First Nations in Manitoba explained

First Nations in Manitoba constitute of over 160,000 registered persons, about 57% of whom live on reserve. Manitoba is second to Ontario in total on-reserve population and in total First Nation population.^[1]

There are 63 First Nations in the province and five indigenous linguistic groups. The languages are Nēhiyawēwin, Ojibwe, Dakota, Oji-Cree, and Dene.

First Nations are listed by common usage names but other names may be applied in certain areas; for example, "Cree Nation" and "First Nation" is applied to certain bands on the same reserve.

Demographics

, there were 164,289 registered First Nation persons in Manitoba, 57.1% of whom (93,840) live on reserve.

There are 63 First Nations in Manitoba, including 6 of the 20 largest bands in Canada.

There are 5 Indigenous linguistic groups in the province: Cree, Ojibway, Dakota, Oji-Cree, and Dene.

Governance

There are 7 First Nations treaties in the province:^[2]

Treaty 1 in the south-central region
Treaty 2 in the central and southwestern region
Treaty 3 in the southeastern region
Treaty 4 in part of west-central Manitoba
Treaty 5 (1875 and 1908) in the central and northern regions
Treaty 6 in the northern region
Treaty 10 along northwestern Manitoba

The Dakota Nations (Birdtail Sioux, Sioux Valley, Canupawakpa, Dakota Tipi, and Dakota Plains) are not signatory to any treaty with Canada, though their land is considered reserve land under the Indian Act.There are 7 First Nations tribal councils in Manitoba:^[3]

Cross Lake, Dakota Tipi, Fisher River, Sagkeeng, Nisichawayasihk, Norway House, O-Pipon-Na-Piwin, and Tootinaowaziibeeng have no tribal council affiliations.

Additionally, First Nations in Manitoba are represented by 3 active provincial political organizations divided on a north-south basis: the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, and the Southern Chiefs Organization.

Manitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations is the department of the Manitoba government responsible for issues related to Indigenous affairs and reconciliation in the province.^[4]

Geography

Seventeen First Nations are not accessible by an all-weather road. This accounts for approximately half of all First Nations people who live on reserve in Manitoba.

Reserves in Manitoba

There are about 63 reserves in Manitoba:

Urban reserves

There are currently 14 urban reserves in Manitoba:^[5]

Opaskwayak Cree Nation — adjacent to The Pas
Swan Lake First Nation's urban reserve land — within the Rural Municipality of Headingley
Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation's urban reserve land — adjacent to Winnipeg
Sapotaweyak Cree Nation's two parcels of urban reserve land — both within Swan River
Nisichawaysihk Cree Nation's urban reserve land — within Thompson
Birdtail Sioux First Nation's urban reserve land — within Foxwarren in Prairie View Municipality
War Lake First Nation's 40 parcels of urban reserve land — in Ilford
Long Plain First Nation's two urban reserve lands — one adjacent to Portage la Prairie and one within Winnipeg
Gambler First Nation's urban reserve business park — in Brandon
Peguis First Nation's urban reserve land — within Winnipeg
Rolling River First Nation's urban reserve land — in the Rural Municipality of Headingley
Waywayseecappo First Nation's urban reserve land — in the Rural Municipality of Elton

External links

Manitoba Chiefs website regarding the history of Treaties in Manitoba

Notes and References

Indigenous Services Canada. 2021 March 32. "First Nations in Manitoba." Government of Canada. Retrieved 2023 April 1.
"Treaties in Manitoba." Ottawa: Indian and Northern Affairs, Government of Canada. 2010. .
Indigenous Services Canada. 2021 March 32. "Manitoba First Nation Tribal Councils." Government of Canada. Retrieved 2023 April 1.
Web site: Province of Manitoba Cabinet Ministers . 2023-04-01 . Province of Manitoba . en.
Indigenous Services Canada. 2021 March 32. "Urban reserves in Manitoba." Government of Canada. Retrieved 2023 April 1.