The Okanese First Nation was a signatory to Treaty number four.[5] It is named after a leader named Okanis, who signed the treaty on their behalf, on September 9, 1875.[3] The Nation's population was 104 in 1879. 225 of the 459 members lived on the Nation's Reserve in 1999.
^ ab"Okanese First Nation". Saskatchewan First Nations. Archived from the original on 2009-11-19. This reserve was named after its first Chief, Okanis, who signed an adhesion to treaty four on September 9, 1875. The Okanese band settled in the File Hills area along with Peepeekisis, Little Black Bear and Starblanket.
^"Sask. women are leaders". Canwest. 2008-06-18. Archived from the original on 2012-11-07. Marie-Anne Day Walker-Pelletier from the Okanese First Nation is the longest-serving female chief in Saskatchewan, having first taken office in 1981.