Lac La Ronge Indian Band

Located in north-central Saskatchewan, Lac La Ronge Indian Band is the second largest First Nation in Saskatchewan by population and the largest by land mass. Lac La Ronge is also in Treaty 6 territory, where the Lac La Ronge band was a signatory in 1889. In 1900, the Peter Ballantyne band separated from the Lac La Ronge band to form the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation. The dominant Indigenous language amongst the group is Woodland Cree.

As of November 2024, the registered population was 12,536, with 7,361 members living on Lac La Ronge’s reserve and 4,792 members living off-reserve. The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is composed of six reserve communities and 19 separate reserve lands (see also Reserves in Saskatchewan). The communities include Grandmother’s Bay, Hall Lake, La Ronge, Little Red River, Stanley Mission and Sucker River.

In August 2024, Lac La Ronge Indian Band agreed to a settlement with the federal government regarding unfulfilled treaty promises. Numerous treaties, including Treaty 6, promised benefits to support agriculture. These benefits included livestock and agricultural equipment, and the clause is sometimes known as the “cows and plows” clause. It was not fulfilled by the federal government for Lac La Ronge Indian Band as well as other First Nations. The settlement totaled $601.5 million.