Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation

Chief

Name

Larry Davis Ahenakew B.A.

Address

PO Box 220
Shell Lake, SK
S0J 2G0

Phone

306-468-2326

Fax

306-468-2344

Website

Ahtahkakoop

Council

Ben Ahenakew
Lanny S. Ahenakew
Russell S. Ahenakew
Dean Generaux
James Isbister
Patricia Isbister
David Masuskapoe
Chad Peekeekoot
Rodney Sasakamoose
Stanley Sasakamoose
Evan Williams
Cindy Williams-Johnstone

HISTORY

Chief AHTAHKAKOOP signed TREATY 6 at Fort Carlton on August 23, 1876. He wished to have a reserve adjoining Mistawasis on the GREEN LAKE Trail at Sandy Lake, as his band already had houses and gardens there. The reserve was surveyed in the summer and fall of 1878, but when the survey was completed the reserve was neither in the location nor of the size that had been advised to the surveyors. Chief Ahtahkakoop died on December 4, 1896, and Basil Starblanket became chief. The land at Sandy Lake was fertile, and though the band suffered many hardships and setbacks, progress was made. The 1929 fall in market prices, followed by prolonged DROUGHT, forced people off reserve as they sought employment clearing land and helping on farms. The first church was built in 1874, and Reverend Hines started the first school in 1876. The band's infrastructure includes a school, workshop, warehouse, police station, RCMP residences, fire hall, health clinic, band hall, arena, gymnasium, daycare, the Lonesome Pine Convenience Store, the Indian Child and Family Services Agency, and the CREENations Treatment Centre. In 2000 the band-owned Ahtahkakoop Publishing Company published its first book, Ahtahkakoop: The Epic Account of a CREE Head Chief, His People, and Their Struggle for Survival, 1816-1896. Currently there are 2,706 registered members, with 1,440 people living on their 17,347-hectare reserve 72 km northwest of PRINCE ALBERT.

Chief & Council Strategic Goals & Objectives

MISSION
Protect, preserve, and exert our Treaty and Inherent Rights, reflect the Nêhiyaw Values and Tipi Teachings in everything we do, and work together to improve the quality of life of our people and community.

VISION
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation is a safe, healthy, and prosperous community rooted in Nêhiyaw culture, traditions, and values: “Let us not think of ourselves, but of our children’s children”

VALUES
Respect – kistêyihtamowin – ᑭᐢᑌᔨᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ
Protocol: age-appropriate conduct – ka-ispitisihk isîhcikêwin – ᑲ ᐃᐢᐱᑎᓯᕁ  ᐃᓰᐦᒋᑫᐃᐧᐣ
Humility – tapahtêyimisowin – ᑕᐸᐦᑌᔨᒥᓱᐃᐧᐣ
Sharing and Generosity – nikwatisiwin êkwa mâtinamâkêwin – ᓂᑲᐧᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ  ᐁᑲᐧ  ᒫᑎᓇᒫᑫᐃᐧᐣ
Faith – tâpokêyihtamowin – ᑖᐳᑫᔨᐦᑕᒧᐃᐧᐣ
Kindness – kisêwâtisiwin – ᑭᓭᐋᐧᑎᓯᐃᐧᐣ
Passing on teachings – âniskô-kiskinwahamâkêwin – ᐋᓂᐢᑰ ᑭᐢᑭᓇᐧᐦᐊᒫᑫᐃᐧᐣ

CHIEF & COUNCIL STRATEGIC GOALS

Promote, protect and enhance the Treaty Rights of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Members.
Align Ahtahkakoop's organizational development in a manner that strengthens First Nations governance and builds community capacity that will position the Nation and it's people to thrive and succeed in a competitive global economy.
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will maximize opportunities to develop, own and manage it's resources to generate wealth and sustainability for the community and it's members.
In the spirit of Treaty and as intended by our forefathers, Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation acknowledges that we live in a complex and interdependent society and that it must continue to build and grow strong relationships with other First Nations; Indigenous and non-Indigenous, industry and other levels of governments and organizations to promote it's opportunities, contributions and successes, and to secure Ahtahkakoop's position as a governance and business leader.
Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will seize it's competitive advantage by maximizing it's human resource potential.
Hold in-trust and safeguard existing and acquired property for the benefit of the Ahtahkakoop Band Membership.

CHIEF & COUNCIL OBJECTIVES

Adopt or develop a Treaty Six position paper.
Implement a process to begin establishing bylaws.
Introduce and implement a Governance Policy and Convention Act.

