The Pas, located at 54° N 101° W in the Norman Region, some 630 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, near the border of Saskatchewan, on the Saskatchewan river incorporated in1912. Founded as a fur-trading post, it became in 1920 the starting point and headquarters of the Hudson Bay Railway to Churchill and an outfitting point for prospecting and mining expeditions into the northern mineral belt of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. In 1967 the provincial government began the development of a forest products industry in the area. The area today is composed of three distinct communities: The Town of The Pas, the Opaskwayak Cree Nation, and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey.
The traditional meeting place between Indian trappers and the French and English
fur traders has grown beyond its longstanding resources of trapping and fishing
to truly become the Gateway to the North - a bountiful, proud, and progressive
community now firmly based upon a solid and diversified industrial foundation of
agriculture, forestry, transportation, and tourism.| The Opaskwayak Cree Nation |
|
|
| The Opaskwayak Cree Nation is a
Swampy Cree community of 2,500 across the Saskatchewan River
from the northern Manitoba paper mill town of The Pas.
The community has long been recognized as a model for self-government. One of seven member First Nations of the Swampy Cree Tribal Council, Opaskwayak was the first band in Canada to be recognized as a municipality. In 1968, a seemingly insignificant event took place that changed the course of the community. A band administration office opened its doors in a small house of the reserve townsite. With a staff of five, the band government began delivering welfare and general administration, and a gravel service to the membership. The band soon gained momentum in its goal of self-determination and self-sufficiency for its people. The late chief Gordon G. Lathlin is credited with being the driving force behind the turnaround. The most notable commercial initiatives undertaken in the past 20 years include the construction of the Timberland Trailer Court and the $8 million Otineka shopping mall in 1975, which remains the centre of economic activity in the community. The three-level shopping centre encompasses 225,000 square feet and houses 25 retails stores on the main level. In 1984, Opaskwayak became the first reserve in Canada to negotiate a gaming license with a province. Today, the band operates the successful Aseneskak Casino, located on Highway #10, north of The Kikiwak Inn. Other successful ventures include The Pas IGA , as well as the Gordon Mathlin Memorial Centre - which provides year-round recreational and cultural activities. The Pas and the Opaskwayak Cree Nation share a hockey team called the OCN Blizzard, who compete in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. The community is also home to a myriad of annual activities. Every August, Opaskwayak hosts northern Manitoba's biggest Indian days festival, an elaborate celebration of Cree traditions and culture. "Ma Tawa Kesekaw" takes place in January, an event which is fast becoming one of the more popular do sled races in the North. As with any organization charged with the well-being and prosperity of its members, The Pas Indian band is structured within clearly defined areas of responsibility. Every two years, band elections are held to choose a Chief and 12 Councillors. This governing body then serves to establish policy and provide direction for a full-time staff that administers the day-to-day commercial, social, and community operations of the band. Overall, the group has made great strides and broken ground in numerous areas. In 1994, the community hosted the first ever Cree Nations Gathering, which was attended by Cree people from across Canada with the view of establishing a confederacy to rekindle economic and cultural ties of long ago. |
The Kikiwak Inn
In Cree, Kikiwak means "your home away from home".
As you can see, the lobby is shaped like a teepee. All the artwork throughout the hotel, is locally produced, and exemplifies the pride in OCN heritage.
Some local merchandize is available for purchase in the souvenir shop.
