The Kinistin Saulteaux Nation (Ojibwe: Gidishkoniganinaan)[2] is a Saulteaux band government in Saskatchewan. Their reserve is 39 kilometres (24 mi) southeast of Melfort. The Kinistin Saulteaux Nation is a signatory of Treaty No. 4, which was signed by Chief Yellow-quill on August 24, 1876.
People | Saulteaux |
---|---|
Treaty | Treaty 4 |
Headquarters | Tisdale |
Province | Saskatchewan |
Land[1] | |
Main reserve | Kinistin 91 |
Other reserve(s) | |
Land area | 41.48 km2 |
Population (2019)[1] | |
On reserve | 339 |
Off reserve | 750 |
Total population | 1089 |
Government[1] | |
Chief | Felix Thomas |
Tribal Council[1] | |
Saskatoon Tribal Council | |
Website | |
kinistin.sk.ca |
Total registered population in February, 2009, was 913, of which the on-reserve population was 328 members. The First Nation is a member of the Saskatoon Tribal Council and have their urban offices in Saskatoon as well as their Tribal Council offices.
The First Nation was originally part of the Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band, a Treaty Band named after a Treaty 4 signatory Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi, whose name means "Green/Blue-quill." However, due to "š" merging with "s" in Nakawēmowin (Saulteaux language), this led to a mistranslation of his name as "Yellow-quill"—"yellow" being osāw-, while "green/blue" being ošāwaško- (or osāwasko- in Saulteaux). Kinistin is named after Chief Kiništin ("Cree"), one of the headmen for Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi. Chief Kiništin came to Saskatchewan from Western Ontario along with his two brothers, Miskokwanep ("Red [Crow-]Feather") and Mehcihcākanihs ("Coyote"). In 1901, lands were set aside for the Kinistin Band. Soon after the death of Chief Ošāwaškokwanēpi, the Yellow-quill Saulteaux Band divided into three groups, with the group originally headed by Chief Kiništin becoming the Kinistin Saulteaux Nation.
The First Nation have reserved for themselves three reserves:
Kinistin have an elected tribal council consisting of a chief and five councilors. The current council for the two-year-long electoral term ending in April 2019, consists of Chief Felix Thomas and Councillors Wayne J. Thomas, Joseph Smokeyday, Cecil McNab and Craig Thomas.
52°35′56″N 104°13′37″W / 52.59889°N 104.22694°W