Split Lake Cree First Nation
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SPLIT LAKE CREE FIRST NATION Analysis of Change Split Lake Cree Post Project Environmental Review VOLUME ONE: August 1996 Traditional fishing using hand-woven nets and birch bark canoes. his document is one of a Tseries of studies being used in the planning of hydroelectric development on the Birthday/Gull reach of the Nelson River. It forms part of the Post Project Environmental Review as described in Article 2.8.3(b) of the 1992 Split Lake Cree nfa Implementation Agreement. Manitoba Hydro provided the funding and technical equipment required for the development of this study, as part of its responsibilities under the 1992 Agreement. By mutual agreement, Split Lake Cree First Nation has taken lead responsibility for the production of the paper, with periodic review and comment by Manitoba Hydro representatives. the study is largely based on interviews conducted in the Cree language with Split Lake Cree Elders and adults, in which testimony was provided about many important developments in the life of the people. Video tapes of these interviews are Dedicated to the memory of available at the Tataskweyak Trust Elder Samuel Garson, Secretariat Office in Split Lake. Split Lake Cree. Contents of this report may be reproduced without permission, provided appropriate credits are given. notice to reader The views and interpretations in this report are exclusively those of the Split Lake Cree. While Manitoba Hydro funded this report and contributed photographs and maps, the Corporation does not necessarily agree with, nor is it bound by all of the historical interpretations contained in it. Table of Contents Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Acknowledgements Adapting to Outside Advent of the Modern Era Preface .......................................10 Influences Split Lake in the 1960s....49 Split Lake in the 1920s, Resource Harvesting Introduction 1930s and 1940s.................33 and the Economy..........................49 Background .................................12 Hudson Bay Railway....................35 Community Development ..............50 Context .......................................17 Resource Harvesting, the Economy, New Communities........................51 and Government Involvement........35 Hydroelectric Development ...........52 Chapter 1 Registered Trapline System Community Governance ................54 Split Lake Cree Early Established .................................36 Conclusion...................................54 Community Development History...................................19 ..............37 Community Governance Pre-contact..................................19 ................41 Chapter 6 Early settlements .........................20 Conclusion...................................42 Environmental and Social Community Establishment............22 Disruption Chapter 4 Treaty 5 Adhesion........................24 Split Lake in the 1970s....55 Traditional Lifestyle Resource Harvesting Chapter 2 Changes and the Economy..........................55 Traditional Life Continues Split Lake in the 1950s....43 Community Development..............57 at Split Lake into Resource Harvesting Hydroelectric Development and the Economy..........................43 Accelerates..................................58 the 20th Century...............27 Community Development..............45 The Northern Flood Committee Resource Harvesting and Negotiation of the and the Economy Community Governance ................46 ..........................28 Northern Flood Agreement............59 Community Development First Hydroelectric Development....47 ..............30 Hydro Project Impacts .................60 Community Governance Conclusion...................................48 ................31 Community Governance ................63 Conclusion...................................64 Split Lake Trading Post. Chapter 7 Appendix 1 Figure 5: Split Lake Cree Land Use Decade of Uncertainty Wildlife Harvesting Calendar ........................opposite 17 and Reconstruction Figure 6: Split Lake Cree Traditional Impacts..................................84 Use Area, Settlements, Outcamps, Split Lake in the 1980s....65 Subsistence Harvesting Impacts ....84 Trails and Routes .............follows 32 Resource Harvesting Commercial Fishing Impacts.........85 Figure 7: Split Lake Registered and the Economy..........................65 Trapping Impacts .......................87 Trapline Zone .................opposite 33 Community Development..............67 Conclusion...................................88 Figure 8: Extent of Split Lake Road to Split Lake .......................68 Community Development in .. Appendix 2 1966 51 Impacts of Hydroelectric Figure 9: Effects of Kettle Generating Development Continue..................68 