About NHCN

NHCN is one of the largest Indigenous communities in Manitoba with a growing population of 7,500 community members and an additional 500 community council members.

NHCN has long been recognized as a progressive and vibrant community, boasting a large number of amenities as its serves as a gateway to Northern and Eastern communities of Manitoba.

Focused on building strategic growth opportunities, NHCN is concentrating its efforts in three key areas:

• Live – Building a community with the amenities and services and resources capable of attracting new residents
• Work – Creating economic development opportunities that will provide employment and generate revenue for the community
• Play – Taking advantage of the natural resources at our finger tips to make this community we can all enjoy living in.

With these three goals in mind, we believe that NHCN has made great strides in recent years, and reflects the success our community has had, including:

1. Our community NHCN is home to a state-of-the-art educational facility, post-secondary facility, Kinosao Sipi Multiplex Recreation Centre, Entertainment Centre, Kistapinanihk Shopping Mall and provincially licensed Personal Care Home, Pinaow Wachi Inc.
2. In partnership with the Federal Government, NHCN recently secured $100 M in capital funding for a new state-of-the-art fully integrated Health Centre of Excellence that will meet the current and future health needs of the community and surrounding area.
3. We also recognize the benefits and importance of self determination through long-term sustainable economic development initiatives. Supporting various economic ventures over the years, which include the Norway House Pharmacy Ltd., KSIW Boarding Home (in Winnipeg), York Boat Inn and Diner, Molson Lake Lodge and Playgreen Development Corporation.

To have a healthy community, we must see the community as a whole when considering new opportunities for economic development, providing services to our members, and to the living & social conditions that effect families in our community. This is the basis of our long-term strategic community development plan.

As leaders, we strive to access resources to enhance programs & services for our members while maintaining a strong focus on economic development & special projects. Creating businesses & employment addresses many needs amongst individuals & families.

We are proud of our Nation and are pleased to present this annual report on our activities in the past year!

A National Historic Site

Norway House was designated a national historic site of Canada May 30, 1932.

• The heritage value of Norway House is primarily in its historical associations as the Hudson’s Bay Company’s principal inland depot for the fur trade.
• Norway House was home to the Council of the Northern Department of Rupert’s Land meetings acoordinating all trade activities throughout western / northern Canada
• In 1875, Treaty No. 5 between the Saulteaux (Ojibwa) the Swampy Cree First Nations people and the Crown was made here.
• It was also the site where the Rev. James Evans invented the Cree Syllabic System.

Building of Norway House – The First Norway House

• In 1816 Lord Selkirk sent out a band of Norwegians west side of outflow to build a road from York Factory to Lake Winnipeg and a series of supply posts.
• They built Norway House at Mossy Point in 1817 replacing the former Jack River post at that location.

Norway House offers sanctuary for Refugees from The Seven Oaks Incident 1816

• Settlers from the RED RIVER COLONY found temporary refuge here in 1815 and 1816-17 after they were attacked by forces of the rival North West Company.
• On June 19, 1816 a group of Métis with Cuthbert Grant killed Semple and 20 of his men at Seven Oaks.
• 21 June 1816 – The Colonists left for the North by boat with the Sheriff Alexander Macdonell.

Treaty 5

• Signed at Norway House September 24, 1875
• Treaty 5 covered 100,000 Square Miles and took in parts of Northwest Ontario and Saskatchewan and included the largest number of First Nation communities under a single Treaty in Manitoba.

The First Nation communities that entered into Treaty No. 5 include:

• Norway House
• Chemawawin
• Berens River
• Black River
• Bloodvein
• Cross Lake
• Fisher River
• Grand Rapids
• Hollow Water
• Kinonjeoshtegon
• Little Black River
• Mosakahiken
• Opaskwayak and
• Poplar River

**From the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba

Norway House Importance to Western Canadian History

• Building Norway House ‘The Archway’ constructed 1839-1841
• Norway House Known for its arched portal over the central hall/walkway was established on this site in 1825-26.

Surviving buildings include:

• The Archway Warehouse 1825-26
• The Gaol 1855-1856
• The Powder Magazine 1837-1838.
• The Deane-Simpson party that stayed up in the Arctic three years 1837-39 and who mapped 1,284 miles of Canada’s Arctic coast was planned in Norway House.
• The Isbister Building at the University of Manitoba is named in honour of Alexander Kennedy Isbister an English Metis, son of Thomas Isbister Norway House Post Manager 1840-41.

