| Band name | English River First Nation |
|---|---|
| Band number | 400 |
| Endonym | Des Nëdhë́’iné |
| People | Denesuline |
| Treaty | Treaty 10 |
| Headquarters | Patuanak |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Main reserve | La Plonge 192 |
| Reserve | |
| Area | 252.703 |
| Pop year | 2019 |
| On reserve | 778 |
| Off reserve | 847 |
| Chief | Alfred Dawatsare |
| Tribal council | Meadow Lake Tribal Council |
The English River Dene Nation is a Dene First Nation band government in Patuanak, Saskatchewan, Canada. The reserve is in the northern section of the province. Its territories are in the boreal forest of the Canadian Shield. This First Nation is a member of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC).[1]
Traditionally, English River First Nation are known in Chipewyan (Denesuline) as "People of the Great River" (Des Nëdhë́’iné), referencing Churchill River along its banks their traditional territory is located.[2][3]
Demographics
As of May 2012 the total membership of English River Dene First Nation was 1,451 with 774 members living on-reserve and 677 members living off-reserve.[4]
Territory
The English River Dene Nation based in Patuanak has territory at fifteen sites.[5][6]
- Cree Lake 192G on the south-west side of Cree Lake is 1607.40 hectares 57.3848°N 107.0644°W
- Cable Bay 192M on Cree Lake is 538.30 hectares
- Barkwell Bay 192I at the northern end of Cree Lake is 2344 hectares 57.6158°N 106.1000°W [7][5] One of the two sites at the south end may include the old Cree Lake settlement.
- Wapachewunak 192D is 1967 hectares. 55.9085°N 107.7138°W with 482 residents (Canada Census 2011).[8] It adjoins the northern hamlet of Patuanak
- La Plonge 192 is 9,487.20 hectares (23,443.4 acres) 55°12′34″N 107°35′23″W. The La Plonge settlement where the Beauval Residential School was located is across the river from the northern village of Beauval and had 115 residents in 2011.[9]
- Dipper Rapids 192C is 831.30 hectares (2,054.2 acres) 55°57′07″N 107°22′15.3″W and home of the Dipper Lake settlement where the Churchill River enters Dipper Lake[10]
- Elak Dase 192A 55.8742°N 106.7544°W is 1390.90 hectares on the east side of Knee Lake is home of the Knee Lake settlement[10] at the mouth of the Haultain River. 55.8543°N 106.7762°W
- English River 192H located on an island in Porter Lake is 42.90 hectares. 56.3347°N 107.3358°W
- Beauval Forks 192O 55.1011°N 107.7079°W is 1.40 hectares.
- Flatstone Lake 192L is 230.50 hectares. 56.2502°N 107.7180°W
- Haultain Lake 192K is 201.20 hectares. 56.8334°N 106.3678°W
- Grasswoods 192J 56.3347°N 107.3358°W is 54.4 hectares.
- Île-à-la-Crosse 192E is 5 miles east of Ile a la Crosse at the mouth of the Beaver River[10] on the shore of Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and is 6 hectares.
- Knee Lake 192B (north west shore of Knee Lake) is 487.20 hectares. 55.8613°N 107.0429°W
- Primeau Lake 192F home of the Primeau Lake settlement on Primeau Lake[10] is 1690 hectares. 55.8946°N 107.2429°W
Notable members
See also
References
- ^ "Meadow Lake Tribal Council". Archived from the original on March 23, 2012.
- ^ Des Nedhe Group, "Who we are". For generations, the local Dene people have used the word Des Nedhe to describe the “great river” that flows next to them – known today as the Churchill River in northern Saskatchewan. https://desnedhe.com/about/#board
- ^ English River First Nation Website, As ‘people of the river’ we are known for our bold and collaborative spirit and our self-sufficient and humble nature. https://erfn.net/
- ^ "AANDC (Registered Population)". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada.
- ^ "AANDC Reserves/Settlements/Villages". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada.
- ^ "About English River First Nation". Meadow Lake Tribal Tourism. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ^ "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Query by Geographical Name)". Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ^ "Canada Census 2011 (Wapachewunak 192D (Indian reserve))". 8 February 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- ^ "Canada Census 2011". 8 February 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
- ^ Marchildon, Gregory P. & Robinson, Sid (2002). Canoeing the Churchill: A Practical Guide to the Historic Voyageur Highway. University of Regina Press. p. 157. ISBN 978-0-88977-148-2.
- ^ Laing, Sarah (26 October 2022). "A platform where Indigenous artists can shine". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 12 November 2023.