The Muskoday First Nation, formerly known as the John Smith First Nation, is a vibrant First Nation band government in Saskatchewan, Canada. Composed of Cree and Saulteaux peoples, the Muskoday First Nation has a registered population of 1,828 people as of September 2014. The First Nation's territory, located in the aspen parkland biome, is bordered by the rural municipalities of Birch Hills No. 460 and Prince Albert No. 461.
The land of the Muskoday First Nation was settled by Chief John Smith of a Cree and Saulteaux band originally from the Saint Peter's Reserve near Selkirk, Manitoba. In the 1870s, Chief Smith settled along the South Saskatchewan River and signed onto Treaty Six at Fort Carlton in 1876, legally establishing the settlement as an Indian reserve. The reserve and First Nation were initially named after Chief John Smith, who was a brother of Chief James Smith, the founder of the James Smith First Nation.
The history of the Muskoday First Nation is rich and diverse, marked by significant events and milestones. From the establishment of a day school and farming in the 1800s to the opening of the Muskoday Community School in 2006, the community has seen remarkable growth and development. The First Nation's name was officially changed from the John Smith/Muskoday Reserve to the Muskoday First Nation in 1993. The Muskoday Bridge, built during the 1970s, links the town of Birch Hills with Prince Albert and divides the reserve lands roughly in half.
The Muskoday First Nation government provides several services to its people. In 1997, the First Nation designed a Land Code to manage its own lands, leading the way for further development of services. These include a housing development known as "the village," a water plant, a community health center, an administration building, and a band hall. The community also houses a gas bar, a convenience store, and a post office.
The Muskoday First Nation has reserved for itself the 9,686.8 hectare Muskoday First Nation Reserve, located approximately 19 km southeast of the city of Prince Albert. The community of the Muskoday First Nation is located on this reserve. The First Nation is engaged in ongoing discussions with the federal Government of Canada regarding land ownership and entitlement. At the time of the signing of Treaty 6, the incorrect amount of land was reserved for the Muskoday, leading to a Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) claim. The TLE claim was approved and ratified by Muskoday members in 2007.
Unlike many other Cree Nations in the area, the Muskoday First Nation was almost entirely Anglican in the 19th and 20th centuries, with no Roman Catholic influence. Traditional spirituality and practices remained strong, however. Today, the two church congregations serving the Muskoday First Nation are St. James Anglican Church and the Muskoday Baptist Church.
