Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan

Summary

Pelican Narrows (Woods Cree: ᐅᐹᐏᑯᐢᒋᑲᓂᕽ, romanized: opâwikoscikanihk, lit.'The Narrows of Fear') is a northern village in the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan, Canada. Its location is on Pelican Lake about 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Creighton by the Hanson Lake Road and Highway 135.

Pelican Narrows
ᐅᐹᐏᑯᐢᒋᑲᓂᕽ
opâwikoscikanihk
Surrounding lakes
Surrounding lakes
Pelican Narrows is located in Saskatchewan
Pelican Narrows
Pelican Narrows
Location of Pelican Narrows in Saskatchewan
Pelican Narrows is located in Canada
Pelican Narrows
Pelican Narrows
Pelican Narrows (Canada)
Coordinates: 55°11′18″N 102°56′03″W / 55.18833°N 102.93417°W / 55.18833; -102.93417[2]
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
DistrictNorthern Saskatchewan Administration District
Census Division18
Post office established1949
Area
 (2021)[3]
 • Northern village2.40 km2 (0.93 sq mi)
Elevation
 (airport)[4]
385 m (1,264 ft)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Northern village
123
 • Northern village density51.3/km2 (133/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
Postal code
S0P 0E0
[5][6]

The community is northwest of the narrows that join Mirond and Pelican Lakes, which lie between the Sturgeon-Weir and Churchill River systems. Pelican Narrows is the administrative headquarters for the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, a member of the Prince Albert Grand Council, and the majority of the townsite is reserve land. The community consists of the Northern Village of Pelican Narrows and Pelican Narrows 184B and Pelican Narrows 206 Indian Reserve. Together they formed a population centre of about 2,133 people in 2021.[7]

History edit

The Cree settlement dates from at least 1730. It was an area of trade for the Hudson's Bay and North West companies. In 1874, the Hudson's Bay Company established a permanent post at Pelican Narrows.[8][9] This became a Northern Store in 1987 which remains open to this day.

Roman Catholic missionaries were traversing the area from the mid-19th century and established a permanent mission in 1878.[10] Anglican missionaries arrived in the late 1890s and built a church in 1911. Schoolchildren were sent away for a number of years.

In 1967, an all-weather road was built into the community and other services followed.[11]

Demographics edit

In the 2021 Canadian census conducted by Statistics Canada, the Northern Village of Pelican Narrows had a population of 123 living in 30 of its 34 total private dwellings, a change of -30.9% from its 2016 population of 178. With a land area of 2.4 km2 (0.93 sq mi), it had a population density of 51.3/km2 (132.7/sq mi) in 2021.[3]

Pelican Narrows (population centre) with a population of 2,133[7] consists of the Northern Village of Pelican Narrows with 123 people[3] and Pelican Narrows 184B, an reserve of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation with 1,837 people.[12]

2,460 people identified Cree as their mother tongue in 2011.[7]

Infrastructure edit

Events edit

An annual walleye fishing derby takes place every year in July. Every year, an event known as "Annual Pelican Narrows Winter Festival" takes place. Currently, as of 2023, the Winter Festival has taken place from February 27th to March 12th.

Education edit

Schools include the Wapanacak Elementary School and the Wapawikoscikan School (Opawikoscikan Community School) which is home of the Tawowikamik Public Library.[14]

History edit

Bitter Embrace: White Society’s Assault on the Woodland Cree is a history of the Pelican Narrows region including interviews with local residents.[15]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Search for Municipal Information". Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Pelican Narrows". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  3. ^ a b c d "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Pelican Narrows, Northern village (NV), Saskatchewan [Census subdivision]". February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Canada Flight Supplement. Effective 0901Z 16 July 2020 to 0901Z 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ National Archives, Archivia Net. "Post Offices and Postmasters". Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  6. ^ Government of Saskatchewan, MRD Home. "Municipal Directory System". Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Pelican Narrows: Saskatchewan [Population centre]". February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SASKATCHEWAN (list of forts in Northern Saskatchewan)". Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  9. ^ "History of Ballantyne Cree Nation (The Fur Trade)". Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  10. ^ Adamson, Julia (February 16, 2013). "Saskatchewan Roman Catholic Churches ~ Online Parish Registers ~ History". Saskatchewan Gen Web. Ancestry.com. Retrieved February 13, 2013.
  11. ^ Marchildon, Greg; Robinson, Sid (2002). Canoeing the Churchill A Practical Guide to the Historic Voyageur Highway. Regina: University of Regina. pp. 329–334. ISBN 0-88977-148-0.
  12. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Profile table - Pelican Narrows 184B, Indian reserve (IRI), Saskatchewan [Census subdivision]". February 1, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "Health Pelican Narrows". Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  14. ^ Prince Albert Grand Council
  15. ^ Bitter Embrace: White Society’s Assault on the Woodland Cree