Treaty #4, 1874

The Kawacatoose First Nation has a population of 3,250, with more than 1,000 people living on Poorman's Indian Reserve #88. Poorman's is 8,248 hectares in area.

Cree, and English language speakers

History

People under the historical leadership of four chiefs, Kawacatoose (Poor Man, or Lean Man), Kaneonuskatew (One That Walks On Four Claws, or George Gordon), Muscowequan (Hard Quill), and Kisecawchuck (Daystar), are known as posâkanacîwiyiniwak, or the Touchwood Hills People. Chief Kawacatoose signed Treaty 4 on 15 September 1874. Treaty 4 recognized, and then confined, the Kawacatoose First Nation onto Poorman's Indian Reserve #88.

Today the posâkanacîwiyiniwak, the Kawacatoose, Gordons, Muskowekwan, and Daystar First Nations, plus the Fishing Lake First Nation comprise the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council.

The posâkanacîwiyiniwak are part of the mamihkiyiniwak People, or the Downstream People. The Downstream People consists to four groups; the posâkanacîwiyiniwak (Touchwood Hills People), the katepwewcipi (Calling River People), the wapucwayanak (Rabbitskin People), and the paskwawiyiniwak (Prairie People). The mamihkiyiniwak People occupied the southeastern plains, and used the Assiniboine-Red River and Lake Winnipeg waterways.

Prior to the 1870s, the posâkanacîwiyiniwak People hunted buffalo between Long Lake and posâkanacî (Touchwood Hills) area.  By the 1870s, the deliberate extermination of the buffalo was nearly complete, and the posâkanacîwiyiniwak were pushed into starvation.  With the arrival of the telegraph, railroad, colonizers, and settlers, Chief Kawacatoose sent his brother Konicees to negotiate with Alexander Morris, lieutenant-governor of the North-West Territories in 1874. Not long after this Kawacatoose signed Treaty 4.

Kawacatoose's warriors fought in the battle of Belly River in 1871, where twenty of his people we killed.  His brother Kanocees, also participated in the battle.

Current Chief

Chief Cory Dustyhorn

Box 640 Raymore Sask. S0A 3J0

Phone: 306-835-2125

Past Chiefs

1874 - 1882: Chief Kawacatoose (Lean/Poor Man)

Parents: unknown

Married: A Saulteaux woman, who was considered hardy, for she lived to be 130 years old.  It was known that she worked hard all her life, and enjoyed gardening and tanning hides.  It was told in that in 1918 she finished her last deer hide shortly before her death, which was due to the flu.

Children: Tobacco, Taweqasequape, Nanatawasiw, Soke-peyosew, Kapayyeasikak, Kaysikawasinow, and 2 daughters names unknown, and other children that were traditionally adopted.

1882 - 1932: Tawequaesquape (Middle of the Sky)

Parents: Kawacatoose

Married: Esquasis

Children: Grace, Annie, Edward, Robert, Napootican, and traditionally adopted children.

1932 - 1954: Chief Edward Poorman

Parents: Soke-peyosew

Married: Janet Tapaquon

Children: Walter Poorman (not with wife, but other)

1954 - 1956, 1966 - 1968: Chief Edward Worm

Parents: Jim Worm

Married: Flora Favel

Children: Glen, Edwin, Hillard, Vincent, Peer, Florence, Mediline, Lillian, Margaret, Bill

Remarried: Olive McNabb

Children: Irvin

1958 - 1966, 1968 - 1970: Chief John Skeboss

Parents: Skeboss and Jane (Ellen) Moosemay

Married: Annie Kaypay

Children: traditionally adopted two sons, Roland and Howard

1970 May to December: Chief Joe Littletent

Parents: Dick Littletent

Married: Margaret Poorman

Children: Violet

1972 - 1976, 1978 - 1982: Chief Howard Dustyhorn

Parents: Thomas Dustyhorn and Madeline Skeboss

Married: Joyce Poorman

Children: Brian, Howie, and Garry.  Also had a child, Sheila, with Theresa Bigsky

1976 - 1978: Chief Edward Desjarlais

Parents: Peter Desjarlais and Mary Mainitopyes

Married: Hazel Fourhorns

Children: Angus, Wanda, Hazel, Glena, Sharon, Milton, Edward

Married: Valerie

Children: Jeana, Teasa

1982: Chief Richard Poorman

Parents: Joseph Poorman and Emily Machiskinic

Married: Caroline Tobacco

Children: Raylene, Cheryle, Bradford, Stacey, Tracey, Allen, Delvern

2003 - 2010, 2014 - 2018: Chief Dennis Dustyhorn

2010 - 2013: Chief Darren Poorman

2018-2022 Chief Tom E Dustyhorn

2023 - 2026  Chief Lee Anne Kehler 

Chief Kehler makes history as Kawacatoose First Nation's first woman Chief.