Canoe Lake 165, Saskatchewan, is a unique and vibrant Indian reserve nestled in the boreal forest of northern Saskatchewan, Canada. This reserve is home to the Canoe Lake Cree First Nation and is steeped in rich history and culture.
Situated on Canoe Lake, approximately thirty miles west of Beauval, Canoe Lake 165 is within the ancient hunting grounds of the Woodland Cree. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, it recorded a population of 912 living in 250 of its 273 total private dwellings. The reserve includes the settlement of Canoe Narrows, known in Cree as nêhiyaw-wapâsihk ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐤ ᐘᐹᓯᕽ.
Adjacent to Canoe Narrows are the villages of Jans Bay and Cole Bay, to the east and west respectively. Jans Bay has a population of 187, while Cole Bay is home to 230 residents.
In 2016, the Community Well-Being index of Canoe Lake 165 was calculated at 53 of 100. This compares to 58.4 for the average First Nations community and 77.5 for the average non-Indigenous community.
Originally, the community of Canoe Lake 165 relied on commercial fishing as its primary means of support. However, since the late 1970s, fish populations have somewhat diminished. As a result, the community has pivoted towards forestry as its main industry.
Canoe Lake 165 is the administrative headquarters of the Canoe Lake Cree First Nations band government. It is affiliated with the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. As of October 2018, the registered population of the Canoe Lake Cree First Nation was 2,515. Of these, 1,149 members were living on reserve and 1,366 members were living off reserve. The Canoe Lake Cree Nation has seven locations, with three on Canoe Lake.
