Swan River First Nation

Swan River is one of the original signatories to Treaty No. 8 signed by Kinosayo in 1899. Swan River is a member of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council. The Nation operates all the available programs funded by Indian and Northern Affairs, Health, and Human Resource Development Canada. It also operates three wholly owned corporations and is involved in numerous other corporations.

Who We Are

Swan River First Nation is a Woodland Cree community. Swan River is one of the original signatories to Treaty No. 8 signed by Kinosayo in 1899.

The band has one elected chief and three councilors and currently has a total registered population of 1198 people, of which 374 currently live on Swan River Reserve.

They strive to balance economic development with environmental protection. Swan River is a member of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council. Important resources to the Woodland Cree included: moose, woodland caribou, elk, woodland bison, whitetail deer, bear, hare, beaver, woodchuck, muskrat, porcupine, squirrel as well as whitefish, lake trout, pickerel, and pike. They trapped beaver, mink, marten, otter, lynx, fox, muskrat, squirrel, woodchuck, grey wolf, wolverine, and fisher.

Key Accomplishments

Swan River First Nation has their health center equipped with solar panels and is currently working on a Community Energy Plan.

Where We Are

Swan River’s main reserve and is located approximately 50 kilometers driving distance west from the Town of Slave Lake off Highway 2, located on the south side of Lesser Slave Lake and 300km northwest of Edmonton.

Why Beaver River?

Swan River is one of the original signatories to Treaty No. 8 signed by Kinosayo in 1899. The band has one elected chief and three councilors and currently has over 300 members living on reserve. They strive to balance economic development with environmental protection. It also operates three wholly owned corporations and is involved in numerous other corporations.