The Long Plain First Nation () is an

Ojibway The Ojibwe (; Ojibwe writing systems#Ojibwe syllabics, syll.: ᐅᒋᐺ; plural: ''Ojibweg'' ᐅᒋᐺᒃ) are an Anishinaabe people whose homeland (''Ojibwewaki'' ᐅᒋᐺᐘᑭ) covers much of the Great Lakes region and the Great Plains, n ...

and

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota ...

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

band government In Canada, an Indian band (), First Nation band () or simply band, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subject to the ''Indian Act'' (i.e. status Indians or First Nations). Bands are typically small groups of people: the largest in ...

Manitoba Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...

, Canada. (It also hosts a small number of

Cree The Cree, or nehinaw (, ), are a Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people, numbering more than 350,000 in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada, First Nations. They live prim ...

people as well.) Situated on a land base of primarily located in the Central Plains Region of Manitoba, its reserve lands include the Long Plain Reserve #6, the Keeshkeemaquah Reserve near

Portage La Prairie Portage la Prairie () is a small city in the Central Plains Region of Manitoba, Canada. In 2016, the population was 13,304 and the land area was . Portage la Prairie is approximately west of Winnipeg, along the Trans-Canada Highway (exactly ...

, and the Madison Indian Reserve #1—the first

urban reserve An urban Indian reserve () or urban First Nations reserve () is land that the Government of Canada has designated as a First Nations reserve that is situated within an urban area. Such lands allow for aboriginal commercial ventures which enj ...

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

. It is located to the southwest of

Portage la Prairie Portage la Prairie () is a small city in the Central Plains Region of Manitoba, Canada. In 2016, the population was 13,304 and the land area was . Portage la Prairie is approximately west of Winnipeg, along the Trans-Canada Highway (exactly ...

along the

Assiniboine River The Assiniboine River ( ; ) is a long river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a single main channel embanked ...

. It lies between the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie and the

Rural Municipality of South Norfolk The Rural Municipality of South Norfolk is a former rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It was originally incorporated as a rural municipality on December 22, 1883. It ceased on January 1, 2015, as a result of its provinc ...

, and also borders another band's reserve, that of the

Dakota Plains First Nation Dakota Plains First Nation, Dakota Plains Wahpeton Oyate, or Wakhpetunwin Otinta (Waȟpéthuŋwaŋ Otina Dakhóta Oyáte, "Leaf dwellers") is a Wahpeton band Dakota First Nations entity southwest of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. It borders the some ...

. The current chief of the Long Plain First Nation is David Meeches, who was elected in December 2023, returning to the post after his tenure ended in 2013. Meeches replaced Kyra Wilson, who was the second female Chief in Long Plain history.

Reserves

The First Nation has 3 reserve lands: * Long Plain Reserve No. 6 — located in the Central Plains Region of Manitoba, southwest of

, west of

, and south of

Manitoba Highway 1 Provincial Trunk Highway 1 (PTH 1) is Manitoba's section of the Trans-Canada Highway. It is a heavily used, 4-lane divided highway, with the exception of a short 18 km section in the southeastern corner of the province. It is the main link b ...

. * Keeshkeemaquah Reserve — located near Portage La Prairie. * Madison Indian Reserve #1 — an

located in Winnipeg.

Long Plain Reserve No. 6

Long Plain Reserve No. 6—located in the Central Plains Region of Manitoba, southwest of

—is the main reserve of Long Plain First Nation. The reserve is home to various amenities, including Arrowhead Grocery, a grocery store opened in 2016; Arrowhead Internet Services, a

wireless internet service provider A wireless Internet service provider (WISP) is an Internet service provider with a network based on wireless networking. Technology may include commonplace Wi-Fi wireless mesh networking, or proprietary equipment designed to operate over open ...

that provides broadband connectivity to underserved markets; and Crossing Gas Bar.

Keeshkeemaquah Reserve

The Keeshkeemaquah Reserve is located near

. Overlooking the Crescent Lake in Portage la Prairie, these lands were originally used as the site of a residential school called ''Portage la Prairie Presbyterian Indian Residential School'' (or simply the

Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...

). The land was first set aside as reserve i)n August 1981 in recognition of an outstanding treaty land entitlement. The former residential school building was renovated in 1984 and became home to the

Yellowquill College Yellowquill University College is Manitoba's first First Nations-controlled post-secondary institution. The First Nation-owned and -operated college was founded in October 1984, by the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council. Governance Yellowquill Unive ...