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Ahtahkakoop Administration
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 2G0
Phone: (306) 468-2326
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Bingo
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 2G)
Phone: (306) 468-4279
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Child & Family Services Inc
PO Box 10
Mont Nebo, Saskatchewan S0J 1X0
Phone: (306) 468-2520
Fax: (306) 468-2524

Ahtahkakoop Christian Academy
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, SK S0J 2G0
Phone: (306) 468-3065
Fax:(306) 468-3065

Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments LLP.
PO Box 569
Canwood, SK S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-2507
Fax: (306) 468-2508

Ahtahkakoop Daycare Centre
PO Box 411
Canwood, SK S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-2998
Fax: (306) 468-2997

Ahtahkakoop Education
PO Box 280
Canwood, Saskatchewan S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-2854
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Fire Hall
C/O Ahtahkakoop Administration
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-5000
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop General Store
PO Box 569
Canwood, Saskatchewan S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-3094
Fax: (306) 468-3095

Ahtahkakoop Head Start
C/O Ahtahkakoop Administration
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-2323
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Health Centre
PO Box 64
Mont Nebo, Saskatchewan S0J 1X0
Phone: (306) 468-2747
Fax: (306) 468-2967

Ahtahkakoop Holistic Wellness Centre
PO Box 64
Mont Nebo, Saskatchewan, S0J 1X0
Phone (306) 468-2027
Fax (306) 468-2028
Ahtahkakoop Holistic Wellness Facebook

Ahtahkakoop Housing & CMHC
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 1X0
Phone: (306) 468-3013
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Justice Department
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 1X0
Phone: (306) 468-3013
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 1X0
Phone: (306) 468-3013
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Ahtahkakoop Post-Secondary Education
PO Box 190
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 2G0
Phone: (306) 468-3013
Fax: (306) 468-2275

Ahtahkakoop School
PO Box 280
Canwood, Saskatchewan S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-2854
Fax: (306) 468-2661

Ahtahkakoop Social Development (BATC)
C/O Ahtahkakoop Administration
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 2G0
Phone: (306) 468-2441
Fax: (306) 468-2500

CKRE Radio Station
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 2G0
Phone: (306) 468-3126
Fax: (306) 468-2344

Cree Nations Treatment Haven
PO Box 340
Canwood, Saskatchewan S0J 0K0
Phone: (306) 468-2072
Fax: (306) 468-2758

Fred Sasakamoose Rec Centre
C/O Ahtahkakoop Administration
PO Box 220
Shell Lake, Saskatchewan S0J 2G0
Phone: (306) 468-3082
Fax: (306) 468-2344

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HISTORY BEHIND THE FLAG

The flag of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation was officially commissioned on September 15, 1994 and was designed by Willard Ahenakew, great, great grandson of Chief Ahtahkakoop. The flag design references the Cree name “Ahtahkakoop” which translated into English means Star Blanket. There are 276 stars representing the number of ancestors of the first Treaty 6 pay list of 1876, with 133 larger stars representing the men and women, and 143 stars representing the children. The Sun, Thunderbird, Medicine Staff and Buffalo represents important emblems of the Plains Cree culture. The night our namesake was born, it is said that the sky was unusually bright with many, many stars and thus he was given the name “Ahtahkakoop”.

Significance of the Four Emblems: The number four (4) is very significant to Plains Cree Culture. It represents the four directions, the four winds, the four seasons, the four stages of life of Baby, Youth, Adult and Elder, etc. Within the flag are the four most important emblems of Plains Cree Culture and these are:

THE SUN

The Sun is depicted by the round yellow circle. The Plains Cree name is Kisikaw-Pisim. Its main being as “The Helper of the Creator” - interpretation to Cree is Kihc-Oskapewis. Giver of daylight,. Giver of Growth. Giver of Warmth. Giver of Life.

CHIEF THUNDERBIRD

Chief Thunderbird is depicted by the yellow spread eagle. The Plains Cree name is Okimaw-Piyasiw. Helper of the Creator. Giver of cleanliness. Giver of Life. Giver of Water. Giver of Growth.

OLD MAN WIND

Old Man Wind is depicted by the Medicine Staff. The Plains Cree name is Kisenapew-Yotin. The “Helper of the Creator”. Giver of movement. Giver of life (lungs). Giver of Breath. Giver of Growth.

OLD MAN BUFFALO

Old Man Buffalo is depicted by the buffalo images. The Plains Cree name is Kisenapew-Mostos. Giver of livelihood. Giver of Shelter (teepees). Giver of Food. Giver of Tools. The buffalo emblem also represents the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation as Plains Cree Buffalo Hunters.