Cross Lake First Nation

Cross Lake in Manitoba

Cross Lake First Nation (Cree: Pimicikamāk Nīhithawī "Cree of the Lake that lies Athwart" or Nikikonakos "Otter People") is a band of Cree First Nations people in Canada governed under the Indian Act.^[1] Its members^[2] 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.^[14] 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.^[15]

Chief

• Chief Cathy Merrick
  • Principle Spokesperson of the Nation
  • Primary Intergovernmental Affairs
  • Government Relations
  • International Relations

Council

Councillor Northern Flood Agreement All Northern Flood Agreement Claims/Matters Reserve Lands Natural Resources Member of the Financial Management Board Executive Council Relations Councillor Justice Restoration Justice Band Constables RCMP Courts Corrections Gaming Elders Council Liaison Councillor Housing Education Culture & Heritage Cree Language Councillor Donnie Mckay Health Economic Development Public Works Highways & Transportation Midnorth Development Corporation Ponton Arena Trust Member of the Financial Management Board

Councillor Communications MCTV CFNC Cell Phone/Internet Taxation Recreation Youth Council Liaison Men's Wellness Councillor Shirley Robinson Finance Band Administration Pathways Employmnet & Training Mining Chair of the Financial Management Board Councillor Aboriginal Headstart Program Day Care Muchipuniwin Program PCN Campaign Women's Council Liaison Councillor Grace Ross Welfare Old Folks Home Awasis Agency (Cross Lake) Membership/Citizenship PCN Laws Amendments New Proposed PCN Laws

Reserves

Cross Lake First Nation have reserved for themselves several tracts of land as their reserve holdings. Their largest reserve is the 2,037.10 hectares (5,033.8 acres) Cross Lake 19 Reserve. Associated with this reserve are:^[16]

Cross Lake 19A Reserve Cross Lake 19B Reserve Cross Lake 19C Reserve Cross Lake 19D Reserve

Cross Lake 19E Reserve Cross Lake 19X01 Reserve Cross Lake 19X02 Reserve Cross Lake 19X03 Reserve

Cross Lake 19X05 Reserve Cross Lake 19X06 Reserve Whiskeyjack Reserve

Community

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

• Pikwitonei, Manitoba
• Thicket Portage, Manitoba
• Wabowden, Manitoba

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.^[17] 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^[18] for aboriginal child protection on reserve.^[19]

Highway connection

Kichi Sipi Bridge.

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^[20]

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.

Notes

1. R.S., 1985, c. I-5, (Can.), http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cs/I-5
2. 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."
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 Alexander Morris, The Treaties of Canada with the Indians, Belfords, Clarke & Co., Toronto (1880); also at Queen's Printer, http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/trty5_e.html.
5. Hansard, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, "Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools", http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3568890&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2, accessed 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". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
8. "'I'm scared to lose more youth': Pimicikamak students try to cope with suicides". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
9. "Father struggles with heartbreak, Pimicikamak continues call for help". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
10. "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". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
12. ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Regions -. "Suicides à Pimicikamak : l'aide se précise". Radio-Canada.ca (in French). Retrieved 2016-03-13.
13. "AANDC (Registered Population: Cross Lake First Nation # 276)". Retrieved 2014-09-19.
14. The Pimicikamak Election Law, 1999, s. 26, http://www.pimicikamak.ca/law/LAWoELEf_cor.DOC, accessed 31 July 2008.
15. "AANDC (Governance: Cross Lake First Nation # 276)". Retrieved 2014-09-19.
16. "AANDC (Reserves/Settlements/Villages: Cross Lake First Nation # 276)". Retrieved 2014-09-19.
17. Hansard, Wednesday, June 11, 2008, "Apology to Former Students of Indian Residential Schools", http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3568890&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=2, accessed 1 August 2008.
18. See: http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/rrs/stop_child_abuse.pdf
19. See also, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/mb/detachments/crosslake_e.htm
20. http://www.nfa-arb.org/download?id=107, accessed 5 September 2008./

External links

• AANDC profile
• Map of Cross Lake 19 at Statcan
• Map of Cross Lake 19A at Statcan
• Map of Cross Lake 19E at Statcan