Fishing Lake Metis Settlement
Fishing Lake Métis Settlement is a Métis settlement in northern Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 and Treaty Six lands. Fishing Lake Métis Settlement was settled by inhabitants of the dissolved St. Paul des Métis settlement and served as a historic Fishing camp to Métis in the region for centuries. It is home to many historical events such as the Frog Lake Resistance and is home to the beginning of the 20th century Métis movement as led by Charles Delorme, Jack Desjarlais and J.F Dion. It is located approximately east of Highway 897 and south of Cold Lake.
Location
Fishing Lake Métis Settlement is located next to the Alberta-Saskatchewan border in northeast central Alberta and shares a border with the Elizabeth Métis Settlement. Riel Beach is located off the settlement and is a tourist attraction where one is able to fish and boat. There is a recreational facility that offers numerous activities throughout the year, trails to ride bicycles, snowmobiles, and skis to sightsee the hills and lakes. They have rodeos with their horses around towns and the farming communities. There are newer amenities that are offered, like the skate park and the spray park. The community of Sputinow is where most of the community facilities are located, along with residential homes, but there is also accommodations outside of town.History
Originally, it was European and Aboriginal people who came from Edmonton to Fishing Lake in 1807 and others from Fort Chipewyan in 1819. Aboriginal people take into account the Inuit, Indian and Métis people of Canada. The fur trade and the whitefish is significant to their name Packechawanis, meaning a small place for netting attracted others to the land where Métis people settled. They feel connected to their environment like the lakes and wildlife as they have relied on this in the early centuries. In 1949 they had their boundaries set up, but this settlement was initially founded in 1938.At first there were twelve settlements, but only eight Métis settlements were authorized in Canada. The settlements are autonomous and managed by the Métis Settlements General Council. The Métis Settlement Act occurred in 1990 which gave way for these people to govern and manage their own land. This act allowed the Métis to oversee 512,121 hectares of land.
Métis Rebellion in Batoche
In 1885, the Métis people were getting their territory taken away from them, which led them to unite with First Nation allies against the North West Field Force. Louis Riel led the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan which was established by the Métis. This did not end in favor of the Métis people, as they lost 51 people and around 173 were wounded. Canada won against the Métis government in which Louis was shortly caught and killed. This battle resulted in the end of the 1885 North-West Resistance and displaced the Métis people to different locations.The Ewing Commission
In 1935, the Alberta government would be able to look into the living conditions of the Métis and step in when needed. After looking into their health, issues on land and homelessness, they were provided with a sheltered land base and amenities.Demographics
As a designated place in the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Fishing Lake had a population of 414 living in 151 of its 167 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2016 population of 446. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2021.The population of the Fishing Lake Metis Settlement according to its 2018 municipal census is 436, a decrease from its 2015 municipal census population count of 491.
As a designated place in the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement had a population of 446 living in 160 of its 190 total private dwellings, a change of from its 2011 population of 436. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2016.