TheSwan River First Nation(Cree:ᐚᐱᓯᐤ ᓰᐱᐩ, wâpisiw-sîpiy) is aWoodland CreeFirst Nationsband governmentinnorthern Alberta.[2]Located on the south-central shore ofLesser Slave LakenearKinuso,it controls twoIndian reserves,Swan River 150EandAssineau River 150F.[1]
| People | Woodland Cree |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 8 |
| Headquarters | Kinuso |
| Province | Alberta |
| Land[1] | |
| Main reserve | Swan River 150E |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 43.427 km2 |
| Population (2019)[1] | |
| On reserve | 425 |
| Off reserve | 1025 |
| Total population | 1450 |
| Government[1] | |
| Chief | Lee Twinn |
| Tribal Council[1] | |
| Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council | |
| Website | |
| swanriverfirstnation | |
Swan River is one of the original signatories toTreaty 8in 1899.[3]
History
editSwan River First Nation was one of fiveWoodland Creecommunities aroundLesser Slave Lakethat together composed a regional band.[4]
On January 1, 1890, a majority of the Lesser Slave Lake Cree communities were in favor ofTreaty.TheRCMPfirst came to the area by 1897, and by 1899,Treaty 8was signed on the shore of Lesser Slave Lake by Kinosayo (Andrew Willier) ofDriftpile FN,MoostoosofSucker Creek FN,Weecheewaysis,Charles Nesootasis, and Felix Giroux.
Chiefs
editUnlike southern bands, First Nations communities aroundLesser Slave Lakedid not have chiefs.
Out of necessity for Treaty negotiations, people from all five bands selected Kinosayo as the chief of the Lesser Slave Lake Bands in 1899, and he would serve until his death in 1918 from thespanish flu.Each community also had an elected headman responsible to the chief.[4]
Kinosayo was replaced by his brother Astatchikun (Felix Willer), who served as chief until his death in 1936.
In 1910, for the sake of administrative convenience, the pay list of "Kinosayo’s Band" was divided into different groups, though they were still all recognized as one band. In 1929, the federalDepartment of Indian Affairsdecided to recognize the four groups as separate bands, and in 1936, the four major bands each elected a separate chief and council to replace the overall council formerly headed by Chief Astatchikun.[4]
Leadership
editHeadmen of Swan River First Nation:[4]
- Felix Giroux (Upschinese), 1899-1927
- Edward Nesootasis (Twin), 1927-1928
- August Chalifoux, 1928-1935
- August Sowan (Sound), 1935-1936
Chiefs of Swan River First Nation, in chronological order:[5][4]
- August Sowan (Sound) (first chief)
- Gene Giroux (Davis)
- August Chalifoux
- Victor Twin
- Paul Sound
- Gordon Courtoreille
- Charlie Chalifoux
- Dustin "Dusty" Twin Sr.
- Richard Davis
- Leon Chalifoux
- Ryan Davis
- Gerald Giroux
- Lee Twinn (current chief)
References
edit- ^ab"First Nation Detail".Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.Government of Canada.RetrievedSeptember 11,2019.
- ^"Culture and History".SRFN.2016-11-07.Retrieved2023-10-04.
- ^"About".SRFN.2016-11-01.Retrieved2023-10-04.
- ^abcde"Culture and History".SRFN.2016-11-07.Retrieved2023-10-04.
- ^"Leadership".SRFN.2016-11-07.Retrieved2023-10-04.
Further reading
edit- Gillespie, Beryl C. 1981. "Territorial Groups Before 1821: Athapaskan of the Shield and the Mackenzie Drainage." Pp. 161-68 inSub-Arctic,edited byJ. Helm.Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 6.Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
- Kinuso. 1979.Sodbusters: A History of Kinuso and Swan River Settlement.Bulletin Commercial, Alberta.
- Phillips, L.J. 1973. "Lesser Slave Lake."History is Where You Stand,Part 16-011. The South Peace Historical Society.
- Smith, J. G. E. 1981. "Western Woods Cree." Pp. 256-70 inSub-Arctic,edited byJ. Helm.Handbook of North American Indians, Vol. 6.Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.
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