Gordon First Nation lies about one and a half hours north of Regina, near the tiny village of Punnichy. The Cree and Saulteaux people who make up Gordon First Nation first settled in this area, near the Little Touchwood Hills, in the 1800s.
Gordon First Nation is part of the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council. Muskowekwan First Nation, Day Star First Nation, Fishing Lake First Nation and Kawacatoose First Nation are the other members of the Council.
Membership for Gordon First Nation, according to the band’s website, is 2,883. As is often the case, most members live off-reserve. The total size of the reserve is 14,946-hectares.
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A Place of Healing
During the residential school era, Gordon First Nation was the site of one of Canada’s worst residential schools. Hundreds of young children suffered terrible abuse that has had long-lasting reverberations.
Today, Gordon First Nation is home to the Residential School Recovery and Wellness Centre. The Centre provides crisis counseling, support groups, sharing circles, family counseling, parenting skill workshops and referral services.
The reserve is also home to the George Gordon Education Centre, the Gordon Medical Clinic, the Gordon Retail centre and the Medicine Wheel Buffalo Ranch, a Touchwood Agency Tribal Council Bison Project.
Art
Artists Mary Longman and Miles Anderson are both from Gordon First Nation. Perhaps coincidentally, both artists work with antlers; Anderson is best known for his antler carvings and Longman often uses elk antler in her sculptures. These well-known professional artists aren’t the only members of Gordon First Nations with a creative streak. You can view and buy artwork made by band members at Gordon First Nation.
Just the Stats, Please
Statistics for Gordon 86 Reserve
Source: Statistics Canada)
2006 population 866
2001 population 723
Population change (%) 19.8
Total private dwellings 223
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents 221
Population density per square kilometer 6.5
Land area (square km) 132.98