeband.ca/
    Footnotes:[1]

    Cross Lake First Nation (cr|ᐱᒥᒋᑲᒫᐠ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑ, pimicikamâk nîhithawî|lit=Cree of the Lake that lies Athwart or Cree: Nikikonakos 'Otter People') is a band of Cree First Nations people in Canada governed under the Indian Act.[2] Its members[3] occupy several reserves within the town of Cross Lake situated on the east shore of Cross Lake in the province of Manitoba. In October 2008, its recorded registered membership[3] was 6,969, of which 4,953 people of this First Nation lived on their reserve. Cross Lake is the principal community of the Pimicikamak indigenous people that made treaty with the British Crown in 1875.[4] Its indigenous language is Woods Cree. Cross Lake was the site of a residential school operated under Canada's assimilation policy. In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the damage caused by this policy.[5]

    In March 2016, Cross Lake appeared in the national news after its officials declared a state of emergency because of an epidemic of suicides. The Canadian Press reported that there had been "six suicides in the last two months", and band councillor Donnie McKay said the community "is traumatized and needs immediate help from the provincial and federal governments".[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

    Demographics

    As of August 2014 Cross Lake First Nation had a total registered membership of 8,034 with 5,642 members living on-reserve.[13]

    Governance

    Under the Indian Act, Cross Lake First Nation has a municipal government with a Band Council. Since 1999, the Band Council is no longer elected under the Indian Act. The Executive Council of Pimicikamak sits ex officio as the Council of the Band but continues to be the agent of the Minister of Indian Affairs for delivering programs to band members on reserve.

    Chief and Council

    Chief and Councillors are appointed under the Custom Electoral System. In their council a quorum of 5 members is needed.[14]

    Chief

    Council

    Member of the Financial Management Board

    Executive Council Relations

    Member of the Financial Management Board

    Chair of the Financial Management Board

    Reserves

    Cross Lake First Nation have reserved for themselves several tracts of land as their reserve holdings. Their largest reserve is the 2037.1ha Cross Lake 19 Reserve. Associated with this reserve are:[15]

    Community

    Cross Lake, Manitoba is the principal community for the Cross Lake First Nation. Other major communities for the First Nation are:

    Child protection

    Cross Lake was the site of a residential school operated under Canada's aboriginal assimilation policy. In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the "profoundly negative" consequences of this policy.[16] Cross Lake has its own child welfare mandate and operates under the name Nikan Awasisak Agency Inc. with sub offices both in Thompson and Winnipeg[17] for aboriginal child protection on reserve.[18]

    Highway connection

    Cross Lake is the only community in north-eastern Manitoba that is connected to the North American highway system by all-weather road via the C$24 M Kichi Sipi Bridge, which the Province of Manitoba built after losing a lawsuit.[19]

    Education

    The Cross Lake Education Authority is legally part of the Cross Lake First Nation but is operated by an independent elected Board. It runs two schools on the Cross Lake First Nation's reserves. Otter Nelson River School is a Sr. 1-4 High School and also an Elementary school (N-4). Mikisew Middle School is a school with grades 5–8.

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: Cross Lake Band of Indians . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422203235/https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNMain.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=276&lang=eng . dead . April 22, 2021 . First Nation Detail . . 26 September 2019 .
    2. Web site: R.S., 1985, c. I-5, (Can.) . 2008-08-22 . 2011-01-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110105232642/http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cs/I-5 . dead .
    3. R.S., 1985, c. I-5, s. 7: "There shall be maintained in accordance with this Act for each band a Band List in which shall be entered the name of every person who is a member of that band."
    4. See official text in Book: Morris, Alexander . Alexander Morris (politician) . The Treaties of Canada with the Indians, Belfords . Clarke & Co. . Toronto, Ontario . 1880 . 2016-07-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110613190008/http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/trty5_e.html . 2011-06-13 .
    5. Canada . Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools . . June 11, 2008 . 1515 . . . 1 August 2008 .
    6. Web site: Manitoba First Nation had 140 suicide attempts in last 2 weeks . . 2016-03-13 .
    7. Web site: Pimicikamak youth fundraise for suicide prevention conference . . 2016-03-13 .
    8. Web site: 'I'm scared to lose more youth': Pimicikamak students try to cope with suicides . . 2016-03-13 .
    9. Web site: Father struggles with heartbreak, Pimicikamak continues call for help . . 2016-03-13 .
    10. News: Manitoba community seeks answers as youth suicides soar . . 11 March 2016 . 2016-03-13 . Baum . Kathryn Blaze .
    11. Web site: Four young people have died on Pimicikamak Cree Nation . . 2016-03-13 .
    12. Web site: Suicides à Pimicikamak : l'aide se précise . . fr-CA . 2016-03-13 .
    13. Web site: AANDC (Registered Population: Cross Lake First Nation # 276). Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. 2014-09-19.
    14. Web site: AANDC (Governance: Cross Lake First Nation # 276). Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. 2014-09-19.
    15. Web site: AANDC (Reserves/Settlements/Villages: Cross Lake First Nation # 276). Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. 2014-09-19.
    16. June 11, 2008 . Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools . Harper . Stephen . 1 August 2008.
    17. See: Web site: You Can Help Stop Child Abuse and Neglect: What to Look for, What to Do . Province of Manitoba . 2008-08-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20050326232218/http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/rrs/stop_child_abuse.pdf . 2005-03-26 .
    18. See Web site: Cross Lake . . 2008-08-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080625231204/http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mb/detachments/crosslake_e.htm . 2008-06-25 .
    19. Web site: Claim 109 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727122946/http://www.nfa-arb.org/download?id=107 . 27 July 2011 . 5 September 2008.

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