Hatchet Lake Dene Nation


Hatchet Lake Dene Nation is a Dene First Nation in northern Saskatchewan. The main settlement, Wollaston Lake, is an unincorporated community on Wollaston Lake in the boreal forest of northeastern Saskatchewan, Canada.
The population centre comprises the northern settlement of Wollaston Lake, an unincorporated community in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District, and the adjoining First Nations community of Wollaston Post, the administrative headquarters of the Hatchet Lake Dene First Nation band government.
Access is provided by Wollaston Lake Airport and Highway 905. The highway is on the west side of the lake and the community is on the east side. Access from the highway is provided by an ice road in the winter and by the Wollaston Barge Ferry in the summer.

Demographics

The population of Wollaston Lake was 99 in 2016 and the population of Wollaston Post was 1,251 in 2011. Together they form a community of 1,380 residents.

Band government

Wollaston Post is the administrative centre of the Hatchet Lake Dene Nation. The First Nations band government had a total registered membership of 1,760 in January 2015 with 1,369 members residing on-reserve and 391 members residing at locations off-reserve. Under a Custom Electoral System members choose one Chief and six councillors. Hatchet Lake is affiliated with the Prince Albert Grand Council.

Territory

Hatchet Lake Dene Nation has one territory. Lac La Hache 220 is . It includes many islands the largest being Strong Island, Paul Island, Labby Island and Jackpine Island and peninsulas north of the settlement in the area surrounding Fidler Bay and Kempton Bay.

Climate

Wollaston Lake has a subarctic climate with mild, wet summers and long, severely cold winters.