Lac La Ronge First Nation
The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is the largest Cree First Nation band government in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and one of the 10 largest in Canada, with a 2010 population of 8,954. Its location is in north-central Saskatchewan.
Their reserve lands extend from rich farmlands in central Saskatchewan, all the way north through the boreal forest to the Churchill River and beyond. Their central administration office is located in La Ronge, 241 km north of Prince Albert, on the edge of the Pre-Cambrian Shield.
History
La Ronge & Stanley Mission Band of Woods Cree Indians became a signatory to the Treaty 6 on February 11, 1889, signed by Chief James Roberts. In 1900 Peter Ballantyne was allowed to separate from the La Ronge and Stanley Mission Band to form the Peter Ballantyne Band of Cree Indians, the predecessor to the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. In 1910, the La Ronge & Stanley Mission Band split into two entities: Amos Charles Band of Cree Indians (located in Stanley Mission) and the James Roberts Band of Cree Indians (located in La Ronge). In 1950, the two Bands amalgamated and became the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, the current legal name.[1]
Reserves and Communities
Lac La Ronge Indian Band's land-base consists of 18 Indian reserves, some containing one of six communities:
- Bittern Lake 218—6,886 hectares (17,020 acres)
- Four Portages 157C—0.20 hectares (0.49 acres)
- Fox Point 157D—56.70 hectares (140.1 acres)
- Fox Point 157E—4.20 hectares (10.4 acres)
- Grandmother's Bay 219—4,488.90 hectares (11,092.3 acres)—containing the community of Grandmother's Bay
- Kitsakie 156B—74 hectares (180 acres)
- Lac La Ronge 156—605.40 hectares (1,496.0 acres)—containing the community of La Ronge
- Little Hills 158—517.20 hectares (1,278.0 acres)
- Little Hills 158A—38.30 hectares (94.6 acres)
- Little Hills 158B—131.20 hectares (324.2 acres)
- Little Red River 106C—12,939.30 hectares (31,973.7 acres)—containing the community of Little Red River
- originally 12,302.44 hectares (30,400.0 acres)
- in 1935, additional 650.69 hectares (1,607.9 acres) reserved
- Little Red River 106D—2,590 hectares (6,400 acres)
- Morin Lake 217—14,146.10 hectares (34,955.8 acres)—containing the community of Hall Lake
- originally 13,208.94 hectares (32,640.0 acres)
- in 1973, additional 936.85 hectares (2,315.0 acres) reserved
- Old Fort 157B—5.40 hectares (13.3 acres)
- Potato River 156A—409.50 hectares (1,011.9 acres)
- Stanley 157—251.30 hectares (621.0 acres)—containing the community of Stanley Mission
- Stanley 157A—3.80 hectares (9.4 acres)
- Sucker River 156C—154.80 hectares (382.5 acres)—containing the community of Sucker River
The communities of Stanley Mission and Grandmother's Bay are self-administered. This arrangement ensures that these communities have more control over their services and programs.[2]
Governance
The First Nation elects their Council under the Custom Electoral System, consisting of a chief and 12 councillors. The current Council consists of Chief Tammy Cook-Searson and Councillors Leon Charles, John Halkett, Brian Hardlotte, Irwin Hennie, Morris McKenzie, Keith Mirasty, Pamela Mirasty, Kenneth Ratt, Sampson Ratt, Harry Roberts, John Roberts. Their three-year term began on April 1, 2008.
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