Chief and Council of Cowessess First Nation strives to enhance the quality of life of all members of the Cowessess First Nation through the protection and enhancement of Treaty Rights and the provision of effective services through the development and implementation of existing and new programs.
ABOUT COWESSESS FIRST NATION
Founding
Chief Cowessess (Ka-wezauce, “Little Boy”) adhered to Treaty 4 on September 15, 1874, on the Hudson’s Bay Company reserve, at the southeastern end of Echo Lake, with his Saulteaux, Cree, and Métis followers.
1850’s
While several band members settled there under O’Soup, Cowessess and his followers remained in the Hills until the spring of 1883.
1900s-1950s
The Roman Catholic Mission was called Crooked Lake Mission until the community was granted a post office under the name Marieval in 1908.
1800s
They remained nomadic until 1878–79, when they began farming near Maple Creek in the Cypress Hills, and in 1880 a reserve was surveyed for them at Crooked Lake.
1900s
Education was always a priority: the first log school house was built in 1880 by the Oblate fathers; Cowessess Indian residential school opened in 1898; and Lakeside Day School was built in 1934.
Today
The 21,488-ha Cowessess Reserve is 13 km northwest of Broadview, and an additional 257.1-ha reserve (73A) is situated 31 km west of Esterhazy. There are 3,266 band members, 597 of whom live on reserve.
Snapshot of Cowessess
Treaty signing
Acres of land
Population
Treaty
Office of the Chief
Chief and Council of Cowessess First Nation strives to enhance the quality of life of all members of the Cowessess First Nation through the protection and enhancement of Treaty Rights and the provision of effective services through the development and implementation of existing and new programs.
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