Birdtail Sioux First Nation or Chan Kagha Otina Dakhóta Oyáte (also spelt ''Caƞ Kaġa Dakhóta Oyáte'', 'People of the Log Houses') are a

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota, ...

First Nation Indigenous peoples are culturally distinct ethnic groups whose members are directly descended from the earliest known inhabitants of a particular geographic region and, to some extent, maintain the language and culture of those original people ...

located approximately 50 km north of

Virden, Manitoba Virden is a town in southwestern Manitoba, Canada. Oil was first discovered in 1951, and Virden has since come to be known as the "Oil Capital of Manitoba". History Virden has its roots as a farming community known as Gopher Creek. However, it b ...

. The First Nation has a population of approximately 643 people on approximately of land. It is bordered by the Rural Municipality of Miniota and the

Rural Municipality of Ellice – Archie The Rural Municipality of Ellice – Archie (french: Municipalité rurale d'Ellice–Archie) is a rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Manitoba. History The municipality was incorporated on January 1, 2015 via the amalgamatio ...

. The main settlement of Birdtail Sioux is located at . The First Nation has a

K–12 K–12, from kindergarten to 12th grade, is an American English expression that indicates the range of years of publicly supported primary and secondary education found in the United States, which is similar to publicly supported school grades ...

school (Chan Kagha Otina Dakota Wayawa Tipi School) and an adult learning centre (Birdtail Sioux Adult Learning Centre), both operated by

Frontier School Division Frontier School Division is the largest geographical school division in Manitoba, Canada, covering most schools in northern Manitoba. With 41 schools operating across Manitoba, the Frontier School Division provides educational services to a larger ...

; a police detachment ( Manitoba First Nations Police, formerly known as Dakota Ojibway Police Service); and a health center.

Controversial partnerships

Under the leadership of Chief Ken Chalmers, Birdtail Sioux's partnership with the federal

Government of Canada The government of Canada (french: gouvernement du Canada) is the body responsible for the federal administration of Canada. A constitutional monarchy, the Crown is the corporation sole, assuming distinct roles: the executive, as the ''Crown ...

and corporate partnerships has created some controversy. Birdtail Sioux entered into agreement with companies like

Enbridge Enbridge Inc. is a multinational pipeline and energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Enbridge owns and operates pipelines throughout Canada and the United States, transporting crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids. ...

and Canadian National Railway to help build

reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US vi ...

projects such as the construction of a new health centre, a shopping centre, and a 62-home renovation project. Some of the other Dakota First Nations were concerned that the Birdtail Sioux's attempts for "short term gains" would hurt

claims that go back to 1870. The original Canadian

land claim A land claim is defined as "the pursuit of recognized territorial ownership by a group or individual". The phrase is usually only used with respect to disputed or unresolved land claims. Some types of land claims include aboriginal land claims, A ...

alleges that the Dakota are American refugees and, as such, are not entitled their

aboriginal rights Indigenous rights are those rights that exist in recognition of the specific condition of the Indigenous peoples. This includes not only the most basic human rights of physical survival and integrity, but also the rights over their land (inc ...

, land compensation, funding, and recognition as Canadian aboriginal people under s. 35 of the ''

Constitution Act, 1982 The ''Constitution Act, 1982'' (french: link=no, Loi constitutionnelle de 1982) is a part of the Constitution of Canada.Formally enacted as Schedule B of the ''Canada Act 1982'', enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Section 60 of t ...

''. The Canadian government alleges that the Dakota live in

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Winn ...

on the good graces of the

Crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, partic ...

. The Dakota, excluding Birdtail, intended to use maps and papers that predate confederation in Canada to negotiate a modern treaty. Chief Chalmers justified his decisions by saying, "The only way I can get things like the renovations going ... I can only get it by partnering, not fighting." Chief Frank Brown of the Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation replied that "Divide and conquer is a game

Indian Affairs The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), also known as Indian Affairs (IA), is a United States federal agency within the Department of the Interior. It is responsible for implementing federal laws and policies related to American Indians and Al ...

plays all of the time... When you challenge Canada in court or when you challenge your rights, they take one of your people and give them money to convince them otherwise. The job creation is a good thing, but it's not fixing nothing, it's just a little Band-Aid, whereas we're working for the future of our people." At the end of March 2013, the people of Birdtail Sioux decided to break with Chief Chalmers, who was defeated by former Chief Kelly Bunn. In March 2015, however, Ken Chalmers was reelected. In March 2017, the Birdtail Sioux First Nation adopted the ''First Nations Election Act'' of Canada which gave them the option of a two- or four-year term for Chief and Council. Chalmers was re-elected as chief again until March 2021.

References

External links

https://web.archive.org/web/20050210105525/http://www.docfdc.mb.ca/birdtailsioux.html

Map of Birdtail Creek 57 at Statcan
{{Authority control Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council First Nations governments in Manitoba Dakota First Nations in Southern Manitoba