1950's Nuclear Testing
In 2003, the Chief and Council first became aware of the 1957 planned nuclear testing on York Factory traditional grounds just east of Fort Nelson. The Winnipeg FreePress published an article that Canada, the United States and England wanted to use York Factory traditional grounds as a testing site for nuclear weapons. The people living in this area were forcibly relocated to the Split Lake region circa 1957 to accommodate the possibility of a nuclear testing site. This land, however, was never used for nuclear testing, but remained hunting grounds.

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The Cree Peoples of York Factory Cree Nation have co-existed with white settlers for three and a half centuries. The impact of such co-existence has left lasting effects on the Native peoples of the regions.

Shortly after the people of York Factory signed to Treaty Five the building of the railroad became a major means of employment for people in the surrounding area. The railroad ran from The Pas, Manitoba to Churchill, Manitoba. The railroad would play a huge part in the transportation of Aboriginal children from Churchill to Dauphin and Brandon where the children were sent to attend the Residential Schools.

The Churches have played a key role in attempts to civilize the Native peoples York Factory. The Residential Schools were truly a negative mechanism used by the Churches to help extinguish or if you will "civilize" the Native way of living. Imagine if you will what an effect it would have on a young child to be taken from their family, and not being able to see them again for another ten months, and only for a two month summer period. Even with the feat of traveling the distance to Dauphin or Brandon the only way for a parent to see their child within the ten month period was to get permission from the Indian Agent to leave the reserve. This of course was next to nil. If this hardship was not bad enough next you could not speak your native tongue. However, the abuse physically, mentally, sexually that took place in these institutions are clearly too numerous and horrific to elaborate upon.

Around 1957 the York Factory Trading Post closed. The People of York Factory were relocated to York Landing. The reason given was the Post was closed and the Cree people would not be able to survive with out it, not being able to sell their furs. The Indian Agent told the people to take only what they needed as they would be given what they needed to survive at the new relocation spot. However, just recently in 2003 the Chief and Council became aware of what the Canadian, United States, and England intentions were.

The Canadian, United States, and England governments planned to do nuclear testing on York Factory traditional grounds just east of Fort Nelson. With the Native people off the way this left the area wide open. Thankfully though, the testing never commenced.

The Cree people of York Factory now live in the Split Lake Region, in such communities as York Landing, Gilliam, and Split Lake.

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