Alternative Measures Program - Prince Albert

The twelve First Nations comprising the Prince Albert Grand Council continue to maintain a strong connection with their cultural identities as Denē, Woodland Cree, Swampy Cree, Plains Cree and Dakota Nations. However, the historic imposition of foreign government policies, totalitarian control of Indian Agents and the forced relocation of First Nations Peoples from their traditional territories to small designated pieces of lands, referred to as “Indian Reserves”, severely impacted upon the traditional way of life of the People. In addition, the forced removal of generations of children, as young as four and five years of age, who were confined in Indian Residential Schools, where they were often punished for speaking their language and forced to adopt a different way of life, has left many deep wounds that continue to impact upon present as well as future generations.

These wounds were caused not only by the cultural and spiritual genocide endorsed by the Government of Canada, as the overseer of the schools, but also as a result of the rampant physical and sexual abuse that occurred. As a result of the pervasive impacts of colonialism and the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, the First Nations of the Prince Albert Grand Council are struggling to heal from the wounds and restore their languages and cultural identities, as proud nations of First Nations Peoples. In this regard, PAGC Education is involved in a number of initiatives designed to support children and youth in relearning their language and culture, including The Gift of Language and Culture Project, which is dedicated towards reviving the true spirit of language and culture of the Peoples, which is reflected within each of the languages that are spoken.

The Prince Albert Grand Council is divided into four sectors that are geographically connected and which share cultural and linguistic similarities, evolving from the close relationship that First Nations have with the traditional lands and resources that have been shared.

The Denē Sector is the most northern sector and it includes three Denēsuline Nations that are located within the Athabasca region, where the Denē Su’Line language is still spoken by the majority of the people. This sector includes the Fond du Lac Denēsuline Nation, Black Lake Denēsuline Nation and the Hatchet Lake Denēsuline Nation. The Denēsuline maintain a very close relationship with the land and still rely on the caribou herds, as a staple food in their diet, along with other local wildlife, berries and traditional medicines. The way of life of the Denēsuline has evolved with the introduction of modern transportation, including motor boats, lake barges, skidoos, airplanes, road vehicles and northern roads, all of which are dependent upon the seasons. Until recently, all three communities were classified as “fly-in communities” due to their isolated northern location, however new northern roads have changed their status, as they are accessible by road during most seasons of the year, with the exception of Fond du Lac, which is one of the few remaining fly-in communities in Canada. Modern telecommunications and technology also impact upon the traditional way of life, along with the northern mining industry, which employs a small portion of the population and creates environmental impacts that affect Denēsuline lands and resources, today.

The Woodland Cree Sector is the next most northern sector and it includes three nīhithawak Nations that are located in the northern forest, lake and river region, where the original language spoken is nīhithawīwin, which linguists classify as the “th-dialect of Cree”. This sector has a large population base, due to the multi-community bands: the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (including two reserves right next to the Town of La Ronge, Sucker River, Hall Lake, Stanley Mission, Grandmother’s Bay and Little Red Reserve), the Montreal Lake Cree Nation (including part of Little Red Reserve) and the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (including Pelican Narrows, Sandy Bay, Deschambault Lake, Southend, Kinoosao, Amisk Lake and Sturgeon Landing, as well as new urban land holdings in Prince Albert and Saskatoon). The nīhithawak also maintain a close relationship with the land and many people still engage in hunting, fishing and trapping, primarily to supplement their diet and income, although a few people still subside by living off the land. Seasonal gathering of wild rice, berries and other traditional foods and medicines is still practiced by some of the older people, although the presence of grocery stores has minimized the need to live off the land. The way of life of the nīhithawak has also evolved significantly with the advent of modern transportation, telecommunications, technology and industry. Today, investment in corporate ventures provides employment for some of the people, in the mining, trucking, forestry, agriculture and tourism industries, although new opportunities need to be created to provide sustainable jobs for the fast-growing youth population, within the Prince Albert Grand Council.

The Swampy Cree Sector is located in the eastern part of PAGC territories and it includes three nēhinawak Nations, whose primary language spoken is nēhinawēwin, which linguists classify as the “n-dialect of Cree”, although people from the Red Earth Cree Nation speak a “y-dialect”. This sector includes the Cumberland House Cree Nation, Red Earth Cree Nation and Shoal Lake Cree Nation, which are all located north-east of the Town of Nipawin. The nēhinawak still maintain a close relationship with the land, relying on both small and large game animals, birds and fish, to supplement their diets, along with berries and medicines harvested from the land. The way of life of the nēhinawak has also been forced to evolve, with the advent of modern transportation, telecommunications, technology and industry, however, with only a small land base provided to the three communities, the struggle to thrive in the modern economy continues to be a huge challenge and there are few job opportunities for community members to participate in. At the same time, there is a reluctance to move to urban centers, due to strong family and community ties, feelings of non-acceptance and isolation off-reserve, and the lack of meaningful opportunities for employment in small town Saskatchewan.

The Plains Sector is located within a one-hundred kilometre radius of the City of Prince Albert and includes both nēhiyawak Nations, whose original language is nēhiyawēwin (which linguists classify as the “y-dialect of Cree”), and one Dakota Nation, the Wahpeton Dakota Nation, whose original language is Dakota. The nēhiyawak Nations include the Sturgeon Lake First Nation and the James Smith Cree Nation, who shares the same territory, administration and services with the Chakastaypasin Cree Nation and Peter Chapman Cree Nation. These two nations are both in the process of becoming legally reinstated and recognized as separate First Nations. In spite of their close proximity to the city, the Plains Nations still maintain a close relationship to the land and to their cultures, as nēhiyawak and Dakota Peoples, which includes their traditional ceremonies and way of life that has been passed down from generation to generation, since time immemorial. This includes the preservation of sacred items and spiritual practices, which generations of Elders were forced to hide and protect from the genocidal policies designed to destroy them. Although close proximity to large urban centers prevents the people from living off the land, to any great extent, some of the old traditions of hunting and gathering still remain intact, including the knowledge of healing plants and medicines. At the same time, new technologies, industries and economic practices have been adopted, which provide both rural and urban job opportunities in a variety of industries, such as agriculture, gaming, social services, local merchants and the small business sector. Within the Plains Sector, more than the other three sectors of the Prince Albert Grand Council, increasing numbers of people are moving into the city, looking for new opportunities, offered through education and employment. As a result, the PAGC Urban Services Office is continually striving to expand their services, to meet the need for more jobs and better access to education and housing, for this growing sector of the population.