Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation

The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (formerly the Nelson House First Nation) is a Cree-speaking community of about 4,200 Cree centered in Nelson House, Manitoba, Canada. Nelson House is located about 80 km west of Thompson and is accessible via the mixed paved and gravel Provincial Road 391. Nisichawayasihk means where three rivers meet in Cree and describes Nelson House which is located at the convergence of the Burntwood River, Footprint and Rat Rivers.

History

The people of Nisichawayasihk are largely ancestral descendants of indigenous Cree peoples who have populated the Canadian Shield region of northern and central Canada since the retreat of the glaciers about 10,000 years ago.

Largely left alone by the Government of Canada during initial colonization and settlement of Western Canada, by the late 19th century a move was made by the government to isolate and relocate members of the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation to a single, pre-defined location which no European settlers had expressed an interest in. This area was defined by the government in the agreement known as Treaty 5, a document which established that Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation members and their descendants were guaranteed certain rights and benefits.

Governance and population

Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation is governed by an elected chief and council. Elections are held pursuant to NCN's own democratic election code. The last election in Nelson House was in July 2014. The Chief is currently Marcel Moody, a former Councillor.

About 2,500 members of the NCN live in Nelson House and the remaining 1,700 off the reserve lands. Until 2005, the community of South Indian Lake on the shores of Southern Indian Lake was also part of the NCN. In December 2005, this community of about 1,100 persons separated from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation to form the O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation.

With a population of approximately 4,200, the NCN is a large and widespread community. Nelson House consists of nine areas, which are known to the residents as Hillside, Dogpoint, R.C. Point, Little R.C. Point, New Area, Hart's Point, Michelle Point, Bay Road and Moore's Bay.

Many of its residents are still living in third-world conditions. The local infrastructure does not support full water and sewage services to all residents.

Hydroelectric development and impacts

During the 1960s and 1970s, the Government of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro began the Nelson River Hydroelectric Project, centered on the Churchill and Nelson rivers. The project included the Churchill River Diversion, which directly affected Nisichawayasihk members living at Nelson House and at South Indian Lake. Consequently, large areas of traditional hunting, fishing and trapping lands were flooded. The people of South Indian Lake were forcibly relocated to their current location.

The Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) is a signatory to the Northern Flood Agreement(NFA) between Canada (the federal government), Manitoba Hydro, the Province of Manitoba and several First Nations Communities. In 1996, NCN signed an NFA Implementation Agreement. Using settlement proceeds paid pursuant to this implementation agreement, NCN purchased the Mystery Lake Motor Hotel in the nearby city of Thompson. In 2006, the NCN signed a Project Development Agreement with Manitoba Hydro regarding the Wuskwatim hydroelectric project on the Burntwood River, about 30 km from Nelson House. Wuskwatim generates about 200 MW of electricity. The NCN was involved in the construction of the project and, as a partner in the project, will receive a share of the future revenues. This arrangement is the first of its kind in Manitoba.

In 2006, the Atoskiwin Training and Employment Centre (ATEC) opened its doors in Nelson House. ATEC is also a Manitoba first. It trains NCN members and other aboriginals for northern hydro projects and other job opportunities.

Urban reserve

In early February 2004, the nearby city of Thompson, Manitoba announced its approval to the NCN to convert a parcel of property to Treaty Land. This was possible due to shortages in land area controlled by NCN under the Treaty Land Entitlement agreement in the mid-1990s. This event will mark one of the few transitions from privately owned land, purchased by a First Nations community, to an Urban Reserve.

This plan has been quietly discussed between city and band administration since the narrowly lost plebiscite held in Thompson on September 18, 2001. With a 45% voter turnout for the plebiscite, and amid allegations of inappropriate voter disqualifications, the "no" side won by a margin of 250 votes. During the three years following the plebiscite, the majority of Thompson City Councillors have publicly stated that the results of the vote were not binding upon city council, as the council has been elected to act in the best interests of the citizens of Thompson.

External links

Coordinates: 55°47′00″N 98°53′18″W / 55.78333°N 98.88833°W / 55.78333; -98.88833

First Nations in the Northern Region of Manitoba

The Numbered Treaties: Treaty Five

Numbered Treaties	Treaty 1 Treaty 2 Treaty 3 Treaty 4 Treaty 5 Treaty 6 Treaty 7 Treaty 8 Treaty 9 Treaty 10 Treaty 11

Manitoba	Berens River First Nation Black River First Nation Bloodvein First Nation Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chemawawin Cree Nation Cross Lake First Nation Fisher River Cree Nation Fox Lake Cree Nation Garden Hill First Nation God's Lake First Nation Grand Rapids First Nation Hollow Water First Nation Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation Little Grand Rapids First Nation Manto Sipi Cree Nation Mosakahiken Cree Nation Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Norway House Cree Nation Opaskwayak Cree Nation Pauingassi First Nation Poplar River First Nation Red Sucker Lake First Nation St. Theresa Point First Nation Sayisi Dene First Nation Shamattawa First Nation Tataskweyak Cree Nation War Lake First Nation Wasagamack First Nation York Factory First Nation

Saskatchewan	Cumberland House First Nation Red Earth First Nation Shoal Lake First Nation

Ontario	Deer Lake First Nation North Spirit Lake First Nation Pikangikum First Nation Poplar Hill First Nation Sandy Lake First Nation

Subdivisions of Manitoba

Subdivisions	Regions Census divisions Municipalities Communities Indian reserves Population centres Designated places

Cities	Brandon Dauphin Flin Flon Morden Portage la Prairie Selkirk Steinbach Thompson Winkler Winnipeg

Towns	Altona Arborg Beausejour Carberry Carman Churchill Gillam Grand Rapids Lac du Bonnet Leaf Rapids Lynn Lake Melita Minnedosa Morris Neepawa Niverville The Pas Powerview-Pine Falls Snow Lake Ste. Anne Swan River Teulon Virden Winnipeg Beach Former towns: Birtle Boissevain Deloraine Emerson Erickson Gilbert Plains Gladstone Grandview Gretna Hamiota Hartney MacGregor Manitou Minitonas Oak Lake Pilot Mound Plum Coulee Rapid City Rivers Roblin Rossburn Russell Souris Sainte Rose du Lac Treherne

Villages	Dunnottar St-Pierre-Jolys Former villages: Benito Binscarth Bowsman Cartwright Crystal City Elkhorn Ethelbert Glenboro McCreary Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Riverton Somerset St. Claude St. Lazare Waskada Wawanesa Winnipegosis

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