Historical and Alternate Community Names
Fort à la Corne (James Smith), La Corne (James Smith), Reserve no. 100 (James Smith), Big Head (Chakastaypasin), Chakastapasis (Chakastaypasin), Chakastapayin (Chakastaypasin), Chakastapaysin (Chakastaypasin), Chakastipasin (Chakastaypasin), Chakistapaysins (Chakastaypasin), Chekastapasin (Chakastaypasin), Chekastapaysin (Chakastaypasin), Chekastaypasin (Chakastaypasin), Chekastaypaysin (Chakastaypasin), Chikastaypasin (Chakastaypasin), Reserve no. 098 (Chakastaypasin), John Cochrane (Peter Chapman), Reserve no. 100a (Peter Chapman)
Encompassed Communities
James Smith, Chakastaypasin, Peter Chapman
Reserves, Settlements, and Villages
Cumberland Indian Reserve No. 100A, James Smith Indian Reserve No. 100
General Information
James Smith is a Nêhiyaw (Cree) First Nation located to the south-east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. They are signatories to Treaty 6, which the group signed in 1876. As of 2022, James Smith has a registered population of 3,815. The amalgamation of the James Smith, Chakastaypasin, and Peter Chapman First Nations is a source of controversy. Peter Chapman and James Smith were amalgamated in 1902, although descendants of the original Peter Chapman group have initiated a Treaty Land Entitlement Inquiry to settle outstanding land-disputes as recently as 1990. Similarly, the Department of Indian Affairs claimed that by 1898, all individuals had moved off of Chakastaypasin land and had been added to the paylist of other bands. In 1998, descendants of the original Chakastaypasin group launched a similar claim that their land was seized and sold by the Federal Government without negotiation and consent. This inquiry remains ongoing, although neither Peter Chapman nor Chakastaypasin have been reestablished as a separate Nation.
- James Smith First Nation Website
- A Brief History of the James Smith Community
- A Brief History of the Peter Chapman Community
- A Brief History of the Chakastapaysin Community
- A Brief Summary of Cree Cultural History in Western Canada
- Cree Justice and Legal Traditions
- Trapping, Traplines, and Northern Lifeways
- Residential School List
- Day School List
Support Services and Programs Available to Community Members
- Works Consulted
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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.