Buffalo Narrows

Dr. Jim Millar, an archaeologist from the University of Saskatchewan, believes people have been living in Buffalo Narrows for anywhere from 7,000 to 10,000 years.

Image of an Aboriginal family standing in front of a [church] building with their dogs. Graveyard crosses in background; summer scene.

Buffalo Narrows trapper John Hansen says "steady trapping can make a good living for anyone these days." Page One: picture of John Hansen. Page Two: picture of pelts.

A draft proposal relating to economic difficulties experienced by residents of northern Saskatchewan. The proposals are to include both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal inhabitants and include the construction of filleting plants, longer fishing seasons and guaranteed wages for Aboriginal workers.

Historical note:

Harold Nelson Woodsworth served as an Indian Agent at a number of agencies in Saskatchewan.

Project looked at barriers to health care service access and results showed patients experienced interconnected barriers to services.

Note on back: Louis McKay, his wife and six of his nine children in the one-room log cabin home at Buffalo Narrows, SK.

RCAP 97 contains files for a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Gabriel Dumont Institute, Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan. This sitting of the Commission contains presentations relating to women's and Métis issues, commercial fishing and wild rice production. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

This file contains a discussion of various issues by the attendees and Commissioners at this session of the Commission. Attendees contributing include Louis McCallum, Gerald Regan, Marie Symes Grehan, Vye Bouvier, Brian MacDonald, Pierre Chartier and Gloria Desjarlais. Issues discussed include health care, land claims and self-government, wild rice production, the RCMP, trapping regulations, lack of housing and education. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

This file contains an individual presentation by Pierre Chartier relating to the production of wild rice in the Buffalo Narrows area. He expresses frustration with the provincial government's regulations governing wild rice growers and production. Chartier also briefly discusses fishing and hunting regulations. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

This file contains the introduction of this session's attendees and opening remarks by Co-Chair Rene Dussault and Commissioner Mary Sillett. The attendees are: Rick Cummings, Tammy Saulis, Brad Michael, Angela Slaughter, Dwayne Docken, Fred Wien, Michael Lazore, Marie Symes Grenham and Irv Hudyma, serving in various capacities at the session.

This file contains a presentation by Brian MacDonald that reiterates the previous speaker's concerns about the production of wild rice in the Buffalo Narrows area. His major point is having government officials tour the wild rice growing areas before they make policies that hinder the development of that industry. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

This file contains a presentation by Martha Waite touching on a number of subjects, including unemployment, health care and substance abuse, proper training for meaningful employment and land claims. After the presentation, other attendees, along with Waite, offer their comments in a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Antoinette Lemaigre of NorSask Native Outreach. Lemaigre discusses her work as an employment counsellor, the need for increased education funding, acommodations for instructors, the need for permanent jobs, urananium mining in northern Saskatchewan and related employment issues, and the need for a trade school north of Prince Albert. Following the presentation Commissioners Dussault and Sillet discuss some of the issues raised with Lemaigre.

File contains a presentation on behalf of St. Martin's Hospital by Administrator Violet Lemaigre, and Pat Malmgren. Administrator Lemaigre discusses the situation of her hospital which she desribes as very small and constantly underfunded. Lemaigre also discusses transportation issues, disease and addiction issues, staff shortage issues, mental health issues, elderly and disabled persons issues. Following the presentation Commissioners Dussault and Sillet discuss some of the issues raised with Lemaigre and Malmgren.

File contains a presentation on Saskatchewan Justice by Annette Montgrand and Robert Woods. Mongtrand discusses property comepnsation by offenders on social assistance, and Saskatchewan Justice's work with parollees, the need for increased resources, family, and community support. Montgrand also discusses the need for distinct programming for nothern residents in the provincial context.

Ross Cummings of Buffalo Narrows believes young members of his community are losing their cultural identity.