View source for Skownan First Nation

{{Redirect-distinguish-text|Waterhen First Nation|the [[Waterhen Lake First Nation]] in Saskatchewan}}{{Infobox First Nation
| band_name = Skownan First Nation
| band_number = 281
| people = [[Saulteaux]]
| treaty = [[Treaty 2]]
| headquarters = Skownan, Manitoba
| main_reserve = [[Waterhen 45]]
| pop_year = 2015
| on_reserve = 750
| total_pop = 1,464
| chief = Cameron Cacheway
| tribal_council = [[West Region Tribal Council]]
| website = {{URL|skofn.com}}
}}
'''Skownan First Nation''' ({{langx|oj|Ishkwaawinaaning}})<ref>Andy Thomas Thomas, Florence Paynter. The Significance of Creating First Nation
Traditional Names Maps. Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Inc. [https://mfnerc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-Significance-of-Creating-First-Nation-Traditional-Names-Maps.pdf https://mfnerc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/The-Significance-of-Creating-First-Nation-Traditional-Names-Maps.pdf]</ref> is a [[Saulteaux]] ([[Ojibwe]]) [[First Nations in Canada|First Nation]]s [[band government]] whose reserve community, [[Waterhen Indian Reserve No. 45|Waterhen 45]], is located 288&nbsp;km north of [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], Canada,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/RVDetail.aspx?RESERVE_NUMBER=06395&lang=eng|title=Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Reserve/Settlement/Village Detail|access-date=2014-05-01|website=[[Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada]]|publisher=Government of Canada|df=}}</ref> on the south shore of [[Waterhen Lake (Manitoba)|Waterhen Lake]], between [[Lake Winnipeg]] and [[Lake Winnipegosis]].<ref>{{cite cgndb|id=GBPHY|name=Waterhen 45}}</ref> As of May, 2015, the First Nation had 1,464 registered members, of which 750 lived on-reserve.<ref name="Skownan First Nation">{{cite web|url=http://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNMain.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=281&lang=eng|title=AANDC (Aboriginal Peoples & Communities) First Nation Profiles|publisher=Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada|accessdate=17 June 2015}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051229010856/http://sdiprod2.inac.gc.ca/FNProfiles/FNProfiles_GeneralInformation.asp?BAND_NUMBER=281&BAND_NAME=Skownan+First+Nation INAC Registered Population for Skownan First Nation]</ref>

The Skownan First Nation is a member of the [[West Region Tribal Council]].<ref name="Skownan First Nation "/>

Skownan First Nation also owns and operates a local radio station, known as 98.7 SKO FM. The radio station services the community.

==History==
Originally, the First Nation was known as the '''Waterhen River Band of Saulteaux''' and later simply as '''Waterhen First Nation''' (not to be confused with the Waterhen Lake Band of Cree in Saskatchewan, known today as the [[Waterhen Lake First Nation]]). The Skownan First Nation is a signatory to [[Treaty 2]]. Their name comes from ''Ne-biimiskonaan'', meaning 'to turn around the point' or 'turning point' in the [[Anishinaabe language]].

==Governance==
The Skownan First Nation elect their council on a now four*-year term under the authority of the Act Electoral System.  The current Chief is Cameron Catcheway; the Councillors are Ken Catcheway, Sterling Catcheway, Jimmy Chartrand and Charlotte Nepinak. The Chief and Councillors' terms began on November 3, 2016 and will expire on November 5, 2020.<ref name="Skownan First Nation "/>

The First Nation is a member of [[West Region Tribal Council]], a regional [[Tribal Council|tribal council]].<ref name="Skownan First Nation" />

===List of Chiefs===
{| class="wikitable"
!Period
!Chief
!Notes
|-
|1871
|Francois/Broken Fingers
|signatory of [[Treaty 2]]
|-
|1872–1885
|Katahkahwaynaas
|
|-
|1885–1922
|Baptiste O'kitchekeshowenin/Nepinak
|
|-
|1922–1950
|Hermus Nepinak
|
|-
|1951–1955
|Alex Catcheway
|terms 1-2
|-
|1955–1959
|Moise Catcheway
|terms 1-2
|-
|1959–1961
|Alex Catcheway
|term 3
|-
|1961–1963
|Joe Catcheway
|
|-
|1963–1965
|Carl Gabriel
|
|-
|1965–1967
|Alphonse Catcheway
|
|-
|1967–1969
|Moise Catcheway
|term 3
|-
|1969–1971
|Donald Catcheway
|
|-
|1971–1979
|Moise Catcheway
|terms 4-7
|-
|1979–1983
|Harvey Nepinak
|terms 1-2
|-
|1983–1987
|Larry Catagas
|
|-
|1987–1999
|Harvey Nepinak
|terms 3-8
|-
|1999–2003
|Bernard Catcheway
|terms 1-2
|-
|2003–2005
|Robert Lavallee
|
|-
|2005–2010
|Harvey Nepinak
|terms 9-11.5
|-
|2010–''incumbent''
|Cameron Catcheway
|
|}

==Reserves==
The Skownan First Nation has only one [[Indian reserve]], the 1,856.7-hectare [[Waterhen Indian Reserve No. 45]].<ref name="Skownan First Nation" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNMain.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=281&lang=eng AANDC profile]
* [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Details/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4619069&Geo2=PR&Code2=46&Data=Count&SearchText=skownan&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom= Statistics Canada's 2006 Census for Waterhen 45]
* [http://www.westmanitoba.com/skownan.htm Skownan First Nation History from West Manitoba Genealogy]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100305010808/http://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Newsroom/PracticallySpeaking/20080509SkownanVisionSeekers.htm Seeing the path: the Skownan Vision Seekers Initiative]
* [http://geodepot.statcan.gc.ca/GeoSearch2011-GeoRecherche2011/GeoSearch2011-GeoRecherche2011.jsp?lang=E&otherLang=F&searchGeocode=4619069&layerSelected=csd&searchTheme=GeoCode&searchPass=2&boundaryType= Map of Waterhen 45 at Statcan]

{{First Nations in the Northern Region of Manitoba}}
{{Numbertreaty|treaty=2}}
{{MBDivision19}}

[[Category:West Region Tribal Council]]
[[Category:First Nations governments in Manitoba]]
[[Category:Saulteaux]]