The Muskoday First Nation (, formerly the John Smith First Nation) is a First Nation band government in Saskatchewan, Canada, composed of Cree and Saulteaux peoples. The First Nation has a registered population of 1,828 people as of September 2014, of which approximately 623 members of the First Nation live on-reserve, and approximately 1204 live off-reserve. Muskoday's territory is located in the aspen parkland biome. It is bordered by the rural municipalities of Birch Hills No. 460 and Prince Albert No. 461.
Background
The First Nation's land was settled after Chief John Smith of a Cree and Saulteaux band who were originally from the Saint Peter's Reserve (this was near Selkirk, Manitoba and was dissolved, with the remainder of the band today comprising the Peguis First Nation in Manitoba) settled along the South Saskatchewan River in the 1870s. Chief Smith signed onto Treaty Six at Fort Carlton in 1876 making the settlement legally an Indian reserve.
The reserve and First Nation was initially named after their Chief John Smith, who was a brother of Chief James Smith, the founder of the James Smith First Nation. Also during the late 19th century, James Isbister served for a period as a farm instructor at Muskoday.
History
1800s - Hereditary Chief, John Smith, settled along the South Saskatchewan River. 1800s - Day school established. 1860s - Farming established. 1870s - Farming expands to include a 150 head cattle herd. 1876 - August 19, John Smith signed Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton, resulting in the creation of the John Smith Indian Reserve. early 1900s - First Church in Muskoday. 1914 - 1918 - Loss of land claim in Candle Lake. 1924 - Chief John Smith dies. 1930s - First car on Muskoday (John Bird). 1930s - First sports day. 1951 - Permit established (Indian Act revised). 1951 - First Government House. Early 1960s - First Band office opened. 1963 - Muskoday Band farm is developed. 1967 - Gardiner Dam is constructed on Saskatchewan River. 1967 - Opening of Muskoday kindergarten. 1968 - Residential schools taken over by INAC. 1968 - First color television in Muskoday (Napoleon Bear). 1969 - The White Paper (amendment to Indian Act). 1969 - Highway 3 is paved. 1969 - First convenience store (Cecil Bear 1969-1976). 1970 - Official opening of bridge. 1971 - First Pow wow (located where the village is now). 1972 - Telephone service into Muskoday. 1973 - Running water service in Muskoday) 1973 - First Pow wow arbor built (first in Canada). 1976 - First Muskoday health clinic. 1980 - First village established. 1981 - Convenience store and gas station (David Knight until 1991). 1982 - Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) established. 1984 - Fire Hall built (one of the first in Canada). 1985 - Bill C-31. 1987 - Official opening of Muskoday daycare. 1989 - Official opening of Water Treatment Plant. 1990 - Second Pow wow arbor built. 1991 - Convenience store is Band owned. 1993 - The John Smith/Muskoday Reserve have its name officially changed to Muskoday First Nation. 1993 - First Muskoday official flag. 1993 - Opening of Muskoday post office. 1994-1997 - Convenience store in village (Louis Bear). 1997 - Return to Buffalo (17 head) farming. 1997 - Switch to Financial Transfer Agreement (FTA) from Alternate Funding Arrangement (AFA). 1998 - Muskoday ratifies Land Code. 1999 - First market garden. 1999 - Restoration of trees. 1999 - Cultural grounds established on Crossing Island. 1999-2000 - Water piped from Prince Albert. 2000 - Official opening of restaurant/café. 2004 - Muskoday files TLE Land Claim. 2004 - Muskoday Organic Growers Co-op formed. 2006 - Official opening of Muskoday Community School. 2007 - Muskoday ratifies TLE settlement. 2008 - Comprehensive community-based planning group established. 2009 - Third Pow wow arbor built. 2009 - New church. 2009 - Muskoday Community Plan developed by Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dalhousie University. 2013 - Muskoday's first Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) selections receive reserve status (Muskoday #99A and #99B). 2013 - Co-hosted the 2013 Saskatchewan First Nation Summer Games with Birch Hills and Prince Albert. 2015 - Muskoday awarded Vision in Planning Award from the Canadian Institute of Planners for its continued work on the Land Code and Land Use Plan. 2015 - First Land Code community in Canada to successfully complete a land exchange with a neighboring municipality. 2016 - Muskoday Trespass Law passed by Chief and Council.