The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (Rocky , AsinîskâwitiniwakPeter Ballantyne Cree Nation Website) is a Woodland Cree First Nation in northern Saskatchewan consisting of eight communities: Denare Beach (Amisk Lake), Deschambault Lake, Kinoosao, Pelican Narrows, Prince Albert (Kiskaciwan), Sandy Bay, Southend and Sturgeon Landing. The administrative centre of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is Pelican Narrows and the centralized government of the First Nation is located in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Government Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is governed by an Indian Act Chief and Council, elected for three-year terms under the 2014 Election Code.
In 2003 and 2004, work in amending the Election Act was undertaken by staff and a Cree speaking lawyer. PBCN membership consultations were done through utilization of community committees and staff for many months. Membership at the time updated the 1994 Band Custom Election Act; however, the proposed 2004 Election Act did not pass the referendum process with two communities rejecting the new election act.
In August 2013, Chief and Council acquired funding from Indian Northern Affairs of Canada to begin the process again of amending the existing Election Act of 1994. Due to limited funding from the INAC, Chief and Council had suggested the work done in 2003 and 2004 be revisited and taken back to the membership for further consultations and amendments.
The work to amend the 1994 Election Act started in early September 2013. The first round of community meetings with the membership were completed on October 23, 2013. It was expected that the process would be fast-paced in order to meet the amendment deadline date. A tentative date to hold a band wide referendum was slated for January 30, or early February 2014.
The governance workers, Randy Clarke, Loretta Ballantyne, the band lawyer and other staff used input collected from technology such as surveys and the PBCN website as well as the community meetings to gather input from communities. After this process, the first draft of the 2014 Election Act was produced after it had been reviewed by the PBCN lawyer. The last round of consultations took place early December 2013 and it was passed in 2014 through a referendum. It was the membership of PBCN who decided on what amendments would be included in the election code, therefore, it was easily passed by the people.
There are 14 elected councillors, two each from Sandy Bay, Southend, and Deschambault Lake, five from Pelican Narrows, and one each from Denare Beach (Amisk Lake), Prince Albert (Kiskaciwan), and Sturgeon Landing.
Past leaders 2024–2027: Peter A. Beatty 2021–2024: Karen Bird 2013–2021: Peter A. Beatty 2007–2013: Darrell McCallum 2005–2007: Harold Linklater 2001–2005: Ronald Michel 1999–2001: Susan (Linklater) Custer 1985–1999: Ronald Michel 1979–1985: Joseph Custer 1975–1979: Phillip Morin 1973–1975: Albert Ratt 1971–1973: Arthur Morin 1969–1971: Simon Linklater 1958–1969: Peter Linklater 1956–1957: Simon Linklater 1954–1956: vacant 1948–1954: Simon Linklater 1939–1948: Solomon Merasty 1930–1939: Joe Highway 1922–1930: Cornelius Ballantyne (Bear) 1911–1922: Peter Ballantyne
Indian reserves Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation has reserved for itself several reserves:
Amisk Lake 184 () Amiskosakahikan 210 () Birch Portage 184A () Chief Joseph Custer Chief Philip Morin 232 Denare Beach (settlement) () Deschambault Lake (settlement) () Kimosom Pwatinahk 203 Kinoosao-Thomas Clark 204 () Kipahigan Sakahikan 222 () Kiskaciwan 208 () Kistapinan 211 () Kistapinanihk 231 () (Urban Reserve in Prince Albert) Manawanstawayak 230 ( Maskikopawiscikosik 229 ( McKay 209 Mirond Lake 184E Mistahi Wasahk 209 () Mistik () Muskwaminiwatim 225 () Nakiskatowaneek 227 () Nemekus Sakahikan 221 () Northern Lights 220 (Urban Reserve in Prince Albert) Pelican Narrows 184B () Pelican Narrows 206 () Pisiwiminiwatim 207 () Sandy Bay (settlement) () Sandy Narrows 184C Sokatisewin Sakahikan 224 () Southend 200 () Southend 200A () Sturgeon Landing (Settlement) () Sturgeon Weir 184F () Sturgeon Weir 205 () Thomas Morin Wapaskokimaw 202 () Waskwaynikapik 228 () Waskwiatik Sakahikan 223 () Woody Lake 184D
Notable people Rick Harp, co-founder and president of the INDIGENA Creative Group; former host/producer with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN); set up mediaINDIGENA.com (an interactive, multimedia magazine dedicated to Indigenous news, views and creative expression); served as artistic director for the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival. Gary Merasty from Pelican Narrows, former MP Dr. Bonita Beatty from Deschambault Lake Judge Gerald M. Morin, the first Cree-speaking indigenous person to be appointed as a judge to the Provincial Court of Saskatchewan Cara Merasty from Pelican Narrows; first Cree-speaking female lawyer from the PBCN
See also List of Indian reserves in Saskatchewan
References
External links