The Existing Buildings

• The warehouse is the oldest warehouse of Red River frame construction in Western Canada and the oldest log structure in Manitoba on its style commonly used by the HBC incorporates a rare archway that cuts through the building doubling as the post’s riverside gateway.
• The Jail 1855-56 is Manitoba’s oldest extant lock-up, is a small structure built of local granite to the southeast of the ware-house
• The Powder Magazine Remains 1837-38 located some distance from the post are the oldest in-situ ruins of a stone gunpowder storage facility in Western Canada and also are notable for their cut limestone elements unusual for the building’s type, time and place.

The strength of the design of the logo is its portrayal of the multi-faceted reality of the Norway House Cree Nation.

The background of the land and forest runs horizontally to form a peace pipe with a bear at the tip reflecting an element of our people’s unique kinship with nature.

Elements of the logo

The primary elements of the logo: Eagle; Sun; Geese; Forest; Water and Moose – symbolize all life and creation including the elements of fire, water and air. This is the unifying theme which demonstrates the strong ties our Cree Nation has with all the elements around us.

Within the sunset, the mast of the York Boat rises to form a cross, depicting the role of the church within the community.

Sunset at Church Point

The seven geese in the sky represent the Chief and six Councillors, while the soaring spirit of the Nation is reflected in the predominance of the eagle whose outstretched wings and tail feathers branch out from the stretched beaver skin – representative of trapping in our traditional way of life.

The York Boat represents our history and activities in trade and commerce including fishing.

The moose is emblematic of our traditional hunting life.

The logo is a sum of all our Cree Nation’s parts and together embodies an all-inclusive spirit, reality and vision carried in the bodies, the eyes, the hearts, the minds and the language of our Cree Nation.

Vision Statement

“Transforming our community into a true sovereign Nation.”

Mission Statement

“To re-vitalize and assert our right to be self-governing Nation with a strong spiritual connection to our heritage, land, culture and people.”

Goals and Objectives

• Develop a governance constitution that will transform NHCN into a true sovereign Nation while honouring our Treaty & Inherent Rights.
• To be financially stable & secure through effective & sound financial management.
• Implement central services of the NHCN & ensure programs and services are efficient & responsive to the needs of NHCN membership.
• Achieving an independent and sustainable community through economic development.
• Instill community pride through social and community events and development.

Background Negotiations

On December 16, 1977, the northern flood agreement (NFA) was signed. On March 15, 1978 it was approved by the members of Norway House Cree Nation.

During 1989 and 1990, Canada, Manitoba, Hydro and the Northern Flood Committee (NFC) on behalf of all five NFA Bands undertook global negotiations on how to carry out the promises of the NFA. This process resulted in a document called the “Proposed Basis of Settlement of Outstanding Claims and Obligations” of July 1990. In late August 1990, Norway House Cree Nation suspended the global negotiations.

Master Implementation Agreement Negotiations

In April 1994, the newly-elected Council of Norway House Cree Nation began discussions with Canada, Manitoba and Hydro to carry out the promises of the NFA for the benefit of Norway House Cree Nation.

On October 13, 1994, Norway House Cree Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Manitoba and Hydro which was endorsed by Canada. This MOU set out the process to be followed in the negotiation of an agreement to Implement the NFA for Norway House Cree Nation.

Over the next two months, Norway House Cree Nation, Canada, Manitoba and Hydro undertook negotiations to detail the main points of an agreement in principle (AIP).

On December 15, 1994 Norway House Cree Nation signed the AIP with Canada, Manitoba and Hydro. The AIP set out6 the frameworks for negotiating the Master Implementation Agreement (MIA).

Object of the Master Implementation Agreement

The MIA is being is being negotiated by Norway House Cree Nation in order to get the benefits promised in the NFA for Norway House Cree Nation Members. Under the MIA the benefits will be obtained now in one package rather than trying to get the benefits, piece by piece on the claim-by-claim basis set up under NFA Arbitration which could take many years.

In general, the MIA:

• fulfils the NFA obligations and promises of the other parties to Norway House Cree Nation, except where an obligation is specifically excluded.
• Settles all outstanding NFA claims of Norway House Cree Nation and members, except where a claim is specifically excluded.
• Deals with all the known and foreseeable adverse Effects of the project as of the date of the signing of the MIA: and
• specifies the manner in which the MIA  may be approved by the Norway House Cree Nation members.

The MIA, if Approved, will become a legally enforceable agreement and will implement the promises of the NFA in a way that will satisfy the majority of the Norway House Cree Nation Members.

Negotiation Costs

The costs of the MIA negotiations and community consultations, including payment of all consultants, lawyers, and Norway House Cree Nation participation costs, are being paid by Canada, Manitoba, and Hydro. These moneys do not come from any moneys already being received from the other Parties such as AFA moneys from Canada for education and social welfare.

Phone: 204-359-4753
Fax: 204-359-4744