Oxford House, Manitoba
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Oxford House
Bunibonibee ᐸᓂᑇᓂᐱᐩ panipwânipiy | |
|---|---|
| Oxford House 24 | |
  Oxford House Location of Oxford House in Manitoba | |
| Coordinates: 54°56′54″N 95°15′56″W / 54.94833°N 95.26556°W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Northern |
| Established | 1798 |
| Government | |
| • MP (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski) | Niki Ashton (NDP) |
| • MLA (Keewatinook) | Ian Bushie (NDP) |
| Area | |
• Total | 51.01 km2 (19.70 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 664 m (2,178 ft) |
| Population (2016[1]) | |
• Total | 1,950 |
| • Density | 38.2/km2 (99/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Oxford House (Cree: ᐸᓂᑇᓂᐱᐩ, Bunibonibee/panipwânipiy) is a First Nations Cree community in northern Manitoba, located on the Oxford House 24 Indian reserve. The community is located along the eastern shore of Oxford Lake at the mouth of Hayes River, 950 kilometres (590 mi) north of Winnipeg. The Hayes River was designated a Canadian Heritage River in 2006.[2]
The Bunibonibee Cree Nation have reserved for themselves 13 separate tracts, of which Oxford House 24 serves as their main reserve, containing the settlement of Oxford House.
Oxford House was established in 1798 as a Hudson's Bay Company fur trading post on the fur trade route between York Factory on the Hudson Bay and Norway House some 30 km (19 mi) north of Lake Winnipeg.[3]
Oxford House is said to be site of one of the earliest strikes in Canada when fur trade employees went on strike in 1820 to insist on better pay.[4]
People from nearby areas moved to the trading site and formed the community of Oxford House. The United Church played a major role in the development of the community. The ministers and their wives were the first nurses and teachers.[5]
People of Oxford House
When the Dust Settles
"I really wanted to show what it's like to live in a place like that, just so people can understand more the struggles that First Nations people go through
— Carlene Weenusk, [6]
In 2016, N'we Jinan travelled to Oxford House and made two music videos with indigenous youth living there, "When the Dust Settles" and "BoiDee".[7] The two videos received attention from outside the community for the insight they offer into the problems facing youth living on remote reserves.[6] The songs are included on the N'We Jinan album, Silent War recorded in Vancouver in 2017.[8]