Summary of Northern Station on Moose Nose Lake Reach 59 Flood Agreement Benefits Northern Flood Agreement Figure 10: Split Lake Water Regime: Implementation ...........................69 Overview ....................................89 Average Monthly Water Levels for Community Governance ................71 1975 to 1992 ...............................89 Pre and Post LWD-CDR Periods .....63 Conclusion...................................71 1992 Agreement...........................90 Figure 11: Extent of Split Lake Community Development in 1995 ..75 Endnotes...............................93 Chapter 8 Figure 12: Split Lake Fish Community Renewal Bibliography ........................95 Harvests–1954/55 to 1992/93 .......86 Split Lake in the First Half Figure 13: Split Lake Registered List of Figures Trapline Zone: Value of Furs / of the 1990s..........................73 Figure 1: Components and Phases of Number of Trappers–1951/52 to Community Development..............73 the Post Project Environmental 1993/94 ......................................87 Northern Flood Agreement Review........................................15 - Tables Implementation ...........................74 Figure 2: Map to Split (aT tas que) Hydroelectric Development Effects.75 Lake, drawn by Cha chay pay way ti, Table 1: Split Lake Cree First Nation Chiefs since 1937 .........................79 Community Governance ................75 May 1806 ........................follows 16 Table 2: Commercial Fishing Use, Conclusion...................................76 Figure 3: Principal Manitoba Hydro Projects Affecting the Split Lake Cree Quota and Production: Split Lake Study Area ......................follows Resource Area, by Lake ................85 Chapter 9 16 Figure 4: Manitoba Hydro Projects Concluding Summary......81 and Related Activities in the Split Lake Cree Study Area .......follows 16 Boys at the beach, Split Lake. 1929. Acknowledgements The Split Lake Cree – Eli Harvey representatives, involved in the joint – Eve Keeper management of the Birthday/Gull – Joseph Keeper Joint Study Group, wish to – Daniel Kirkness acknowledge those individuals – Tubal Kirkness whose participation contributed to – Alison Kitchikeesick the completion of this study. In – Elijah Mayham particular we would like to thank: – John P. Mayham • the Elders who participated in – Matilda Mayham the interviews and who provided – Joe Morris the most vital historical information – Charles Morris concerning the early development of – John J. Ouskan the Split Lake community. – Sarah Jean Ouskan – Simeon Beardy – Stanley Ouskan – Betsy Flett – Billy Spence – William T. Flett – Edwin Spence – Alex Garson – James M. Spence – Noah Garson – Shadrack Spence – Samuel Garson † – Arabella Wavey – Jake Wavey • members of the interview team • Split Lake Cree Chief and • Joseph I. Keeper, Denis DePape who conducted the interviews with Council who, after a review of an of InterGroup Consultants Inc., Split Lake Cree Elders, adults and earlier draft, requested a heavier E. E. Hobbs and Associates Ltd., and youth, and whose perspectives emphasis on the pre-1920s period of William Kennedy Consultants Ltd., greatly assisted in shaping the Split Lake Cree history. who provided general review and writing and the analysis of this • Members of the Split comments. document. Lake/Manitoba Hydro Joint Study Special thanks go to everyone – Michael Garson Group who helped define the studies who provided photographs – Alfred Beardy for the Post Project Environmental including Michael Garson, John – Bryant Keeper Review. Garson, Allison Kitchikeesik, George – Joseph Morris Representing Split Lake Cree Hardy – NFCRA, Manitoba Hydro, – Samuel Garson † – Victor Spence and retired teacher Jack Harrison. – Michael Garson A large number of people – Lazarus Kitchikeesick provided valuable insights about the – Samuel Garson † contents of this analysis of change, – Joseph Morris and the Split Lake Cree regret any Representing Manitoba Hydro oversight in acknowledging their – Bernie Osiowy contributions. – Glen Cook – Don Rogalsky – Larry Stefanuik †(deceased 1995) – Dave Magnusson Overleaf – traditional Cree summer hunting and fishing camp. Preface At that time it was proposed that An interview team of Split Lake he split lake cree the analysis be broken down into Cree personnel was trained in Trepresentatives on the ten year time frames, beginning in interview techniques. Manitoba Birthday/Gull Joint Study Group the 1940s and 1950s. Recognizing Hydro provided audio and video suggested that a people’s account of that hydroelectric development was tape equipment and a television set, their history should be prepared. not the only agent of change that in order to document and view the The initial idea was to consider had affected the Split Lake Cree over interviews.