My Community: Cold Lake First Nations

By Brandon Kennedy
Sweetgrass Junior Reporter
LeGoff School,
Cold Lake Alberta

Cold Lake First Nations has two nations: Cree and the Dene who call themselves Denesuline. Located 300 kilometres northeast of Edmonton, Alberta, this dynamic First Nation has a total membership of 2415 members.
Approximately 1000 Band Members live on the three reserves: LeGoff, English Bay and Cold Lake Town which is located on the shores of scenic Cold Lake. Many of the remaining members reside in the urban centres, such as Edmonton.
The Chief and Council are Chief Walter S. Janvier, Councillor Robert H. Machatis, Councillor Gail Muskago, Councillor Shawna Janvier, Councillor Cecil Janvier, Councillor Ashley Janvier, and Councillor Cameron Janvier. Prior to 1953 the children received their education by attending the Residential School in Onion Lake and St. Paul.
Pierre Metchewais wanted to have his children educated on the reserve. A meeting was arranged with the Indian Agent to discuss the issue. As a result of that meeting, in 1953 LeGoff Day School was established through an agreement between Pierre Metchewais and Indian Agent Knapp. The school was located in the rectory and had three students enroll on the first day.

Those students were Maynard Metchewais, Francis Muskego and Bobby Kjenner. By the end of the school year the enrollment had increased to twelve students. A new school was eventually constructed to house the students.

Parents now had a choice from that point to keep their children at home rather then send them to residential school. Five portables were required to handle the increased enrolment in the school.

As attendance increased the school became over crowded. Chief Ralph Blackman petitioned the Department of Indian Affairs to construct a new school. To add their support of the petition, parents agreed to keep their children home from late September 1971.
Also, after a year of demonstrations and almost a year of keeping the children home, a sit-in was held at the Indian Affairs offices on the 27th floor of the CN tower in Edmonton. Today Legoff has about 100 students in the school from Kindergarten to grade nine, with modern facilities such as a computer lab and is the only Federal school in western Canada. Every year we have an annual Treaty six science fair and speech contest.

The Dene Wellness group provides advice and information on healthy choices in lifestyle and activities to band members. The Casino was a proud idea of the Chief and Council to put here on Cold Lake First Nations.

The economy of Cold Lake First Nations is good because people have jobs like Casino Dene, Primco Dene, and the Sawmill. Services are provided like the Health Centre, Dene Wellness, Band Office, Legoff School etc. that provide jobs to the band members.
Cold Lake First Nations is a good place to live.

By  Matthew Coker
Sweetgrass Junior Reporter
LeGoff School,
Cold Lake Alberta

Do want to live in a peaceful community?
Well then come to Cold Lake First Nations. The reason why it is called First Nations is because it has the two nations: Cree and Dene.

The Natives of Cold Lake gave up their land to the white people. After they signed the treaty from the government and made a deal that they could go to school and get an education, the Natives made a saying “as long as the sun shines and the green grass grows and the river flows”, they can live there. After the Natives signed this treaty we now have an event for three days which is called Treaty Days.

We have an ice rink, baseball field,
Day Care, LeGoff School, Fire Hall, Band Office, Casino, Health Center, houses and water trucks.

Le Goff School has no bullies and is a cell phone free and gum free school. There are about 100 students from kindergarten to grade 9.

Cold Lake has about 118 Dene speakers and approximately 17 Cree speakers. Our Chief Walter S. Janvier and 6 Council members meet our needs.
Hope to see you really soon.

By Twyla Lee Metchewais Crookedneck
Sweetgrass Junior Reporter
LeGoff School,
Cold Lake Alberta

Have you ever been to Cold Lake First Nations?
Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN), a reserve 300 kilometres northeast of Edmonton at 54 degrees Latitude and 110 degrees Longitude with a population of 2,415 people, both on and off reserve. We are the Dene nation and Cree nation. They have three reserves, Cold Lake Reserve, English Bay, and Little Cold Lake. Cold Lake First Nations has 110 fluent Dene Speakers and 17 Cree Speakers. Some services are Fire Hall, Store, Health Centre, Daycare, Head Start, Le Goff School, Band Office, Church, Band Hall, Dene Wellness Centre, Casino Dene, Outdoor Arena, and Rodeo Grounds. LeGoff School has 100 students from kindergarten to grade 9.  Cold Lake’s chief is Walter S. Janvier and the councillors are Robert Matchatis, Gail Muskego, Shawna Janvier, Cecil Janvier, Ashley Janvier, & Cameron Janvier. My grandmother Joyce Metchewais was chief for 7 years and a certified nurse. Cold Lake holds many events and activities. The treaty days are held every year in mid-July at English Bay.  They have a talent show, tug-of-war, volleyball, canoeing, relay, & more. They give out treaty money to the people of CLFN. Cold Lake is a wonderful reserve.

By Myia Noltchoe
Sweetgrass Junior Reporter
LeGoff School,
Cold Lake Alberta

Have you ever been to a reserve called Cold Lake First Nations?
Cold Lake is a Denesuline (Chipewyan) Nation. From a population of 2,415, there are about 118 of Dene Suline speakers and approximately 17 Cree speakers.

The reserve’s economy is linked to the Canadian forces base, town of Cold Lake and oil development in the area.
The Dene Wellness group provides advice and information on healthy choices in lifestyle and activities to band members. The Health Centre provides residents with many community health services.

The Cold Lake First Nations are proud to bring exciting a new entertainment facility to Cold Lake and the entire lake land area the Dene casino. Le Goff School offers classes to about 100 students from Kindergarten to Grade Nine. The casino Dene includes a family restaurant, live entertainment and lounge. Cold Lake First Nations elections are governed by its own Band Custom Election Law. Chief and Council are directly accountable to the band membership for the success of the Cold Lake First Nations in carrying out the mission and vision and for the conduct of its affairs. Alex Janvier is one of a Dene speaker and a famous Aboriginal artist.