On my father’s side I am a direct descendant of Michel Calliho and I made this piece using a Michel Band Indian Affairs survey map and a photo of the territory to share the story of the Michel Band. The Michel First Nation is comprised of people of mixed Cree and Iroquois decent. In 1878, Chief Michel and two headmen signed an adhesion to Treaty 6. In 1880, the Michel Callihoo Reserve was created approximately 29 km northwest of Edmonton. near what is today St. Albert. The Michel Band reserve was prime agricultural land and there was a strong desire by settlers in the area to acquire that land. Through a series of land surrenders starting in 1903 and the ultimate enfranchisement of Michel First Nation, the reserve was lost. In 1952 enfranchisement of the whole Band would be made under Section 112 of the Indian Act, which didn’t actually require any band consent. All members would “cease being Indians” and their land divided and sold. This was the first and only time an Indian Band was enfranchised in Canada under Section 112 of the Indian Act.