Mikisew Cree First Nation

Mikisew Cree First Nation (Cree: ᒥᑭᓯᐤ, mikisiw, meaning: "golden eagle"[5]) is an Indigenous First Nations government of Woodland Cree people in northeastern Alberta and in Northwest Territories, Canada.

Mikisew Cree First Nation
Band No. 461
ᒥᑭᓯᐤ
mikisiw
Flag of the Mikisew Cree First Nation
PeopleWoodland Cree
TreatyTreaty 8
HeadquartersFort Chipewyan
ProvinceAlberta
Land[1]
Reserve(s)
Land area51.161 km2
Population (2019)[2]
On reserve172
On other land492
Off reserve2509
Total population3173
Government[3]
ChiefBilly-Joe Tuccaro
Tribal Council[4]
Athabasca Tribal Council
Website
mikisewcree.ca

Most Mikisew Cree First Nation members live in Fort McMurray, Edmonton, and Fort Chipewyan in Alberta and in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

According to former chief Lawrence Courtoreille, starting in 1944 many Dene people were induced by the government of to transfer their registration to the Mikisew band, including Courtoreille's own mother, leading to "a little over fifty percent" of the Mikisew Cree band members having some Dene heritage as of 2022.[6] Dene people were denied access to hunting, fishing, and gathering within the boundaries of Wood Buffalo National Park unless they switched their registration, and were threatened with eviction from the Birch River settlement. In the end, Cree access to the park was restricted as well.

The Mikisew Cree First Nation is one of the five Athabasca Tribal Council Nations. The group signed a treaty in 1986 with Canada establishing several reserves. The Mikisew Cree won a case in the Supreme Court of Canada in 2005 over title interests to areas of the Wood Buffalo National Park.

References
  1. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  3. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  4. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  5. Ogg, Arden (August 19 2015) Cree Names of Cree-speaking Communities across Canada Link
  6. Brown, Jesse; Morin, Brandy (December 12, 2022). "#840 The Taking of Wood Buffalo". Canadaland (Podcast). Canadaland. Event occurs at 12:20.


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