Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation

Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation is a Cree First Nations band government in Saskatchewan, Canada.[2] Their reserves include:

Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation
Band No. 369
PeopleWillow Cree
TreatyTreaty 6
HeadquartersDuck Lake
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Land[1]
Main reserveBeardy's & Okemasis' 96 & 97
Other reserve(s)
Land area203.46 km2
Population (2019)[1]
On reserve1354
Off reserve2184
Total population3538
Government[1]
ChiefEdwin Ananas
Council
Jeremy Seeseequasis, Sheryl Okemaysim, Delano Mike, Warren Seesequais, Marie Neubuhr, Kurt Seesequasis
Tribal Council[1]
Independent.
Website
bofn9697.com

History & Etymology

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The nation is named for Willow Cree Chiefs Beardy (kâmiyescawesit (Kah-mis-cho-wey-sit), "one who has a little beard") and Okemasis (okimâsis, "little chief", diminutive of okimâw). Together, they led two-thirds of the Willow Cree band and settled west of Duck Lake prior to the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876. With adjoining reserves, the two bands have since merged into a single First Nation. The Cree name for this combined reserve is ᓃᐱᓰᐦᑯᐹᐏᔨᓃᓈᕽ nîpisîhkopâwiyinînâhk, "among the Willow Cree".[3]

The remaining Willow Cree today form the One Arrow First Nation.[4]

The Willow Cree are a sub-group of the Plains Cree tribe located today in the geographic regions of the Saskatchewan parklands, situated on the southern edge of the Boreal Forest and northern edge of the Great Plains, also situated between the North Saskatchewan and South Saskatchewan Rivers.

References

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  1. ^ "First Nation Detail". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  2. ^ "First Nation Detail - Beardy's and Okemasis". Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  3. ^ Wolvengrey, Arok, editor. Cree: Words. Regina, University of Regina Press, 2001. https://itwewina.altlab.app/word/n%C3%AEpis%C3%AEhkop%C3%A2wiyin%C3%AEn%C3%A2hk/
  4. ^ Barry, Bill (2005). Geographic Names of Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatchewan: People Places Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-897010-19-2.
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