Keeseekoowenin FN

Keeseekoowenin Anishinabe First Nation

This report will provide a brief history of the keeseekoowenin ojibway first nation, the report will be divided into three peroids in history of keeseekoowenin ojibway. the first part of the history will briefly outline keeseekoowenin first nation proir to treaty. the socond part will outline the creation of the reserve. the third part of this report will provide high lights of its evolvinghistory from 1871 to present. the conclusion will identify the origin and its development of the history of keeseekoowenin ojibway to demonstratethe importance of the origin of history and how it can be identified as a positive contribution to the development of a country.

the elders of any first nation always indicate that the location of a chosen reserve is important to illustrate its connection to the land. The elders believe in one creator and the land was established to maintain that connection between the Creator and the land through the people. keeseekoowenin first nation was chosen at its present location because this area was the meeting place of all nations prior to the arrival of the europeans.  this land was a place of freindship, peace, and security. the original word of the land is zakiidawakong, which means a forest area meeting a river. this is a description of a landscape that represents the original mapping of the land by first nations. this is the reason that the word reserve means a land that first nations will keep for themselves at the time of treaty to share the land. for first nations the landhas a sacred meaning and thier belief system as people. the keeseekoowenin ojibway first nation was established in 1974 as a reserve. at the time of treaty(1871, treaty 2) the original name was riding mountain band and as per treaty allocation the reserve was suppose to be north of now riding mountain national park, chief mekis who signed the treaty recognized the sacredness of the clear lake south of riding mountain national park and the original location as a place of nation gatherings. chief mekis died shortly (after treaty was signed) and his brother keeseekoowenin became chief. the establishement of the reserve was named after him as keeseekoowenin first nation. chief keeseekoowenin recognized the historical location but as well the land being suitable for fishing and hunting. its is also important to note part of treaty was agriculture for livelihood. this land was also ideal for agriculture. keeseekoowenin first nation is also lacated between two mountains, duck mountain and turtle mountain. In the present day map the location of riding mountain and its meaning to support the elders teachings about the land since the ice age. in the language of the elders the land despription is important to connect first nationspeople to this land from time immemorial.

the location of keeseekoowenin at the south of riding mountian national park a significant to the governments objective that some parts of canada shall be reserved for all people to enjoythe natural beauty of nature, today the clear lake area within a national park is a world's tourist attraction to be close to nature. this area was the original area land connection to first nation peoples. today keeseekoowenin first nation is a partner to the development of riding mountain national park to preserve its natural envionment. today the elders of keeseekoowenin are part of the national  parks objective to protect the environment.

the language of the elders is recognized by the government to be a fundemental part of the history of the park. the park recognizes keeseekoowenin first nations peoples as the original inhabatants of this land. to bring justice and truth to canadian history important to first nations to be acknowledged as the original occupants of the land. history will not be complete without acknowledging the role of first nations in the development of canada. today at clear lakeand in partnership between keeseekoowenin first nations and parks, a sharing lodge was established to honor the original peoples of this land.