| People | Dakota |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Beulah, Manitoba |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Birdtail Sioux |
| Land area | 28.85 km2 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Tréchelle Bunn |
| Tribal Council | |
| Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council | |
| Website | |
| birdtailsioux | |
Birdtail Sioux First Nation orChan Kagha Otina Dakhóta Oyáte (also speltCaƞ Kaġa Dakhóta Oyáte, 'People of the Log Houses')[1] are aDakotaFirst Nation located approximately 50 km north ofVirden, Manitoba. The First Nation has a population of approximately 643 people on approximately 7,128 acres (28.85 km2) of land.[2][3]
It is bordered by theRural Municipality of Miniota and theRural Municipality of Ellice – Archie. The main settlement ofBirdtail Sioux is located at50°16′N101°09′W / 50.267°N 101.150°W /50.267; -101.150.The First Nation has aK–12 school (Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School) and anadult learning centre (Birdtail Sioux Adult Learning Centre), both operated byFrontier School Division; a police detachment (Manitoba First Nations Police, formerly known as Dakota Ojibway Police Service); and a health center.
Under the leadership of Chief Ken Chalmers, Birdtail Sioux's partnership with the federalGovernment of Canada and corporate partnerships has created some controversy. Birdtail Sioux entered into agreement with companies likeEnbridge andCanadian National Railway to help buildreserve projects such as the construction of a new health centre, a shopping centre, and a 62-home renovation project.[4] Some of the other Dakota First Nations were concerned that the Birdtail Sioux's attempts for "short term gains" would hurtDakota claims that go back to 1870.
The original Canadianland claim alleges that the Dakota are American refugees and, as such, are not entitled theiraboriginal rights, land compensation, funding, and recognition as Canadian aboriginal people under s. 35 of theConstitution Act, 1982.[4] The Canadian government alleges that the Dakota live inManitoba on the good graces of theCrown. The Dakota, excluding Birdtail, intended to use maps and papers that predateconfederation in Canada to negotiate a modern treaty.[4]
Chief Chalmers justified his decisions by saying, "The only way I can get things like the renovations going ... I can only get it by partnering, not fighting."[4] Chief Frank Brown of theCanupawakpa Dakota First Nation replied that "Divide and conquer is a gameIndian Affairs plays all of the time... When you challenge Canada in court or when you challenge your rights, they take one of your people and give them money to convince them otherwise. The job creation is a good thing, but it's not fixing nothing, it's just a littleBand-Aid, whereas we're working for the future of our people."[4]
At the end of March 2013, the people of Birdtail Sioux decided to break with Chief Chalmers, who was defeated by former Chief Kelly Bunn. In March 2015, however, Ken Chalmers was reelected. In March 2017, the Birdtail Sioux First Nation adopted theFirst Nations Election Act of Canada which gave them the option of a two- or four-year term for Chief and Council. Chalmers was re-elected as chief again until March 2021.
Chalmers lost the election in 2021 to Chief Lindsay "Oscar" Bunn Jr, who served as Chief until 2025.[5] In 2025, Tréchelle Bunn was elected chief. She is the first female chief in this nation and is the youngest chief in Manitoba.[6]
https://web.archive.org/web/20050210105525/http://www.docfdc.mb.ca/birdtailsioux.html]
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