The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is a First Nations government or "band". It represents people of the Chipewyan

Chipewyan

The Chipewyan are a Dene Aboriginal people in Canada, whose ancestors were the Taltheilei...

 ethnic group. It controls one Indian reserve

Indian reserve

In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...

: Chipewyan 201

Chipewyan 201

Chipewyan 201 is an Indian reserve in Alberta.-References:...

, near Fort Chipewyan, Alberta

Fort Chipewyan, Alberta

Fort Chipewyan, commonly referred to as Fort Chip, is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. It is located on the western tip of Lake Athabasca, adjacent to Wood Buffalo National Park, approximately north of Fort McMurray.Fort Chipewyan is one of...

. The band is party to Treaty 8

Treaty 8

Treaty 8 was an agreement signed on June 21, 1899, between Queen Victoria and various First Nations of the Lesser Slave Lake area. The Treaty was signed just south of present-day Grouard, Alberta.-Treaty:...

, and is a member of the Athabasca Tribal Council.

The band launched a court challenge in 2007 to a oilsands lease given to Shell Canada

Shell Canada

Shell Canada Limited is the subsidiary of Dutch-based Royal Dutch Shell and one of Canada's largest integrated oil companies. Exploration and production of oil, natural gas and sulphur is a major part of its business, as well as the marketing of gasoline and related products through the company's...

by the provincial government which, the band alleged, they were not given a chance to oppose. In 2011, the band lost its suit, but planned to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.