About Us
The Onion Lake Cree Nation is situated 50 kilometers north of Lloydminster,
Saskatchewan and Alberta's Border City, at the junction of Highway #17 and
secondary Highway #797. Onion Lake Cree Nation is the only Cree Nation which
straddles a provincial border. The community landmass of 21254.6 hectares is
divided in two sections: Makaoo and Seekaskootch. Onion Lake First Nation is
an independent band, Treaty #6 Territory.
History
The Cree band joined Treaty #6 on September 9, 1876 at Fort Pitt,
Saskatchewan. At the time of signing, the band did not have a chief and band
councilor, Makaoo, was appointed to sign. Makaoo and his people settled near
a lake that came to be known as Onion Lake.
Many Legends exist in relation to the naming of the lake. One story relates
the name to wild onions growing in abundance around the lake. ‘The name came
from a lake in the middle of the reserve; the lake in turn got its name from
the onions as a sort of spring tonic after a winter of moose, deer, and
buffalo meat.’ (What’s In A Name, E.T. Russel, 1981).
Following the signing of Treaty #6 in 1876, Seekaskootch became Chief. He
participated in the surveying of Seekaskootch Reserve, which established in
1889 northwest of Fort Pitt. Seekaskootch was killed in the 1885 rebellion
at Steele Narrows while attempting to make peace. He was unarmed at his
death.
Seekashootch and Weemisticooseahwis (Makaoo) bands amalgamated on January
16, 1914 and became the Onion Lake Band. Historically, band members made
their living at ranching hunting, trapping, and fishing.
Onion Lake is the largest Treaty Land Entitlement Reserve in Saskatchewan
and the first reserve created under the Saskatchewan Claims and
Implementation Act: Bill C-37.
Today Onion Lake Cree Nation is a continually growing membership with and
estimated 4956 (2010 PCD list) band members, 3000 of which are living on
reserve.
Land Mass
Onion Lake Cree Nation is located 50 kilometers north of Lloydminster and is
situated over the Saskatchewan and Alberta border with approximately 70% of
the reserve located on the Saskatchewan side. Onion Lake Cree Nation had a
total of 55000 acres before the TLE process; today Onion Lake has a total of
159000 acres of reserve land which is contiguous and extends to the north of
the existing reserve. Below is a map of the exising land mass currently
owned by the Onion Lake Band.
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Green - Forest Management Agreement
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Yellow - Fee Simple Lands
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Pink - Reserve
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White - Onion Lake Treaty Land Entitlement
