The Lac La Ronge Indian Band (Woods Cree: ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᓂᕽ, romanized: mistahi-sâkahikanihk[2]) is a Woodland Cree (Sakāwithiniwak) First Nations in northern Saskatchewan. It is one of the ten largest Cree (Nîhithaw) band governments in Canada, the largest First Nation in Saskatchewan, with the administrative centre located in La Ronge.[1]
History
La Ronge & Stanley Mission Band of Woods Cree Indians became a signatory to the Treaty 6 on February 11, 1889, signed by Chief James Roberts. In 1900, Peter Ballantyne was allowed to separate from the La Ronge and Stanley Mission Band to form the Peter Ballantyne Band of Cree Indians, the predecessor to the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. In 1910, the La Ronge & Stanley Mission Band split into two entities: Amos Charles Band of Cree Indians (located in Stanley Mission) and the James Roberts Band of Cree Indians (located in La Ronge). In 1950, the two bands amalgamated and became the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, the current legal name.[3]
Reserves and communities
Reserves
Lac La Ronge Indian Band's land-base consists of eighteen Indian reserves, some containing one of six communities:[4]
Sucker River 156C — 154.80 ha (382.5 acres) — containing the community of Sucker River
The communities of Stanley Mission, Grandmother's Bay and Little Red River are self-administered. This arrangement ensures that these communities have more control over their services and programs.[1]
The First Nation elects their council under the custom electoral system, consisting of a chief and 12 councillors. The current council consists of Chief Tammy Cook-Searson and councillors, Devin Bernatchez, Jimmy Charles, Linda Charles, John Boy Halkett, Gerald McKenzie, Robin McKenzie, Keith Mirasty, Ann Ratt, Dean Roberts, Sam Roberts, Norman Ross, and Charlene Venne.[1]