(before the college moved to Winnipeg in 2000). In 2000, the Long Plain First Nation Council entered into a 50-year

head lease A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the user (referred to as the ''lessee'') to pay the owner (referred to as the ''lessor'') for the use of an asset. Property, buildings and vehicles are common assets that are leased. Industrial ...

(now extended to 75 years) with Arrowhead Development Corp. The lands were designated for education and training purposes, later allowing for ancillary purposes. Today, the lands are subleased to the Keeshkeemaquah Conference and Gaming Centre, Miskwaanakwadook Office Building (opened in 2006), Arrowhead Gas Bar, Rufus Prince Building, White Cross Drugs and Walk-in Clinic, and Long Plain Housing Authority. The reserve is also home to a Microtel Inn and Suites by Wyndham. The

Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council The Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council (DOTC) is a First Nations tribal council in southern Manitoba, Canada, consisting of 6 Dakota and Ojibway band governments. History The Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council was founded in 1972, and formally incorporated ...

's head office is located on this reserve.

Madison Reserve #1

Madison Reserve #1 is an

located in

, to the west of the Polo Park Shopping Centre. This property was purchased from

Manitoba Hydro The Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board (), operating as Manitoba Hydro, is the electric power and natural gas public utility, utility in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1961, it is a provincial Crown Corporation, governed by the Manitoba ...

in 2006. With the land spanning , the purchase included a building, asphalt parking lot, and an additional gravel parking lot. In July 2010, Long Plain and the City of Winnipeg executed a municipal services and development agreement, setting the stage for the development of the 3-acre parcel. In 2011, a significant portion of the building that existed there on 480 Madison was renovated and leased to the

Inc.; the remaining space was renovated in 2012 for office space and was leased to

Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is a group of Television in Canada, Canadian Specialty channel, specialty television channels based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The channels broadcast programming produced by or highlighting Indigenous p ...

(APTN), Manito Ahbee, Eagle Vision, and Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. On May 23, 2013, the site officially attained reserve status and became the first urban reserve in Winnipeg. The reserve is now home to Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport, Madison

Petro-Canada Petro-Canada (colloquially known as Petro-Can) is a retail and wholesale marketing brand subsidiary of Suncor Energy. Until 1991, it was a federal Crown corporation (a state-owned enterprise). In August 2009, Petro-Canada merged with Suncor En ...

gas and convenience store, and the 480 Madison Building. The 480 Madison building continues to house Yellowquill College, Manito Ahbee, Eagle Vision, and the Treaty Relations Commission, as well as being home to the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Council, Saint Elizabeth First Nations Inuit and Métis Program, Setoskatowin, and the

Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC; preceded by the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood, MIB) is an association that advocates on issues affecting First Nations in Manitoba. Representing all of the 63 First Nations in the province, it advocates on beha ...

Community and amenities

Arrowhead Development Corporation (ADC) is a development corporation that manages Long Plain band-owned businesses on and off-reserve, established to develop business concepts and incorporate businesses under a development corporation. Under ADC, Long Plain First Nation owns and operates Rez Radio 101.7 FM, which services the Long Plain community. Long Plain First Nation Annual Pow-wow began in 1876 and is one of Manitoba's longest running

pow-wow A powwow (also pow wow or pow-wow) is a gathering with dances held by many Native American and First Nations communities. Inaugurated in 1923, powwows today are an opportunity for Indigenous people to socialize, dance, sing, and honor their ...

celebrations. The contest usually occurs during August long weekend from Friday evening to Sunday night. Residents of the region have included artist Linus Woods. The Long Plain First Nation operates the Long Plain School (Kindergarten to Grade 8). The original campus of

was located in the Rufus Prince Building, which was previously used as the

Portage La Prairie Presbyterian Indian Residential School Portage or portaging ( CA: ; ) is the practice of carrying water craft or cargo over land, either around an obstacle in a river, or between two bodies of water. A path where items are regularly carried between bodies of water is also called a '' ...

on the Keeshkeemaquah Reserve. Current tenants of the Rufus Prince Building include Manitoba First Nations Police Service, Long Plain First Nation Trust Long Plain Lands Department, and Long Plain Gaming Commission. The Manitoba First Nations Police Service, established in 1977 by the

, is a recognized self-administered First Nation police agency that operates out of Long Plain No. 6.

References

External links

Long Plain First NationMap of Long Plain 6 (part in Census Division No. 9) at Statcan
{{MBDivision9 First Nations governments in Manitoba Ojibwe governments First Nations in Southern Manitoba Central Plains Region, Manitoba Indian reserves in Manitoba