View source for Enoch Cree Nation

{{Short description|Canadian First Nation}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox First Nation
| band_name             = Enoch Cree Nation
| band_number           = 440
| endonym               = {{noitalic|{{lang|cr-Cans|ᒪᐢᑫᑯᓯᕽ}}}}<br />{{lang|cr-Latn|maskêkosihk}}
| image                 = Enoch_Cree_Nation_logo.svg
| caption               = 
| map                   = CAN AB 212 STONY PLAIN INDIAN RESERVE -135.svg
| map_caption           = Location in Alberta
| people                = [[Cree]]
| treaty                = [[Treaty 6]]
| headquarters          = [[Enoch Cree Nation 135|Enoch]]
| province              = [[Alberta]]
| main_reserve          = [[Enoch Cree Nation 135]]
| reserve               = [[Enoch Cree Nation 135A]]
| area                  = 53.082
| pop_year              = October 2019
| on_reserve            = 1794
| on_other_land         = 43
| off_reserve           = 951
| total_pop             = 
| chief                 = Cody Thomas
| council               = 
* Kyle Peacock
* Jared Morin
* Ronald Morin Sr.
* Lyle (Geejoe) Morin
* Shane Peacock
* Councilman Jerome (Rocky) Morin Jr.
* Charlton Thomas
* Nola Wanuch
* Leigh Ann Ward
* John Thomas Jr.

| tribal_council        = 
| website               = {{official url}}
| footnotes             = <ref>{{Cite web|title=First Nation Detail|date=September 26, 2019|website=[[Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada]]|publisher=Government of Canada|url=https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNMain.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=440&lang=eng}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Enoch Cree Nation administration portrait.jpg|thumb|Administration building]]
The '''Enoch Cree Nation #440''' ({{langx|cr-Cans|ᒪᐢᑫᑯᓯᕽ}}, {{lang|cr-Latn|maskêkosihk}}) is a [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] [[band government]] in [[Alberta]], Canada. Members of the Nation are of [[Cree]] ancestry and speak the [[Plains Cree language|Plains Cree]] dialect of the [[Cree language]] group. The band is a signatory of [[Treaty 6]] and is a member of the [[Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations]]. The [[Tribal chief|chief]] of the Enoch Cree Nation is Cody Thomas.<ref>{{Cite web|last=pderas|title=Office of the Chief - Departments and Programs|url=https://enochnation.ca/portfolio-items/office-of-the-okimaw-chief-enoch-cree-nation/|access-date=2022-12-02|website=Enoch Cree Nation|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Location==

The Nation controls two [[Indian reserve|reserves]]: the larger reserve, [[Enoch Cree Nation 135]], is {{convert|20|sqmi|km2}} (20 [[Dominion Land Survey|sections]]) or officially {{convert|5306.20|ha|acre}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=pderas|title=About Us|url=https://enochnation.ca/about/|access-date=2022-01-30|website=Enoch Cree Nation|language=en-US}}</ref> and west of, and adjacent to, the City of [[Edmonton]] and surrounded by [[Parkland County]] on the north, west, and south. [[Alberta Highway 60]] cuts north–south through the centre of the reserve. The smaller reserve, [[Enoch Cree Nation 135A|135A]] is {{convert|2|ha|acre}} located {{convert|43|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the Town of [[Barrhead, Alberta|Barrhead]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Reserves/Settlements/Villages |url=https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNReserves.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=440&lang=eng |website=[[Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada]] |publisher=Government of Canada |date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>

==Population==

{{As of|October 2019}}, approximately 1,800 band members live on the larger reserve, while others reside elsewhere within the [[Edmonton Metropolitan Region]]. The total [[Indian Register|registered]] population of the Nation was 2,789 in September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population Characteristics |url=https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNPopulation.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=440&lang=eng  |website=[[Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada]] |publisher=Government of Canada |date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>

