Cross Lake First Nation

Cross Lake Band
Band No. 276
ᐱᒥᒋᑲᒫᐠ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑ
pimicikamâk nîhithawî
[[image:
Cross Lake First Nation is located in Manitoba
Cross Lake First Nation
Cross Lake First Nation (Manitoba)
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PeopleCree
TreatyTreaty 5
HeadquartersCross Lake
ProvinceManitoba
Land[1]
Main reserveCross Lake 19
Land area104.386 km2
Population (2019)[1]
On reserve6223
On other land166
Off reserve2520
Total population8909
Government[1]
ChiefDavid A. Monias
Council
  • Mervin Garrick
  • Donald Mckay
  • Wayne Mcleod
  • Noretta Miswaggon
  • Ivan Monias
  • Shirley Robinson
  • Kyle Scribe
  • Lee Thomas
Website
https://crosslakeband.ca/

Cross Lake First Nation (Cree: ᐱᒥᒋᑲᒫᐠ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑ, pimicikamâk nîhithawî, lit. 'Cree of the Lake that lies Athwart' or Nikikonakos lit. '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]

  1. ^ "Cross Lake Band of Indians". First Nation Detail. Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "R.S., 1985, c. I-5, (Can.)". Archived from the original on 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  3. ^ a b 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 Morris, Alexander (1880). The Treaties of Canada with the Indians, Belfords. Toronto, Ontario: Clarke & Co. Archived from the original on 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  5. ^ Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada (June 11, 2008). "Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Canada: House of Commons of Canada. col. 1515. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Manitoba First Nation had 140 suicide attempts in last 2 weeks". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  7. ^ "Pimicikamak youth fundraise for suicide prevention conference". CBC News. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  8. ^ "'I'm scared to lose more youth': Pimicikamak students try to cope with suicides". CBC News. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  9. ^ "Father struggles with heartbreak, Pimicikamak continues call for help". CBC News. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  10. ^ Baum, Kathryn Blaze (11 March 2016). "Manitoba community seeks answers as youth suicides soar". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  11. ^ "Four young people have died on Pimicikamak Cree Nation". CBC News. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
  12. ^ "Suicides à Pimicikamak : l'aide se précise". Ici Radio-Canada Télé (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2016-03-13.