Gordon First Nation

The George Gordon First Nation is located near the village of Punnichy, Saskatchewan, in Canada. The First Nation has a population of 2,774 people, 1,060 of whom live on-reserve and 1,714 who live off-reserve. Elected Chief Glen Pratt leads the First Nation. Their territory is located on the Gordon 86 reserve, as arranged by Treaty 4.

History

In 1874, Treaty 4, which brokered the sale of Indigenous land to the British Crown, was established between Queen Victoria and the Cree and Saulteaux First Nations. On September 15 of the same year, Kaneonuskatew (or, in his English name of George Gordon) was among the first of the Indigenous leaders to make the agreement, signing as Chief of the George Gordon First Nation.[1] By 1884, half of the families belonging to the nation were farming, a development which had commenced in 1876, and would continue for many years.[1] Although both George Gordon and his son, Moses Gordon, were originally hereditary chiefs, the people have since adopted the practice of democratically voting their chiefs and councillors into office.[2]

The George Gordon First Nation was the location of Gordon Indian Residential School, the longest-running residential school in Canada. The Anglican Church of Canada established a day school on Gordon’s Reserve in 1876. It was expanded in 1888 to provide housing to students attending the school. In 1929 the school was destroyed by fire and eventually rebuilt. Problems with water supply and maintenance led to its being closed for much of the time between 1947 and 1953. The school was closed in 1996.[3] Children attending Gordon Indian Residential School were reported to have suffered various forms of abuse, inflicting severe damage to the Gordon community.[4] The schools have been proven to have facilitated the abuse of children under their care. The federal government knew of these abuses, and has since apologized and paid compensation to the victims. The extent of the damage done to these communities is still yet known.[5][6] The residential school system is widely regarded as cultural genocide, due to the action of destroying Indigenous culture, language, and religion, as well as the intent to do so.[7] On the reserve, the Gordon Recovery and Wellness Centre provides services and support to the victims of the abuse that occurred during the Residential School System.[8]

Programs and services

The George Gordon First Nation boasts a modern medical clinic, an education centre, a computer centre, an arena and a day care, as well as the Gordon Retail Centre and the Buffalo Ranch Project. Programs that are offered to band members include the Residential School Recovery and Wellness Centre, Brighter Futures, and Gordon Social Development. Other community infrastructures involve band office, pre-fab plant, fire hall, teachers center, gymnasium, warehouse, water treatment plant, and machine shed.[1][2]

Notable people

  • Lillian Dyck (Canadian Senator from Saskatchewan)
  • Mary Longman (Visual artist)
  • Katherine M. Waddell (Public Figure in Nipawin, SK)

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "George Gordon First Nation", The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan
  2. 1 2 "Gordon First Nation" website Archived 2010-05-23 at the Wayback Machine..
  3. ↑ "Gordon's Location Report". National Centre for Truth and Reconcilliation.
  4. ↑ "Saskatchewan First Nation eyes wind power business to help future generations", Winnipeg Free Press
  5. ↑ "School abuse victims getting $1.9B". From CBCNews.
  6. ↑ "PM cites 'sad chapter' in apology for residential schools", CBC News, 11 June 2008
  7. ↑ Macdonal,David B., and Graham Hudson. 2012."The Genocide Question and Indian Residential Schools in Canada", Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique 45(2):427-449.
  8. ↑ "Recovery and Wellness" Archived 2010-10-18 at the Wayback Machine., Gordon First Nation website

Coordinates: 51°15′51″N 104°17′19″W / 51.26417°N 104.28861°W / 51.26417; -104.28861

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