Band Councils

Includes background information on governance, elections and ratification processes, discussion of current climate, benefits and barriers, and three cases studies: Wasauksing First Nation, Nipissing First Nation, and Tsuut’ina Nation.

Questions whether Indigenous governments are true governments.

Focuses on Chief Deborah Chief. Accompanied by video directed by Catherine Martin. (Duration: 19:51).

Focuses on the process of achieving economic success through the efforts of community members. Accompanied by video directed by Catherine Martin. (Duration: 28:28).

Group photo taken on the grounds of Fort Pitt, NWT. Numbered from L to R: 1. Fire Sky Thunder; 2. Sky Bird (Big Bear's son); 3. Natoose; 4. Napasis; 5. Big Bear; 6. Angus McKay (HBC); 7. Dufrain (HBC cook); 8. L. Goulet; 9. Stanley Simpson (HBC); 10. Alex McDonald; 11. Rowley; 12. Corp. Sleigh (NWMP); 13. Edmond; 14. Henry Dufrain.

Interviews with 13 residents of the Chipewyan Lake area of northern Alberta.- Stresses need for establishment of a reserve in this area, and promises made to them about this.- Describe various lifestyles including farming, trapping and fishing.- Shows how settlement patterns in remote areas have been influenced by the location of schools and stores.

Introduction and five archival documents chronicle Chief Levi General's attempts to have his petition regarding Iroquois nationalism heard at the Assembly of the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations.

This photograph appeared in the 22 December 1953 Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Clipping on page 14 of scrapbook (A-792-2). The caption read: "Chief Blackman of Little Pine, left, and Jim Nicotine of Red Pheasant who is sounding the tom tom and singing "The Queen" in Cree."

A photograph taken at the North Battleford Indian Hospital that appeared in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix 22 December 1953. Original photograph found on page 11 of scrap book (A-792-2). The caption read: "PHOTOGRAPHED after the ceremonies and standing under a picture of the Queen are, left to right, Chief Blackman of Little Pine, Dr. Head (Chief Medicine Knife), and Chief Swimmer."

This file contains James Walsh's account of how he 'succeeded in undoing' what Louis Riel had done to form a federation of the Indians and Metis of the Canadian prairies in 1877-1879.

Historical note:

James Morrow Walsh (22 May 1840 - 25 July 1905) was a North West Mounted Police (NWMP) officer and the first Commissioner of the Yukon Territory. Born in Prescott, Ontario, James Walsh was one of the original officers of the NWMP.

John Diefenbaker and possibly an unidentified person clasping hands in front of Parliament Building.

John Diefenbaker with costumed Aboriginal people at the Pion-Era grounds in Saskatoon, 1958.

Enormous crowd at Outlook, Saskatchewan. Chief Little Crow of the Sioux Indian Tribe places head dress on Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker, naming him Chief Standing Buffalo.

John Diefenbaker and two unidentified men standing at a microphone. Diefenbaker is being named Honourary Chief Eagle.

John Diefenbaker standing for a photo with Chief Mathias Joe of the Capilano Indian band who is presenting him with a small totem. Taken in the North Vancouver Coast-Capilano riding during the election campaign.

John Diefenbaker standing with Chief Mathias Joe and three other members of the Capilano Indian band who are all in ceremonial dress. Taken in the North Vancouver Coast-Capilano riding during the election campaign, March 1958.

This diary was written while William McKay was proprietor in the Lake Winnipeg Department of the North West Company. The writer of this journal was exploring the Nelson River to determine the route over which the North West Company wished to transport its goods between the Interior and Hudson's Bay.

This book is a handwritten copy of William MacGillivray's journals from 9 September 1789 - 13 June 1790; and from about 7 February - 14 June 1793; as well as his letters to Roderic Mckenzie from 21 July 1791 - 20 June 1792. In his writings he describes his travels to such places as Lac d'Orignal, Lac Froid, and on the Beaver River among other locations from Fort Isle a la Crosse and region to Le Pas; as well as to Riviere Maligne, Rat River, and other destinations.

First 5 pages same as regular Issue 134; The "Sugar Cane Tintin"; last page is typed by Father LeJeune and is a declaration of debt of "a few hundred dollars" and solicitation for support through subscriptions.

Historical note:

Photoengraving: The Indian Chiefs of British Columbia.

Discusses priorities and challenges of tribal, state and local governments including exercising effective sovereignty and achieving nation-building goals. Duration: 39:00.

Chief Sterling Brass of Key First Nation relocates their administration offices.

A photograph of a large group of mainly Aboriginal people outside the Onion Lake Indian Agency house circa 1890. They are all formally dressed including the three non-Aboriginal men sitting on the ground at the right. Perhaps Dominion Day or Treaty Day.

