HISTORY
Michel Band #472
Treaty Rights are infinite – as long as the sun shines, the rivers flow, and the grass grows – and cannot be relinquished.
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Since time immemorial, the nÄ“hiyawak (Cree) have lived in the northern territory of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). Along with the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois), who later came west with the fur trade, both communities would become the ancestors of the Descendants of Michel Band #472.
In 1878, Michel Callihoo (Calestrois), Louis Pay-Patsmah-Wayo, and Acoo-See signed Treaty No. 6 by adhesion with the Crown. Signing an adhesion to Treaty meant that leaders who weren’t present for the signing or negotiation were able to enter into Treaty No. 6 through a Person signing their name for them.
In 1878, Michel Callihoo’s People became Michel Band #472 (Treaty No. 6, 1878).
In 1880, 13 km from the Roman Catholic Mission in St. Albert and 24 km northwest of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton), land was allotted as Michel Indian Reserve #132 along mi-koo-oo-pow (Sturgeon River). Michel Indian Reserve #132 was comprised of 40 sq. miles (25,600 acres) of land.
In 1928, 10 Michel Band #472 families were enfranchised under Section 110 of the Indian Act. This decision was motivated by the poor living conditions on reserve, restrictions caused by the Indian Act, and their desire to protect their children from the residential school system.
By 1958, there were no members remaining and the Band ceased to exist as an entity under the Indian Act.
On March 21, 1958, the Department of Indian Affairs enfranchised all but four women and one child of Michel Band #472. This was the first and only time an Indian Band was enfranchised in Canada under Section 112 of the Indian Act. The order of enfranchisement was effective on March 31, 1958.
The four women and one child removed from the Michel Band #472 membership list were placed on a General List prior to the March 31, 1958 enfranchisement. These individuals were not enfranchised. They lost their Band membership but kept their Treaty status. This action was the beginning of the Alberta General List.
The Descendants of Michel Band #472 are still here. Since 1985, many of those Descendants regained Indian Status through Bill C-31, C-3, and S-3.
Michel Callihoo Nation Society and Canada have initiated an exploratory process to advance our request for formal Band creation through the New Bands/Band Amalgamation (NBBA) policy (November 1991) and to advance reconciliation.
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The Indian Act
(Sourced and paraphrased from the Canadian Encyclopedia)
The Indian Act is the principal law by which the Government of Canada administers Indian status, First Nations’ governments and Reserve Land management. The Indian Act does not govern Métis Peoples or Inuit.
Installed in 1876, the Act sought to control and assimilate Indigenous Peoples. The Act has an ongoing, horrific impact Indigenous Peoples, cultures, languages, and communities. It was used to create the Indian Residential School system – which continues to cause intergenerational trauma among Indigenous Peoples.
Although this much is true, as Indigenous Peoples seeking a Nation – a homeland – MCNS must also acknowledge that we are constrained by the Act’s application. To work alongside Indigenous Services Canada on Band creation, we must also work with the Indian Act. The Act itself is essential if we are to come together as family and Descendants of Michel Band #472.