View source for Moose Cree First Nation

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
[[File:Factory Island IR.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Typical residential street in Factory Island 1 Indian Reserve, Moose Factory.]]
The '''Moose Cree First Nation''' (formerly known as Moose Factory Band of Indians) ({{langx|cr|ᒨᓱᓂᔨ ᐃᓕᓕᐗᒃ, môsoniyi ililiwak}}) is a [[Cree]] [[First Nations in Canada|First Nation]] [[band government]] in [[northern Ontario]], Canada. Their traditional territory is on the west side of [[James Bay]]. The nation has two [[Indian reserve|reserve]]s: '''[[Factory Island 1]]''' (the northern two-thirds of [[Moose Factory Island]]); and '''[[Moose Factory 68]]''', a tract of land about 15&nbsp;km upstream on the [[Moose River (Ontario)|Moose River]] covering {{convert|168.82|km2}}.<ref name=ainc>{{cite web |url=http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/community/site.nsf/eng/fn144.html |title=Moose Cree First Nation |work=Aboriginal Community in Canada |publisher=Indian and Northern Affairs Canada |access-date=17 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927124911/http://www.aboriginalcanada.gc.ca/acp/community/site.nsf/eng/fn144.html |archive-date=27 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Name==
The name "Moose Factory" comes from its location on the [[Moose River (Ontario)|Moose River]], as well as from the fur trade era. The officer in charge of the trading post was referred to as the "factor". Another account is that the name originates from the name of the river and a furniture factory that was once located within the community.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.moosecree.com/our_community/history.html |title=Our Community – History of Moose Factory |publisher=The Moose Cree First Nation website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224083807/http://www.moosecree.com/our_community/history.html |archive-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==History==
The [[Cree]] are an [[indigenous people of the Subarctic]], who historically hunted and gathered in seasonal migrations. In summer, they traveled on waterways by canoe: fishing and harvesting berries and other food staples. In fall, they hunted waterfowl along the shores of [[James Bay]]. Prior to winter, Cree families traveled to their winter settlements, where they hunted and trapped big game and small, fur-bearing animals. Prior to spring thaw, the families hunted waterfowl as they migrated north. This was an historical, annual cycle for the [[Swampy Cree]].

Early exposure to European society heavily influenced Cree lifestyles. The [[Hudson's Bay Company]] establishing a trading post for fur in 1673 in the Moose Factory region. As a result, Cree congregated in and around the fur trade post and became exposed to European customs. [[Moose Factory, Ontario|Moose Factory]] became [[Ontario]]'s first English-speaking settlement.

In 1905, on behalf of the British Crown, treaty commissioners negotiated a treaty with Moose Cree First Nation. Treaty {{abbr|No.|number}}&nbsp;9 was signed on 9 August 1905.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/trty9_e.html |title=The James Bay Treaty – Treaty No. 9 (1905/1906) |publisher=Indian and Northern Affairs Canada |access-date=30 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080202142644/https://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/pr/trts/trty9_e.html |archive-date=2 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The treaty defined two tracts of land to beset aside for use and "benefit" of Moose Cree First Nation. The first tract, Moose Factory Indian Reserve No. 1 occupies approximately two-thirds of Moose Factory Island. The second tract, Moose Factory Indian reserve No. 68 is located approximately 10 miles south of Moose Factory at the mouth of the [[French River (Ontario)|French River]].

==Population==
The population of Moose Cree First Nation was 5,163 in December 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Canada |first1=Government of |title=Moose Cree First Nation Profile |url=https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNRegPopulation.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=144&lang=eng |website=Government of Canada |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=22 January 2025}}</ref>

==People==
Prominent Canadian artist [[Duane Linklater]] is Omaskeko Cree, of Moose Cree First Nations. He is represented by [[Catriona Jeffries Gallery]], Vancouver, [[British Columbia]], and his work has been shown locally,<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Catriona Jeffries Gallery |title= Duane Linklater – Exhibitions |access-date=23 March 2017 |url=http://catrionajeffries.com/artists/duane-linklater/exhibitions/ }}</ref> nationally,<ref>{{cite news |title=Two artists go moose hunting: Modest Livelihood at the AGO |first=Murray |last=White |newspaper=[[Toronto Star]] |date=26 October 2013 |access-date=23 March 2017 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/visualarts/2013/10/26/two_artists_go_moose_hunting_modest_livelihood_at_the_ago.html }}</ref> and internationally.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.moosecree.com/ The Moose Cree First Nation Website]
*[https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNMain.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=144&lang=eng Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: First Nation Detail]
*[http://www.mcea.ca/ Moose Cree Education Authority]
*[http://www.mushkegowuk.com/ Mushkegowuk Council]

{{Nishnawbe Aski Nation}}
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{{Cochrane District}}
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[[Category:First Nations governments in Ontario]]
[[Category:Nishnawbe Aski Nation]]
[[Category:Cree governments]]