Community

View of Stanley Mission from the air (RCMP photo) 

The Stanley Mission Cree Nation is a part of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, which is one of the largest bands in Saskatchewan. Of the six populated reserves within the Band, Stanley Mission has the most membership with around 1400 people.

The community is situated on the banks of the majestic Churchill River System in Northern Saskatchewan, about 80 kilometers north east of La Ronge, or 310 kilometers north of Prince Albert. The community has a total population of about 1,540 people, in which approximately 1,420 people live on reserve, and 150 people living on the Settlement side.

 Education: The education system follows English as a second language approach to  their teaching. The system also offers Cree Language and Culture as a means maintaining their Woodland Cree Culture. With two schools with modern day technology, the students at both the Keethanow Elementary School and the Rhoda Hardlotte Memorial Keethanow High School are given every opportunity to good quality education.

The Elementary School (www.keethanow.ca) which runs from nursery to grade 6, has an enrollment of about 350 students. Whereas, the High School, which is from grade 7 to 12, has an enrollment of about 300 students.

The Post Secondary program also gives Band members full opportunity to further their education. Students are given the option of going to any post secondary institution, or they can stay in the community and take university courses offered at the Learning Centre through the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College.

A new program just introduced in 2001 is the Headstart Program. This program helps children from ages 3 and 4 to adapt to school environment.

Photo of Keethanow Elementary school constructed in 1990

Community Hall: The community has a newly expanded Community Hall, which hosts most of the community events. With the new addition, hundreds more people can now partake in the fun and entertainment.

Band Office: The Band Office was finished in 1997, and had an extension attached in 2000, there are 19 employees who work in the Band Office and over two hundred Band Members employed by the Band.  Anyone can come and visit, and we do have lots of visitors every day.

Amachewespimawin Band Office

 Community Indoor Arena: There is a new facility which is a great addition to the community. The 1.8 million dollar Indoor Arena which has artificial ice, was made possible from great volunteer efforts from community members. This  facility was constructed in 1999 after about 5 years of fund raising. This building is still being paid for continuously by  fund-raising events. The Rink is open from early September until late April, and with the long hockey season, the community members, both young and old, welcome this new facility.

Amachewespimawin Community Arena

Youth Drop-In Centre: The newly extended Youth Centre now has plenty of room for the youth of the community. With  two Youth Workers working shifts, the Centre is open seven days a week and offers Youth Programming, many games and activities for the kids. Included are two pool tables, video games, darts, karaoke machine, table tennis, foose ball, air hockey,  and satellite TV.

Amachewespimawin Elder's Haven:  Construction for the Elder's Haven started in August, 2002, Elders moved into the facility in February, 2003. 

The Haven services elderly and disabled persons from the Lac La Ronge Indian Band as well as from several P.A. District Bands.  Services are offered 24-hours a day, with experienced personnel, including nurses.  Clients’ level of care ranges from levels 2-4, i.e. wheelchair bound, physical disability, palliative care etc.  Due to the high levels of care required, family members are unable to provide the needed care for their relatives.

Staff at the Haven is comprised of one full time Coordinator, full time Home Care Nurse, half time LPN, 3 full time Elder Care Aides (Certified). 7 Casual workers and 7 Emergency Part-time workers.  Funding for the operation of this facility is done through the Stanley Mission Band Office.

Health Centre Sub-office (formerly Youth Group Home):  This building has been turned into the sub-office of the health centre, where 9 to 10 staff work out of.  The staff include 2 LPNs, 1 mental health therapist, 1 home and community care coordinator, 2 addictions workers, 2 homecare workers, 1 residential school facilitator and 1 elder care worker.