Young Chippewayan First Nation Stoney Knoll Band

About

Young Chippewayan First Nation (also spelled Chipeewayan) and also known as the Stoney Knoll First Nation is a partially recognized First Nations band in central Saskatchewan, Canada. It’s named for Chief Young Chippewayan. The Department of Indian Affairs surveyed a 30 square mile reserve for the new "Young Chippewayan Band" in 1879.

By 1888, the Young Chipeewayan Band was no longer identified as a separate band and Chief Young Chippewayan was transferred into the Thunderchild First Nation. By 1889, every Young Chippewayan member had either died, vanished, or been transferred into a different band. In 1897, Indian Affairs disposed of the Stoney Knoll reserve, and its land deeded out to private purchasers.

Despite being federally unrecognized, the band maintained genealogical records and hereditary leadership. Chief Alfred Snake requested a specific claim in 1982, which was denied in 1985. In 1993, the Indian Claims Commission opened a file to investigate Stoney Knoll's claim. The Commission ruled that the band's claim was legitimate. However, because the band's genealogy had not been professionally maintained, its membership list was considered invalid. Pending further research, the band remains federally unrecognized today. 

While lacking federal recognition, Stoney Knoll is recognized by its peers in the Battlefords Agency Tribal Council, of which it is a member. The Young Chippewayan Indian Reservation is located in Treaty Six Territory, the traditional home of the Nehiyawak or Plains Cree people. There are 30 square miles of excellent farmland located near the present town of Laird, which was granted to Chief Chippewayan and his people in 1876. Most of the descendants of this band reside in the North Battleford area and others near Prince Albert but are considered to be squatters in the communities in which they reside.

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