a Camp Harding hero

Montreal Lake.

They hunted, fished, and trapped around Lac la Ronge, living in camps near the lake and maintaining gardens.

Two distinct communities developed, one near Lac la Ronge and the other at Stanley Mission. In 1910 the Department of Indian Affairs attempted to establish these settlements as two distinct communities, recognizing one as the James Roberts Band (Lac la Ronge), and the other as Amos Charles Band (Stanley Mission).

Separate trust funds and annuity pay lists were established, but the reserve lands were not formally divided.

On March 27, 1950, James Roberts and Amos Charles Bands were amalgamated as the Lac la Ronge Band.

In 1983 the Kitsaki Management Partnership originated with Kitsaki Meats; its varied and expanding economic development programs represent the diversity of the band. Of the 7,835 band members, 4,680 people live in communities at Grandmother’s Bay, Sucker River, Little Red River, La Ronge, Stanley Mission and Kitsaki.

In total this band controls 43,302 hectares. Lac la Ronge Indian Band is the largest reserve in Saskatchewan, and one of the 10 largest in Canada, with a population of 11,215 as of Feb. 24, 2020.

The band’s reserve lands extend from rich farmlands in central Saskatchewan to north through the boreal forest to the mighty Churchill River and beyond.

There are many Anglican Churches under the Lac la Ronge umbrella that Bishop Adam oversees: All Saints, LaRonge; Archdeacon Mackay Church, Hall Lake; St. Peter’s, Sucker River; Holy Trinity, Prince Albert; Holy Trinity, Stanley Mission; St. Peter, Grandmother’s Bay; St. James, Little Red Reserve; St. Joseph, Montreal Lake; Christ Church, Big River; and St. Michael and All Angels, Weyakwin.