Education Thesis (Ph.D.)--Harvard University, 1997.

Concludes that band councils cannot exclude off-reserve members from receiving their fair share of any per capita distribution of money. Entire issue on one pdf. Scroll to page 1 to locate article.

Describes the history and culture of the Mi'kmaq settlement on Lennox Island 50 km. northwest of Prince Edward Island.

Analysis of the written Act from public administration and political science perspective, without the context of application or important court decisions.

Typescript list of Saskatchewan Aboriginal bands, location of reserves and tribe or band assignation by unknown author.

Reviews the work of Eli Bear in his term as Chief.

James Smith Band experiences problems in attempt to give governing control to its band members.

File contains a photograph of an unidentified man receiving a plaque from an unidentified official at the grand opening of the District Chief's office in Prince Albert, SK on March 25, 1988.

Brief discussion of the importance and nature of relationship, unique circumstances which exist in Aboriginal communities, and effective tools and approaches for managing partnership.

Describes the formulation, implementation and impact of a policy developed to govern the use of alcohol in recreational facilities and green spaces.

History Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of New Brunswick, 2006.

Image of (left to right) Grant McEwan, Chief Robert Bear and A.S. Morton conversing. Bear and McEwan are leaning against a fence.

One photograph taken at North Battleford Indian Hospital that appeared in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, 22 December 1953. It is found on page 13 of the scrap book (A-792-2). The caption reads: "Chief Swimmer is shown here addressing the assembly before the initiation. Left to right are: Miss J. M. Morton, RN, head of the nursing staff; Edwin Wuttunee, Red Pheasant reserve, interpreter; Chief Sam Swimmer; Dr. P. W. Head, superintendent of the Indian hospital; Archdeacon H. E. Hives, Bishop-elect of Keewatin."

A photograph taken at North Battleford Indian Hospital found on page 13 of the scrap book (A-792-2). It is similar to picture A-792-2-pic4.13, and features the same subjects. Left to right, Miss J. M. Morton, Edwin Wuttunee, Sam Swimmer, Dr. P. W. Head, Archdeacon H. E. Hives.

Copy of illustration depicting white missionary shaking hands with an Aboriginal man wearing traditional head-dress, beside a sod-roofed log cabin - supposedly near Carlton. Copied from Red Indians of the Plains by J. Hines, 1916, p.78. Two natives look on. Caption reads: I thought I never saw a finer built man.

Image depicts Mistahimaskwa bound and covered with a blanket while seated in a chair. 4 soldiers/policemen (two holding rifles) stand behind him. A fort wall (Fort Carlton?) is directly behind them.

File contains a series of negatives from a ceremony installing Ovide Mercredi as an honorary prisoner at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert, SK. The negatives contain pictures of Mercredi (National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations 1991-1997) receiving a certificate from unidentified (Penitentiary?) officials.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Capella University, 2007.

Web site to track federal funding for Indian bands but not elected chiefs and councillors salaries and travel expenses.

File contains 2 negatives from an unidentified National Chief's Conference Panel (Prince Albert?) held on March 5, 1989. The negatives show a variety of unidentified officials sitting at a table, during a panel discussion.

First of series B1715-17 of Native Indians in elaborate beaded clothing honour a middle-aged Caucasian man, probably at the Exhibition grounds. An article in the Star-Phoenix July 22, 1943 describes a ceremony on stage in front of the grandstand, in which Sid Johns, secretary-manager of the Exhibition, was inducted into the tribe of Sioux Indians and made an [honorary] Indian chief, by Chief Harry Littlecrow. Johns was named Chief Fine Weather.

Historical note:

A group of Native and non-Native people at Fort Carlton nd. There are three Native men with headdresses and three non-Native women in dresses and sun hats. There is a Union Jack on a pole and a teepee in the background. Probably a treaty day celebration.

Argues that Treaty benefits should move from band councils to individuals and that there should be an introduction of taxation on reserves to raise revenue.

Three photographs (2 scanned here) of David Ahenakew, president of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians, speaking at an NDP convention in Saskatoon, November 19, 1977.

Provides many links including: Treaty, legislation policies, culture and communities, government services and Nisga'a history.

This oversize file is divided into two parts for this database. Part two (A-792-2) contains a large scrap book of newspaper clippings and photographs compiled by Jessie M. (Mary) Morton. These give a summary of events at the Battleford Indian Hospital where she was a nurse from 1949 to 1956. Only a few select articles were scanned. The many pictures in the book were scanned and described as separate files (A-792-2-pic).

Looks at findings from three-year research project on voter engagement. Related material: Community Engagement Factsheet.

Ocean Man First Nation elects an all-female Council and Chief for the first time in this country. The first election for Chief resulted in a tie, and in the runoff one month later Chief Laura Big Eagle was elected on February 14, 1997.