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Chipewyan Prairie First Nation is an Athabascan
speaking people which call themselves Dene, meaning The People. The Dene has been
in the Athabasca region for thousands of years. They are Hunters and Gatherers
who have lived strictly on the Traditional Way of life and have migrated with
the Baron Caribou. Legends suggest that the Dene People migrated from South Central
North America to the North soon after the Ice Age ended. It is believed that some
groups such as the Apache, the Navajo, and Sarce, headed back South, spreading
through the mountains of California and along the West Coast into Arizona, where
the present day Apache are.
The Dogrib, Slavee and Loushoe, however, went further
into northern Canada
In the late 1700's and early 1800's, 9/10th's of the
Dene population was wiped out by epidemic small pox and Tribal warfare. Today,
the Chipewyan Nation consists of 27 Communities, with a population totaling 27,000
nation members in Northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the North West
Territories.
The Chipewyan Prairie First Nation Reserve is now located
120 S.E. of Fort McMurray, Alberta, where Chief and Council of Chipewyan Prairie
was the last band to sign treaty in 1922. In later years, 1933 the Reserve was
surveyed. Today, Chipewyan Prairie First Dene First Nation is negotiating comprehensive
Land Claim Agreements over the loss of use of Traditional Lands in the Cold Lake
Air Weapon Range. They are also in Negotiations for Mineral Rights in the new
additional Lands of the 1997 Settlement, where there are potential Oil Sands.
New additions to the Reserve through Land Claim Settlements
in 1997 consist of 6000 acres. The Chipewyan Prairie Traditional Lands covers
14,4000 square miles east of Athabasca River to the Saskatchewan border (present
day Fort McMurray) and South into the Primrose Bombing Range - SEE MAP. The Dene
people have made their living for the last 100 years through Traditional means
of hunting and gathering.
In the late 1960's - Oil, Natural Gas, and Tar Sands
were discovered in their Traditional Lands which had a huge impact on the Traditional
Way of life. Life changed rapidly, forcing the Chipewyan People to become dependant
on the Welfare System. Through 30 years of the negative impact of gas and oil
development, the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation has turned a Negative into Positive
through means of education and economic participation as well as working with
the Federal, Provincial Governments and industry. The Band is well on its way
to Independence and a brighter future.
Chipewyan Prairie still maintains Use of traditional
language, while also practicing age old ceremonies and story telling to strengthen
its history, identity.
Sadly, there is very little documented history about
this great tribe that had once controlled the majority of Northern Canada. What
history there is - recorded by explorers and was lacking substantial information,
and not by proper historians - Hudson Bay managers.
Chipewyan Prairie is participating with other Dene Communities
to establish a National Grand Council to educate Canada and the World about its
past and present history and how they have contributed through their Lands, knowledge
and Natural Resources to the great growth of Canada.
For more information contact Chief Walter Janvier of
Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation BEAR4619@yahoo.com
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