The Opaskwayak Cree Nation (/ˌoʊpəˈskwaɪək/; OCN, Cree: ᐅᐸᐢᑿᔭᐠ, opâskwêyâhk, 'at the wooded narrows')^[3] is a First Nations band government located in Manitoba, Canada.^[4] The main OCN reserve is regarded as one of three distinct communities that comprise "The Pas area" in northern Manitoba, with the two others being the Town of The Pas and the Rural Municipality of Kelsey.^[5]

Most of the OCN's on-reserve population lives near the Town of The Pas on the OCN 21E reserve, but the band also has many other reserves stretching from Goose Lake in the north to Mountain Cabin, Saskatchewan, in the south. OCN is accessible by rail, road, water, and air travel.

Peoples of the OCN are Swampy Cree, and their dominant language is from the Swampy Cree n-dialect.^[6] The Opaskwayak people first negotiated and entered into Treaty 5 in 1876.^[6]

The First Nation hosts the Opaskwayak Indian Days annually each August. ^{[citation needed]}

When the Opaskwayak people signed Treaty 5 on in 1876,^[6] the federal government agreed to give the band Timber Rights. In 1904, the band opened a sawmill on Mission Island in the Saskatchewan River. Soon after, the band surrendered their land on the south side of the river, and in 1908, they moved their sawmill to the north side. The sawmill operated intermittently until 1930, and provided wood for most of the homes built in the first few decades of the 20th century.^[7]

According to oral traditions, Cree peoples have occupied the landscape of north-central Manitoba since time immemorial; this claim has been supported by archaeology. The earliest archeological evidence of the people occupying the area has been carbon dated 2,600–4,000 years ago.^{[citation needed]}

The current townsite of Opaskwayak, reserve parcel 21E, was a historical gathering place where people travelled for spiritual healing. The area Cree would meet here every summer to fish, harvest, and cultivate the land. Also during this time, it was an opportunity for creating social ties and practicing the ceremonial way of life known as the Midewiwin, or Grand Medicine Society.^{[citation needed]}

The language of the Opaskwayak people is from the Swampy Cree n-dialect. There was a number of local bands who shared the same defined territory which, in turn, composed of a number of interrelated families who came together periodically through the year for various social, cultural activities and ceremonies.

The Band is governed by the Chief and eight Councillors, who are elected according to its own election code which was adopted by its members in 2012, for a three-year term.

The reserve consists of 24 parcels of land varying in size from 10 to 5200 acres and totaling about 45,000 acres. The most populated settlements are located in and around The Pas. Most of the reserve's borders are with the Rural Municipality of Kelsey and The Pas. The balance is with the unorganized portion of Census Division No. 21.

• Wilfred Buck, educator
• Amanda Lathlin, politician
• Oscar Lathlin, politician^[20]
• Greg Younging, writer

• OCN Storm
• OCN Blizzard