Wahpeton Dakota Nation

This file contains a newspaper clipping about the life of Lucy M. Baker, praising her work with the Indians who "worshipped" her for the work she did for the Makoce Waste Sioux after the 1885 rebellion. Also scanned is a mission report of the two reserves she worked at, Mistawasis (Cree) and Makoce Waste (Sioux).

Educational Foundations Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Saskatchewan, 1992.

Records in the Margaret Baker fonds collection tell the story of the development of the Wahpeton reserve and Lucy Baker's activities as a missionary teacher. Reflects stereotypical views of the time.

An Indian Agent's notebook from the [Duck Lake Agency]. Note subjects include grocery lists and prices, wartime pricing figures, travel details, medical admissions, legal matters, animal head counts and housing construction.

Historical note:

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

A ledger containing a detailed calendar of outgoing correspondence from the [Duck Lake Agency.] Correspondence subjects include medical and school admissions, building and housing construction, and grocery, stationery and agricultural purchases. This ledger contains information relating to private and legal matters of individuals, therefore only a small sample of pages is available for viewing.

Historical note:

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

This file contains information relating to the dugout canoe located in the Prince Albert Historical Society Museum, Prince Albert, SK. Notes describing the construction are attributed to Dan Ellison Jr. and an unknown person. Also included are notes relating to Big Bear’s Winchester rifle, made in 1880 and donated to the Museum in 1933 by Fred McFadden.

Portrait of Flying Buffalo of the Dakota (Sioux).

Three-quarters length portrait of Flying Buffalo of the Dakota (Sioux), taken in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He is wearing a feathered headdress and holding aloft a stick, highly decorated with feathers. His leggings show extensive, detailed beadwork.

A photographic portrait of Dakota (Sioux) Chief Iron Buffalo.

File contains 5 negatives from a National Meeting of Indian Metis Friendship Centres held in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, July, 1985.

Curriculum Studies Thesis (M.Ed.) -- University of Saskatchewan, 2002.

File contains opening remarks mainly by Chief Lorne Waditaka, Chief of the Wahpeton First Nation. Waditaka discusses national issues such as the Constitution and First Nations place in it, the development of self-governance structures, the need for continued federal responsibilities and the importance of the treaties, the Metis people and their place in Canada, urban aboriginals, justice issues, social issues, and what he hopes will be gained from the hearings of the Royal Commission. Waditaka then introduces Commissioners Bertha Wilson, Paul Chartrand, Rene Dussault, and Mary Sillet.

File contains a presentation by April Waditaka, Student, Carlton High School, Prince Albert. Wadikata discusses issues in education, babysitting, the need for more Aboriginal staff in the city school system, the need to upgrade the band's recreation program, social issues of home life which need to be addressed, money for recreation facilities, and other issues addressing youth. Following the presentation is a discussion between Waditaka, Miranda Propser (the preceding presenter) and Commissioners Erasmus, and Chartrand on the issues raised in their presentations.

File contains a presentation by Councillor Beverly Waditaka, Councillor of the Wahpeton Band. Waditaka discusses education on the Wahpeton First Nation at the elementary level, then goes on the discuss Daktoa language and problems with language retention on reserve. Waditaka discusses how the Dakota believe that post-secondary education is an inherent right. She then goes on to discuss women's issues such as Bill C-31.

File contains a presentation by Chief Calvin McArthur of the Pheasant Rump Nakoda Band. McArthur is also a representative of the Dakota Nation Chiefs. McArthur explains his view that the Treaties are nation to nation agreements, and relates how his own band signed an adhesion to Treaty No. 4 in 1876.

File contains a presentation by Chief Lorne Waditaka of the Wahpeton Dakota First Nation. Waditka discusses the history of his people and its contacts with other Dakota, Lakota, and Nakoda groups. He discusses the First Nations participation in both local organizations like the Prince Albert Tribal Council alongside the Cree, and in larger organizations of Dakota people on a province wide, and international basis. Wakitawa also discusses some of the distinctions between "Sioux" peoples and future aspirations for unity.

File contains a presentation by Counsellor Cy Standing of the Wahpeton First Nation. After some introductory remarks in Dakota (not provided), Standing gives a brief summary of his personal history.

File contains a presentation by Darlene McLeod, Band Administrator, Wahpeton Band. McLeod delivers a presentation on housing, mortgages, and education financing concerns. Following McLeod's presentation a discussion takes place between the assembled Commissioners, previous presenter Beverly Waditaka, and Darlene McLeod on the issues raised in their respective presentations.

File contains a presentation by Darlene Spiedel, Dakota Nations of Canada, Saskatchewan Cultural Centre. Spidel presentes from "two points of view, one from the Dakota/Lakota Nations and the other from the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre."

