Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), formerly known as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, is a Saskatchewan-based First Nations organization. The FSIN represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. The Federation is committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the Treaties, as well as the promotion, protection and implementation of the Treaty promises that were made more than a century ago.

History

The seeds of the organization were planted when Chiefs and leaders gathered in Fort Qu'Appelle in 1946, emerging with an organization to advocate for the rights of First Nations people -- the Union of Saskatchewan Indians. The Union was created with the merger of two other groups, the Protective Association for the Indians and their Treaties, and the Association of Saskatchewan Indians, (officially incorporated in 1945 with Joe Dreaver as president).

In 1958, the First Nations leaders gathered in Fort Qu'Appelle and reviewed the constitution of the Union, replacing it with a new organization that more fairly represented the First Nations reality. It was decided that the organization be looked upon as a federation of bands and that the power reside in the hands of the Chiefs. The Union evolved into the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians.

In April 1982, the First Nations signed the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Convention and agreed to unite in a common front to protect and preserve First Nations' Treaty rights and their political, economic, social and cultural characteristics. The political convention outlined a governing structure that consisted of the Chiefs-in-Assembly, a Senate, an Elders' Council, an Executive Council and an Indian Government Commission.

In May 2016 the FSIN Chiefs-in-Assembly voted to change the name to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.^[1]

List of Presidents and Chiefs

Presidents and Chiefs of the FSI and FSIN include:^[2]

John Tootoosis (1958-1961)
David Knight (1961-1964)
Wilfred Bellegarde (1964-66)
Walter Deiter (1966-68)
David Ahenakew (1968-1978)
Albert Bellegarde (1978-1979)
Sol Sanderson (1979-1986)
Roland Crowe (1986-1994)
Blaine Favel (1994-1998)
Perry Bellegarde (1998-2003)
Alphonse Bird (2003-2006)
Lawrence Joseph (2006-2009)
Guy Lonechild (2009-2011)
Morley Watson Interim (2011-2012)
Perry Bellegarde (2012-2014)
Kim Jonathan Interim (2014-2015)
Bobby Cameron (2015-Present)

^[3]

List of Saskatchewan First Nations

Name	Location	Population	Language	Number	Size
Carry the Kettle First Nation	53 miles East of Regina along the TransCanada #1 Highway	2387 (850 on reserve, 1537 off reserve	Nakota (Assiniboine)	378	15 km x 13 km
Cowesses First Nation	20 kilometres North of Broadview, off highway #1	3526 (712 on reserve)	Cree, Salteaux, English	73	8 miles x 12 miles
Fishing Lake First Nation	Near Wadena	1500	Saulteaux	390	233 acres
George Gordon First Nation	8 km from Punnichy, 125 km NE of Regina	3106 (1100 on reserve)	Cree and Saulteaux	86	145 square km
Kahkewistahaw First Nation	150km east of Regina	Nil	Nil	362	Nil
Kawacatoose First Nation	Near Raymore, Quinton, Punnichy	2746 (731 on reserve, 115 rural towns, 1900 urban / off reserve)	Cree and Ojibway	88	6 square km + 12,200 acres purchased land
Lac la Ronge First Nation	Multi-Community: Reserves at La Ronge, Stanley Mission, Grandmother's Bay, Little Red River, Sucker River and Hall Lake.	8,666	Woodland Cree	353	6 Reserve Communities and 18 Separate Reserve lands, with a total land mass of 107,001 acres. The acreage of each reserve ranges from .49 acres to 34,955 acres.
Piapot First Nation	50 km NE of Regina in the Qu'Appelle Valley	2020 (580 on reserve)	Cree	385	6 miles x 5 miles
Sakimay First Nation	100 km E of Regina	1412	Nakawe (Saulteaux)	364	Nil
Standing Buffalo Dakota First Nation	Qu'Appelle Valley	1,111	Dakota	386	2,246.1 Hectares
Poundmaker Cree First Nation	North Battleford	1281 (505 on reserve)	Cree	Nil	Nil
Little Pine First Nation	53 km NW of Battleford	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Mosquito Grizzly Bear's Head First Nation	30 km S of Battleford	1243 (644 on reserve)	Nil	Nil	Nil
Lucky Man First Nation	60 km E of North Battleford near Mayfair	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Day Star First Nation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
George Gordon First Nation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Muskowekwan First Nation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Whitecap Dakota First Nation	26 km S of Saskatoon	521	Dakota	372	4,913 acres
Yellow Quill First Nation	267 km NE of Saskatoon	Nil	Saulteaux	376	5,926.4 Hectares
Big River First Nation	Debden	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Pelican Lake First Nation	Leaville	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Witchekan First Nation	Spiritwood	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Ahtahkakoop First Nation	Shell Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Moosomin First Nation	Cochin	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Red Pheasant First Nation	Cando	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Sweetgrass First Nation	Gallivan	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Young Chippewayan First Nation	Gallivan	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Little Black Bear First Nation	Goodeve	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Muscowpetung First Nation	Fort Qu'Appelle	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Nekaneet First Nation	Maple Creek	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Okanese First Nation	Balcarres	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Pasqua First Nation	Fort Qu'Appelle	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Peepeekisis First Nation	Balcarres	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Piapot First Nation	Zehner	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Standing Buffalo First Nation	Fort Qu'Appelle	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Star Blanket First Nation	Balcarres	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Wood Mountain First Nation	Assiniboia	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Birch Narrows First Nation	Tumor Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Buffalo River First Nation	Dillon	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Canoe Lake First Nation	Canoe Narrows	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Clearwater River Dene First Nation	La Loche	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
English River First Nation	Patuanak	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Flying Dust First Nation	Meadow Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Island Lake First Nation	Loon Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation	Loon Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Waterhen Lake First Nation	Waterhen Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Opawakoscikan First Nation	Prince Albert	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Black Lake Denesuline First Nation	Black Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Cumberland House Cree First Nation	Cumberland House	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation	Fond Du Lac	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation	Wollaston Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
James Smith First Nation	Melfort	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Montreal Lake Cree First Nation	Montreal Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Peter Ballantyne Cree First Nation	Pelican Narrows	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Red Earth First Nation	Red Earth	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Shoal Lake First Nation	Pakwaw Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Sturgeon Lake First Nation	Shellbrook	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Wahpetan Dakota First Nation	Prince Albert	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation	Tisdale	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Mistawasis First Nation	Leask	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation	Marcelin	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Muskoday First Nation	Muskoday	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
One Arrow First Nation	Bellevue	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Ochapowace First Nation	Whitewood	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
White Bear First Nation	Carlyle	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Cote First Nation	Kamsack	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Kahkewistahaw First Nation	Broadview	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Keeseekoose First Nation	Kamsack	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Key First Nation	Norquay	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Ocean Man First Nation	Stoughton	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Beardy's & Okemasis First Nation	Duck Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Big Island First Nation	Pierceland	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Chacachas First Nation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Chakastapaysin First Nation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Onion Lake Cree Nation	Onion Lake	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Peter Chapman First Nation	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation	10 km north of Kisbey	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Saulteaux First Nation	Cochin	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Thunderchild First Nation	Turtleford	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

References

^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/fsin-first-nations-name-change-1.3600463
^ The Historical Formation of the FSIN, Saskatchewan Indian v30n2 (Spring 2000)
^ http://www.fsin.com/

Opekokew, Delia. "The First Nations: Indian Government and the Canadian Confederation" (Saskatoon: Federation of Saskatchewan Indians, 1980)

External links