| People | Cree andSaulteaux |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 4 |
| Headquarters | Punnichy |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land[1] | |
| Main reserve | Gordon 86 |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 150.757 km2 |
| Population (2019)[1] | |
| On reserve | 1191 |
| Off reserve | 2561 |
| Total population | 3752 |
| Government[1] | |
| Chief | Shawn Longman |
| Tribal Council[1] | |
| Touchwood Agency Tribal Council | |
TheGeorge Gordon First Nation (Cree:ᐳᓵᑲᓇᒌᕽposâkanacîhk)[2] is aFirst Nationsband government located near the village ofPunnichy,Saskatchewan, in Canada. The nation has an enrolled population of 3,752 people, 1,191 of whom live on the band'sreserves. Chief Shawn Longman leads the First Nation.[1] Their territory is located on theGordon 86 reserve, as arranged byTreaty 4.
In 1874, Treaty 4, which brokered the sale of indigenous land to theBritish Crown, was established betweenQueen Victoria and theCree andSaulteaux 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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[4]
The George Gordon First Nation was the location ofGordon Indian Residential School, the longest-runningresidential school in Canada. TheAnglican 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.[5] Children attending Gordon Indian Residential School were reported to have suffered various forms of abuse, inflicting severe damage to the Gordon community.[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9] 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.[10]
Their reserves include:[11]
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 include a band office, pre-fab plant, fire hall, teachers centre, gymnasium, warehouse,water treatment plant, and machine shed.[3][4]
51°15′51″N104°17′19″W / 51.26417°N 104.28861°W /51.26417; -104.28861