• Location
• Community Overview
• History
• Local Government
• Community Services
• Communications

Location

Fisher River is composed of two reserves, Fisher River 44 and Fisher River 44A. Fisher River 44 is located at  the south end of Fisher Bay and Fisher River 44A is approximately 3 km west and borders the north end of the Peguis reserve. Fisher River 44 and Fisher River 44A are located approximately 193 km (2 hours and 15 minutes) north of Manitoba’s capital city, Winnipeg.

Community Overview

The regional population statistics of December 31, 2006 shows that the on reserve population is 1709 and the off reserve population is 1389. The total population is approximately 3098.

The dominant language spoken in Fisher River is English. Cree is also spoken, mostly by the elders. Cree is the native language of the people in Fisher River. Some people also speak Ojibway.

Most of the people living in Fisher River are from North American Indian and Metis descent. There are also people with English, Scottish, French, Swedish and Ukrainian backgrounds.

There is commercial fishing in Fisher River and it is done in the spring and the fall.  The fishermen use commercial fishing boats and the fish are taken to a commercial fishing plant, such as the McBeth Fishery in Fisher River.  Some of the fish caught in Fisher River are Pickerel (Walleye), Mullet (Sucker), Northern Pike (Jack), Perch and Sauger.

History

Fisher River signed treaty on two separate occasions, originally the 1875 Norway House Treaty and the Treaty 5 adhesions in 1908, which brought more people into the Band. Treaty 5 says that the government obligations are as follows: reserves, 160 acres per family of five (100 acres per family of five at Fisher River), subject to Government’s right to deal with settlers on reserve lands; right to sell or lease reserve lands with consent of Indians and to appropriate reserve lands for federal public purposes, subject to compensation for improvements; rights to navigation of all lakes and rivers; free access to the shores thereof; schools; right to hunt and fish ceded area, subject to government regulations; control of liquor traffic. The treaty presents miscellaneous agricultural equipment, supplies etc.; flags, medals. Continuing benefits are – Annually - Indians $5.00, Chiefs $25.00, Headmen $15.00 and Ammunition & twine $1000.00. - Triennial – suit of clothes for chiefs and headmen.

After the Norway House Treaty was signed people started to settle in what is now Fisher River Cree Nation, but not until 1877 as a nearby Icelandic community had an outbreak of smallpox. When the quarantine was lifted, 43 families boarded York boats to come to Fisher River. Over 200 people made the 200 mile move south and through the 1880’s many more families from northern Manitoba joined the rest of the settlers in Fisher River. Homes were built right away and land to be used for farms was divided amongst the settlers. Farming techniques were adapted quickly, and people also took part in seasonal labour in the fishing and lumber industry.

Fisher River is named after the animal fisher, which belongs to the same family as weasels and skunks. Fisher River 44 is 13,694 acres (5,542 hectares) and Fisher River 44A is 1,920 acres (777 hectares) totalling 15,614 acres (6,319 hectares).

Local Government

The Chief and Council are elected representatives of the band members. The Chief and Council are the authorized local government and authority on the reserve. They promote the community’s culture and customs and have important planning functions. They set goals and objectives for the band, make and adopt policies and regulations which provide direction to the band employees and ensure that employees carry out their decisions.

The Chief and Council are responsible for local administration of community services for residents on band controlled land, including Housing, Roads, Sanitation and Social Assistance. The council is also responsible for the interests of band membership with regard to matters affecting Aboriginal Rights, Treaty Rights, Band Capital and Revenue Funds in Trust.

They may also deal with matters involving non-band members with respect to business and industrial interests, such as the regulation of Land Leases, Oil Royalties, Mineral Royalties, Lumber and Tourism.

Our band government consists of the Chief, David Crate and four Councillors; Dion McKay, Carl Cochrane, Vince Crate and Darrell Thaddeus.  These elected band officials will serve a two year term, beginning August 24, 2009, after which another election will be held.

 Community Services

Communications