Buffalo River Dene Nation

The Buffalo River Dene Nation (Chipewyan: Ɂëjëre dësché) is a Dene First Nations band government in Saskatchewan, Canada. The band's main community, Dillon, is located on the western shore of Peter Pond Lake at the mouth of the Dillon River,^[5] and is accessed by Highway 925 from Highway 155.

Buffalo River Dene Nation
Band No. 398

People	Dene
Treaty	Treaty 10
Headquarters	Dillon
Province	Saskatchewan
Land[1]
Reserve(s)	Buffalo River Dene Nation 193
Land area	82.597 km2
Population (2019)[2]
On reserve	798
Off reserve	701
Total population	1499
Government[3]
Chief	Elmer Campbell
Tribal Council[4]
Meadow Lake Tribal Council

History

John Franklin's Coppermine Expedition map of 1819–1822 showing the fur trade route from Île-à-la-Crosse to Methye Portage

The North West Company had a post near Dillon in 1790. It was called Lac des Boeufs Post (Buffalo Lake Post).^[6] The Hudson's Bay Company had a post nearby in 1791.

In 1819–1820 Sir John Franklin noted the position of the North West Company Post on Buffalo Lake (Peter Pond Lake) where Buffalo River (Dillon River) is located. (see map)

The first post office opened under the name of Buffalo River in 1926 and closed in 1929. In 1954 the post office was re-opened under the name of Dillon.^[7]

Name changes

In 1932 the name of the community was officially changed from Buffalo River to Dillon, the name of the river was changed from Buffalo River to Dillon River and Buffalo Lake was renamed Peter Pond Lake.^[8] A lake on the Dillon River just west of Vermette Lake also received its official name of Dillon Lake in 1932.^[8]

The source of the Dillon River is in Alberta east of Lake Winefred near co-ordinates 55.50°N 110.259°W / 55.50; -110.259.^[8]

Buffalo River Dene Nation

Buffalo River Dene Nation has a total registered membership of 1,273 with 689 members residing on-reserve and 584 members residing at locations off-reserve as of May, 2012 ^[9] The total territory of the Buffalo River Dene Nation 193 is 8259.70 hectares.^[10]

Demographics

	2021	2011
Population	842 (+7.5% from 2016)	764 (+3.1% from 2006)
Land area	83.63 km2 (32.29 sq mi)	86.32 km2 (33.33 sq mi)
Population density	10.1/km2 (26/sq mi)	8.9/km2 (23/sq mi)
Median age	27.8 (M: 26.8, F: 29.2)	25.6 (M: 26.4, F: 25.0)
Private dwellings	297 (total)  271 (occupied)	245 (total)
Median household income	$66,500

Canada census – Buffalo River Dene Nation community profile

References: 2021^[11] 2011^[12] earlier^[13][14]

See also

• Denesuline language
• Denesuline

References

1. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
2. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
3. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
4. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
5. "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Dillon River)". Retrieved 2014-08-29.
6. "ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SASKATCHEWAN (list of forts in Northern Saskatchewan)". Retrieved 2012-10-12.
7. "Library and Archives Canada (Post Offices and Postmasters)". Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
8. "Geographical Names Query". Archived from the original on 2013-04-06. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
9. "AANDC (Registered Population)". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
10. "AANDC Reserves/Settlements/Villages". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 2013-03-14.
11. "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
12. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
13. "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
14. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.