File contains a presentation by Earl Magnusson, Director of Urban Development, Federation of Saskatchewan Indians. Magnusson speaks on the issues facing urban Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan. He discusses Treaty rights, self-governance, and municipal service delivery. Following the presentation is a discussion between Magnusson and Commissioners Wilson, Chartrand, and Erasmus on these issues as well as the "portability" of Aboriginal rights.

File contains a presentation by Fourth Vice-Chief Tom Iron of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Iron presents on health care, and specifically what it means to the FSIN in the Treaty Six area. He discusses the paramount importance of the treaties, and their meaning to Saskatchewan First Nations. He also discusses some of the Health provisions in Treaty no. Six. Following the presentation Commissioner Chartrand discusses the FSIN defintion of "nation" with Iron.

File contains a presentation by Garry Standing, a post-secondary student from the Wahpeton Dakota Nation. Standing describes himself as someone who has spent his entire life on reserve until the September before the Commission. The purpose of his presentation is to relay his "experiences from the last eight or nine months. Some of them have been positive and some of them have been negative." He discusses attending the University of Regina, but having to withdraw due to financing changes in Indian Affairs policy. He complains of paternalism and condescension in the approach of Indian Affairs.

File contains a presentation by Gerald One Feather, Mato Mna Sni, Ta Tiospaye Oglala Oyate. One Feather discusses the spiritual beliefs of his people, the Lakota, and how that informs their ideas about traditional governance. One Feather then goes on to relate some of the institutional history of the Lakota people, going into specific detail with regard to their relationship with the United States government. He also discusses problems experienced by Lakota people with the interenational boundary, and makes some recommendations for their ameilioration.

File contains a presentation by Ken Goodwill of the White Cap First Nation. Goodwill discusses the importance of Treaty and the government's (both Britain and Canada's) obligations to the Dakota people. He discusses the concessions he feels his people have made, and asks that the government deliver the just rights of the Dakota to their people. Following the presentation is a discussion between the Commissioners and previous presenter Calvin McArthur specifically addressing the historical disspossession of his people's reserve land.

File contains a presentation by Miranda Prosper, a grade 6 student from the Wahpeton Reserve School. Prosper discusses changes she would like to see on the Wahpeton Reserve. These include more policing, an alochol ban, more funding for roads, a Dakota language immersion program for young children, a better firehall, and a safer bus stop.

File contains a presentation by Peter Brook, Executive Director of the Prince Albert Tribal Council. Brooks asks the Commission if it is prepared to undertake a special investigation into ongoing land claims disputes involving three Dene nations in northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories which the Prince Albert Tribal Council represents.

File contains a presentation by Vice Chief Alphonse Bird of the Prince Albert Tribal Council. On behalf of the Tribal Council (which represented 12 First Nations at the time), Bird welcomes the Royal Commission to the area and discusses how his organization will be making a more comprehensive presentation on areas of concern to them in La Ronge, Saskatchewan on May 28th. Areas of concern to be highlighted include Treaty Rights, the Constitution, housing, poverty, northern food costs, employment, resource revenue sharing, taxation, infrastructure, health and justice issues.

File contains a presentation by Warner Goodvoice, Social Development Administrator, Wahpeton Band. Goodvoice discusses self governance, funding and bureaucratic issues particualarly with regard to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations. Goodvoice argues that it is neccessary to get more grassroots engagement and funding into these structures. Following the presentation Comissioner Wilson questions Goodvoice on what he thinks self-governance would mean in pratice and he answers here.

File contains a presentation by Chief Wayne Goodwill of the Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation. Goodwill relates the history of his particular band, and claims that "prior to 1850 our ancestor used to roam right up to the Saskatchewan Rivers and they migrated with the buffalo. In the 1860s when the wars began in the southern area along the Black Hills [South Dakota], most of the people did not migrate anymore." Goodwill protests of being unable to attain adequate funding to complete his people's study of its history in Canada.

A ledger containing a detailed calendar of outgoing correspondence from the [Shellbrook] Agency. Correspondence subjects include medical and school admissions, building and housing construction, and grocery, stationery and agricultural purchases. This ledger contains information relating to private and legal matters of individuals, therefore there are no pages available for viewing.

Historical note:

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

A photograph of a Dakota (Sioux) Chief in Prince Albert, likely sometime in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The Chief is seated on a horse in traditional garb, flanked by two other Dakota people, with carriages and a building in evidence in the background.

A photograph of a Dakota man known in the Prince Albert area by the name "Beaconsfield." Probably a member of the Wahpeton First Nation. Photograph done in portrait style with Beaconsfield posed next to a horse.

Comments shared by participants of the Dakota Commemorative March in 2002 to remember their peoples forced removal march of 1862.