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The Pasqua First Nation is located approximately 35 miles east of Regina, Saskatchewan. Located on the south side of Pasqua Lake a few miles west of Fort Qu’Appelle, this location offered timber, agricultural, and hay lands, and in later years it’s proximity to both the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline and Grand Trunk Pacific Branch lines offered easy access to markets for agricultural produce. Surveyed and settled in 1876, two years after the signing of Treaty number four in 1874. The band's first Chief, Pasqua was a major negotiator and signatory to this Treaty.
In 1876, two years after the signing of Treaty number Four settlement of the reserve began. Initially the reserve encompassed and area of 60.2 square miles. According to Government Agent for Treaty Four, Angus McKay, the fact that the reserve bordered on a lake with ample waterfowl and fish stocks, which the Indians subsisted on for much of the summer months, was an advantage.
Nevertheless, the fact that much of the timber was small and in some areas the soil light, in spite of ample hay meadows would make the reserve a rather poor one (Carter: 1993: 63). However, as a result of land surrenders and expropriation by the DIAND there has been a reduction in the land base to an area of approximately 36 square miles. The history of the Pasqua First Nation is common to the majority of Indian bands in the province.
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