Fishing Lake
Encyclopedia
Fishing Lake is a lake
in the Canadian
province of Saskatchewan
. The lake is located between highway 5
and highway 16
, 22 km north of the town of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
, and 24 km east of the town of Wadena, Saskatchewan
. The lake does not have an effective outlet channel, and so is prone to flooding. Record floods in 2007 resulted in a plan by the Government of Saskatchewan to lower the level of the lake by digging a drainage channel. The Fishing Lake First Nation opposed this plan, and instead flood control berm
s were constructed.
, Saskin Beach, and the Foam Lake Golf and Country Club.
branch of the Ojibwe nation.. The band can trace their origins to central Canada, and were pushed westward to avoid encroachment by European settlers. The First Nation was originally part of the Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band, a Treaty Band named after a Treaty 4 signatory Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi, whose name means "Green/Blue-quill." However, due to "š" merging with "s" in Nakawēmowin (Saulteaux language), this led to a mistranslation of his name as "Yellow-quill"—"yellow" being osāw-, while "green/blue" being ošāwaško- (or osāwasko- in Saulteaux). The band was given three reserves, at Fishing and Nut Lakes (surveyed in September, 1881) and Kinistino, Saskatchewan (surveyed in 1900). The Fishing Lake Indian Reserve 89 was approximately 22850 acres (92.5 km²). Soon after the death of Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi, the Band divided into three groups, the Fishing Lake First Nation, the Yellow Quill First Nation
, and the Kinistin Saulteaux Nation
In 1905 the Canadian Northern Railway
Company requested that the northern end of the Fishing Lake Reserve be opened for settlement. The Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band initially refused to surrender the land. In response, the Department of Indian Affairs had the Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band sign an agreement recognizing the three separate reserves as distinct bands. In 1907 the Department was able to secured the surrender of 13170 acres (53.3 km²) from Fishing Lake Indian Reserve 89, dealing directly with the now distinct Fishing Lake First Nation.
Negotiations for the return of the surrendered land began in April 1989 when the band submitted a claim to the Minister of Indian Affairs
. During the subsequent inquiry by the Indian Claims Commission
it was discovered that as many as three of the individuals who signed the surrender document in 1907 were less than 21 years of age. It was also discovered that the affidavit certifying the surrender was not properly sworn according to the statutory standards in place at the time.
In 2001, a Settlement Agreement was ratified allowing the band to add 13190 acres (53.4 km²) to the reserve.. In addition, band members received $2,000 each, and elders 55 years of age or older received $4,000 apiece. The agreement was worth $35,000,000, and was Saskatchewan's largest land claim.
There are presently 1,475 people registered with the Fishing Lake First Nation, of which 405 live on reserve.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. The lake is located between highway 5
Saskatchewan Highway 5
This article focuses on the current designated Saskatchewan Highway 5, for Provincial Highway 5, Evergreen route portion, north west of Saskatoon see Saskatchewan Highway 16....
and highway 16
Saskatchewan Highway 16
Highway 16 is a provincial paved highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is the Saskatchewan section of the Yellowhead Highway, and also the Trans-Canada Highway Yellowhead section. The main purpose of this highway is to connect Saskatchewan with Canadian cities such as Edmonton and...
, 22 km north of the town of Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
Foam Lake, Saskatchewan
-References:...
, and 24 km east of the town of Wadena, Saskatchewan
Wadena, Saskatchewan
Wadena is a town in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, located east of Saskatoon, north of Fort Qu'Appelle and north-west of Yorkton on the eastern shore of the Quill Lakes. The town is known for its birdwatching opportunities, and hosts the Shorebirds and Friends Festival every year...
. The lake does not have an effective outlet channel, and so is prone to flooding. Record floods in 2007 resulted in a plan by the Government of Saskatchewan to lower the level of the lake by digging a drainage channel. The Fishing Lake First Nation opposed this plan, and instead flood control berm
Berm
A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...
s were constructed.
Fishing Lake Park
Fishing Lake park is a regional park located along the shores of Fishing Lake. The park was established in 1967, and operates four locations: Leslie Beach, Knights of ColumbusKnights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, Saskin Beach, and the Foam Lake Golf and Country Club.
Fishing Lake First Nation
The Fishing Lake First Nation are an independent first nation of the SaulteauxSaulteaux
The Saulteaux are a First Nation in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.-Ethnic classification:The Saulteaux are a branch of the Ojibwe nations. They are sometimes also called Anihšināpē . Saulteaux is a French term meaning "people of the rapids," referring to...
branch of the Ojibwe nation.. The band can trace their origins to central Canada, and were pushed westward to avoid encroachment by European settlers. The First Nation was originally part of the Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band, a Treaty Band named after a Treaty 4 signatory Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi, whose name means "Green/Blue-quill." However, due to "š" merging with "s" in Nakawēmowin (Saulteaux language), this led to a mistranslation of his name as "Yellow-quill"—"yellow" being osāw-, while "green/blue" being ošāwaško- (or osāwasko- in Saulteaux). The band was given three reserves, at Fishing and Nut Lakes (surveyed in September, 1881) and Kinistino, Saskatchewan (surveyed in 1900). The Fishing Lake Indian Reserve 89 was approximately 22850 acres (92.5 km²). Soon after the death of Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi, the Band divided into three groups, the Fishing Lake First Nation, the Yellow Quill First Nation
Yellow Quill First Nation
Yellow Quill First Nation is a Saulteaux First Nation located eight miles east of Rose Valley, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Yellow Quill First Nation is a signatory of Treaty No...
, and the Kinistin Saulteaux Nation
Kinistin Saulteaux Nation
Kinistin Saulteaux Nation is a Saulteaux First Nation located southeast of Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Kinistin Saulteaux Nation is a signatory of Treaty No. 4, which was signed by Chief Yellow-quill on August 24, 1876....
In 1905 the Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
Company requested that the northern end of the Fishing Lake Reserve be opened for settlement. The Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band initially refused to surrender the land. In response, the Department of Indian Affairs had the Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band sign an agreement recognizing the three separate reserves as distinct bands. In 1907 the Department was able to secured the surrender of 13170 acres (53.3 km²) from Fishing Lake Indian Reserve 89, dealing directly with the now distinct Fishing Lake First Nation.
Negotiations for the return of the surrendered land began in April 1989 when the band submitted a claim to the Minister of Indian Affairs
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Canada)
The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development is the Minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet who heads two different departments...
. During the subsequent inquiry by the Indian Claims Commission
Indian claims commission
The Indian Claims Commission was a judicial panel for relations between the United States Federal Government and Native American tribes. It was established in 1946 by the United States Congress to hear claims of Indian tribes against the United States...
it was discovered that as many as three of the individuals who signed the surrender document in 1907 were less than 21 years of age. It was also discovered that the affidavit certifying the surrender was not properly sworn according to the statutory standards in place at the time.
In 2001, a Settlement Agreement was ratified allowing the band to add 13190 acres (53.4 km²) to the reserve.. In addition, band members received $2,000 each, and elders 55 years of age or older received $4,000 apiece. The agreement was worth $35,000,000, and was Saskatchewan's largest land claim.
There are presently 1,475 people registered with the Fishing Lake First Nation, of which 405 live on reserve.