Flying Dust First Nation Explained

Band Name:	Flying Dust First Nation
Band Number:	395
Endonym:	Kopahawakenum
People:	Cree
Treaty:	Treaty 6
Headquarters:	Meadow Lake
Province:	Saskatchewan
Main Reserve:	Flying Dust 105
Reserve:	Flying Dust 105D Flying Dust 105E Flying Dust 105F Flying Dust 105H Flying Dust 105I Flying Dust 105J Flying Dust 105L Flying Dust 105O Gladue Lake 105B Meadow Lake 105A Meadow Lake 105C
Area:	94.00
Pop Year:	2021
On Reserve:	592
Off Reserve:	937
Total Pop:	1,529
Chief:	Tyson Bear
Tribal Council:	Meadow Lake Tribal Council
Website:	flyingdust.net

The Flying Dust First Nation (cr|ᑳ ᐅᐦᐹᐘᐦᑳᐢᑕᕽ kâ-ohpâwahkâstahk)^[1] is a Cree First Nation band government located adjacent to the city of Meadow Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada.^[2] Highway 55 goes through the band's reserve community.

Indian reserves

The band governs twelve reserves:

• Flying Dust 105 - 37.57km2
• Flying Dust 105D - 24.771km2
• Flying Dust 105E - 4.37km2
• Flying Dust 105F - 13.001km2
• Flying Dust 105H - 1.266km2
• Flying Dust 105I - 1.915km2
• Flying Dust 105J - 5.031km2
• Flying Dust 105L - 1.278km2
• Flying Dust 105O - 1.246km2
• Gladue Lake 105B - 0.978km2
• Meadow Lake 105A - 2.573km2
• Meadow Lake 105C - 0.002km2

Demographics

Registered Population Year by Year^[3] !2003!2004!2005!2006!2007!2008!2009!2010!2011!2012!2013!2014!2015!2016!2017!2018!2019!2020

991

1000

1040

1064

1081

1117

1145

1159

1209

1271

1311

1338

1356

1371

1405

1426

1471

1497

Government

The Flying Dust First Nation is governed by a chief and four councillors. Flying Dust is a member of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, whose offices are located on the reserve.

Community services and enterprises

With 1,529 members (592 living on-reserve and 937 living off-reserve) the community has developed a reputation as a progressive and strong community. Facilities on-reserve include the Kopahawakenum School (K-4), a health clinic, an elders building, an administration building, a bank, a community hall, a community church, a health office, a radio station, a youth centre, infrastructure/maintenance compound, daycare, a hockey arena, gas station and convenience store. The community hosted the 2003 Saskatchewan First Nations Summer Games,^[4] as well as their first annual Pow wow in 2005.

The Flying Dust First Nation has developed several business partnerships to increase its business portfolios to Property Development, Oil & Gas & Forestry. It also has a great economic stability.^[5] It manages a 12000acres Farming, Sand and Gravel Operation. Flying Dust is a treaty land entitlement band with the capability of purchasing 6,788 more acres of land.^[6] The Flying Dust has a long-standing partnership with the town of Meadow Lake and they have worked jointly on several major projects in the region over the last few decades.

Notes and References

1. Wolvengrey, Arok, editor. Cree: Words. Regina, University of Regina Press, 2001. https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/k%C3%A2-ohp%C3%A2wahk%C3%A2stahk/
2. http://www.flyingdust.net/ Flying Dust First Nation
3. Web site: flyingdustadmin . Registered Population . 2023-02-16 . Flying Dust First Nation . en-CA.
4. Web site: Meadow Lake Progress (news). June 20, 2003. 2012-10-13 .
5. Web site: Meadow Lake Tribal Council (web site). 2012-10-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216150148/http://mltc.sasktelwebhosting.com/corporate.htm. 2012-02-16. dead.
6. Web site: Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Act. 2012-10-13 .