[[Statistics Canada]] in the [[Canada 2016 Census|2016 census]] refers to the reserve as "Stony Plain 135 Indian Reserve". At the time of the census, there were 1,690 residents on the reserve, up 71.2% from the 987 people found on the [[Canada 2011 Census|2011 census]].<ref name="sc2016">{{SCref|year=2016|type=prof|unit=csd|code=4811804}}</ref>

==History==
The Plains Cree people were [[hunter-gatherers]] roaming the [[Great Plains|Canadian plains]]. Once the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] created forts, the First Nations largely embraced the [[fur trade]]. [[Chief Lapotac]] was the earliest known leader of the Enoch Cree; he was probably descended from the Strongwood Cree, the original people of the Beaver River area east of [[Fort Edmonton]]. The Lapotac band was recognized by the Crown in 1842. When Chief Lapotac died in 1861, his son [[Thomas Lapotac]] became the Chief of the “Tommy’s Band”. In 1883 Chief Tommy Lapotac died and his brother [[Enoch Lapotac]] became chief. In 1884, Chief Enoch Lapotac joined other chiefs and signed Treaty 6. The result was the creation of "Tommy's Reserve".<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=Enoch Cree Nation History |url=http://www.enochecdev.ca/ecn-community-profile/ecn-history/ |publisher=River Cree Development Corporation |access-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-date=November 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129174002/http://www.enochecdev.ca/ecn-community-profile/ecn-history/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Goyette|first1=Linda|last2=Roemmich|first2=Carolina Jakeway|title=Edmonton in Our Own Words|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JRtWO4osCYYC&pg=PA417|date=April 2005|publisher=University of Alberta|isbn=978-0-88864-449-7|page=417}}</ref> Tommy's reserve, which became Indian Reserve No.&nbsp;135, the Stony Plain Indian Reserve, and finally Enoch Cree Nation, was originally 44 sections of land ({{cvt|44|sqmi|disp=or}}) including access to the [[North Saskatchewan River]] on the southeast corner.<ref name="Houle">{{cite web |last1=Houle |first1=Rob |title=The Curious Case of the 1908 Enoch Surrender |website=Edmonton City as Museum Project |date=November 15, 2016|url=https://citymuseumedmonton.ca/2016/11/15/the-curious-case-of-the-1908-enoch-surrender/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stony Plain. Treaty No. 6, N.W.T. Plan of Indian Reserve No. 135. Chief Tommy La Potac |url=http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/databases/indian-reserves/001004-119.02-e.php?&isn_id_nbr=2807&interval=20&page_sequence_nbr=1&&PHPSESSID=3c5q689mm0ldirbqka8mme3r21 |website=Indian Reserves – Western Canada |publisher=[[Library and Archives Canada]] |date=January 17, 2007}}</ref> The band's land mass was reduced by forced surrender in 1902 and 1908 to nearly half of its original size.<ref name="History"/> On January 20, 1902, the northern 12 sections (out of the original 44) were surrendered and sold to private (non-First Nation) buyers.<ref name="Houle"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Treaty No. 6, North West Territories. Plan showing subdivision survey of the north part of the Stony Plain Indian Reserve No. 135, for which a surrender was taken from Chief Enoch's band on 20th January, 1902 |website=Indian Reserves – Western Canada |publisher=Library and Archives Canada |date=January 17, 2007 |url=http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/databases/indian-reserves/001004-119.02-e.php?&isn_id_nbr=65&interval=50&page_sequence_nbr=1&&PHPSESSID=3c5q689mm0ldirbqka8mme3r21}}</ref> On May 13, 1908, 10 additional sections on the east side, including river access, were surrendered.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plan of Stony Plain Indian Reserve No. 135 in Township 52, R's. 25 and 26, W. of the 4th, showing surrendered portion |website=Indian Reserves – Western Canada |publisher=Library and Archives Canada |date=January 17, 2007 |url=http://www.lac-bac.gc.ca/databases/indian-reserves/001004-119.02-e.php?&isn_id_nbr=66&interval=50&page_sequence_nbr=1&&PHPSESSID=3c5q689mm0ldirbqka8mme3r21}}</ref> The legitimacy of the surrender was questioned and it took until July 29, 1908, for the government to officially accept it. It is disputed whether the band received fair market value for their surrendered land or were even compensated at all.<ref name="Houle"/>

