Big River

Historical and Alternate Community Names

Keemeemostayo, Keeneemootayo, Kenamotargee, Kenematoyo, Kenemolayoo, Kenemosayoo, Kenemotagee, Kenemotay, Kenemotayee, Kenemotayo, Kenemotayoo, Kennemotayo, Kinematayo, Pelican Lake, Pelican Lake Indians, Reserve no. 118, Sasewahum, Saskatchewan, Saysewahim, Saysewahum, Saysowakim, Stony Lake, Whitefish Lake


Reserves, Settlements, and Villages

Big River 118, Big River 118A


General Information

Big River is a Nêhiyaw (Cree) First Nation located to the north-west of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. They are signatories to Treaty 6, which the group signed in 1878. As of 2022, Big River has a registered population of 3,888.


Support Services and Programs Available to Community Members


Big River


Works Consulted

Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada; Communications Branch, “First Nation Profiles,” fact sheet; resource list, November 14, 2008, https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/SearchFN.aspx?lang=eng.

“Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia | University of Saskatchewan,” accessed November 29, 2022, https://teaching.usask.ca/indigenoussk/index.php.

Library and Archives Canada, “Indexes of Western First Nations Bands: Languages, Agencies, Inspectorates, and Regional Offices,” August 18, 2022, https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng/collection/research-help/indigenous-heritage/pages/bands-western-canada.aspx.

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