# Cross Lake First Nation

Cross Lake First Nation (Cree: ᐱᒥᒋᑲᒫᐠ ᓃᐦᐃᖬᐑ, pimicikamâk nîhithawî, lit. 'Cree of the Lake that lies Athwart' or Nikikonakos lit. 'Otter People') is a band of Cree First Nations people in Canada governed under the Indian Act. Its members occupy several reserves within the town of Cross Lake situated on the east shore of Cross Lake in the province of Manitoba. In October 2008, its recorded registered membership was 6,969, of which 4,953 people of this First Nation lived on their reserve. Cross Lake is the principal community of the Pimicikamak indigenous people that made treaty with the British Crown in 1875. Its indigenous language is Woods Cree. Cross Lake was the site of a residential school operated under Canada's assimilation policy. In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the damage caused by this policy.
In March 2016, Cross Lake appeared in the national news after its officials declared a state of emergency because of an epidemic of suicides. The Canadian Press reported that there had been "six suicides in the last two months", and band councillor Donnie McKay said the community "is traumatized and needs immediate help from the provincial and federal governments".

## Demographics

As of August 2014 Cross Lake First Nation had a total registered membership of 8,034 with 5,642 members living on-reserve.

## Governance

Under the Indian Act, Cross Lake First Nation has a municipal government with a Band Council. Since 1999, the Band Council is no longer elected under the Indian Act. The Executive Council of Pimicikamak sits ex officio as the Council of the Band but continues to be the agent of the Minister of Indian Affairs for delivering programs to band members on reserve.

### Chief and Council

Chief and Councillors are appointed under the Custom Electoral System. In their council a quorum of 5 members is needed.

#### Chief

* Chief Cathy Merrick
** Principal Spokesperson of the Nation
** Primary Intergovernmental Affairs
** Government Relations
** International Relations

## Reserves

Cross Lake First Nation have reserved for themselves several tracts of land as their reserve holdings. Their largest reserve is the 2,037.10 hectares (5,033.8 acres) Cross Lake 19 Reserve. Associated with this reserve are:

## Community

Cross Lake, Manitoba is the principal community for the Cross Lake First Nation. Other major communities for the First Nation are:
* Pikwitonei, Manitoba
* Thicket Portage, Manitoba
* Wabowden, Manitoba

## Child protection

Cross Lake was the site of a residential school operated under Canada's aboriginal assimilation policy. In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized for the "profoundly negative" consequences of this policy. Cross Lake has its own child welfare mandate and operates under the name Nikan Awasisak Agency Inc. with sub offices both in Thompson and Winnipeg for aboriginal child protection on reserve.

## Highway connection

Cross Lake is the only community in north-eastern Manitoba that is connected to the North American highway system by all-weather road via the C$24 M Kichi Sipi Bridge, which the Province of Manitoba built after losing a lawsuit.

## Education

The Cross Lake Education Authority is legally part of the Cross Lake First Nation but is operated by an independent elected Board. It runs two schools on the Cross Lake First Nation's reserves. Otter Nelson River School is a Sr. 1-4 High School and also an Elementary school (N-4). Mikisew Middle School is a school with grades 5–8.