==Economy==
[[File:River Cree Casino sign.jpg|thumb|River Cree Resort and Casino]]
Once the band entered the reserve, their economy was largely based on agriculture. [[Petroleum|Oil]] was discovered on the reserve in 1947 and became a major source of band funding. The fall in oil prices oil 1986 lead the band to look for new revenue sources.<ref name="History"/> In October 2006 the  Nation opened the River Cree Resort and Casino, a {{CAD}}180-million [[casino]], hotel and sports complex located on the northeast corner of the larger reserve, adjacent to the City of Edmonton.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://paragongaming.com/developments-properties/river-cree-resort-and-casino/ |title=River Cree Resort & Casino |website=Paragon Gaming |access-date=November 22, 2019 |archive-date=October 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030024225/http://paragongaming.com/developments-properties/river-cree-resort-and-casino/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Environment==
In 2014, the band entered negotiations with the [[Government of Canada|Canadian Crown]] regarding [[Indigenous specific land claims in Canada|land claim settlements]] over the use of reserve land by the [[Department of National Defence (Canada)|Department of Defence]] as a bombing range during the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Bomb Hazard: An Alberta First Nation's land may be littered with unexploded WWII ordnance |work=[[National Post]] |first=Jen |last=Gerson |date=May 2, 2014 |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/bomb-hazard-an-alberta-first-nations-land-may-be-littered-with-unexploded-wwii-ordnance}}</ref> In 2020, the two parties reached a $91 million settlement (equivalent to ${{Inflation|CA|91|2020|r=1|fmt=c}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|CA}}) to address trauma, cleanup of the "100,000 munitions were dropped between 1942 and 1944", and lost income from a band golf course that was closed in 2014 for safety reasons.<ref>{{cite news |title=$91M settlement over WW II federal bombing range 'way forward' for Enoch Cree Nation, says chief |first=Kyle |last=Muzyka |work=[[CBC News]] |date=2020-11-23 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/yekau-lake-bombing-range-enoch-cree-1.5808167 |access-date=2023-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206161141/https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/yekau-lake-bombing-range-enoch-cree-1.5808167 |archive-date=2022-12-06 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Ashley Callingbull-Burnham]], actress, winner of Miss Universe Canada 2024<ref name="missuniversecanada.ca">{{cite web|url=http://missuniversecanada.ca/2013-national-finalists/ashley-callingbull/|title=Ashley Callingbull|publisher=Miss Universe Canada|access-date=December 20, 2015}}</ref>
*[[Bill LaForge]], ice hockey coach<ref name="obituary">{{cite news|last=Gallagher|first=Danny|title=Bill LaForge, Hockey Coach|newspaper=[[The Globe and Mail]]|location=Toronto|pages=S9|date=June 25, 2005|agency=[[Canadian Press]]|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/laforge-53-coached-canucks/article4118684/}}</ref><ref name="nanaimo">{{cite news|agency=Canadian Press|title=LaForge Stresses Emotion|newspaper=Nanaimo Daily News|location=Nanaimo, British Columbia|page=11|publisher=Publisher Extra Newspapers|date=May 19, 1984|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/326006853/}}</ref>
*[[Crystle Lightning]], musician

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.rivercreeresort.com/ River Cree Resort and Casino]
* {{cite cgndb|IBAEO|Enoch Cree Nation 135}}
* {{cite cgndb|IBADA|Stony Plain 135A}}

{{coord|53|28|59|N|113|45|6|W|display=title}}
{{First Nations in Alberta}}
{{Numbertreaty|treaty=6}}

[[Category:First Nations governments in Alberta]]
[[Category:Cree governments]]
[[Category:Enoch Cree Nation| ]]