DCHP-1 Online

band ((1)) ((n.)) 1

• 1 n. Hist. a social unit of Indians, smaller than a tribe, who live or hunt together as a group.

  • 1765-75  (1933)  The other two Bands are North. . . .
  • 1824  (1955)  This Band are more reasonable than the others we passed, they have killed two Reindeer & gave us the shoulder & the meat of a Beaver & a few small fish.
  • 1963  These figures . . . serve to indicate how impressed the Métis and their companions were by the size of the band.

• 2a n. a group of Indians in a given area or reserve (def. 2), recognized by the Indian Affairs Branch as a unit for administrative purposes.

  See also: reserve (def. 2)  

  • 1871  (1880)  Two councillors and two braves of each band were to receive a dress, somewhat inferior to that provided for the Chiefs, and, the braves and councillors of the Portage band excepted, were to receive a buggy.
  • 1963  In Ontario, 33 bands . . . manage their own welfare services. . . .

• 2b n. in attributive uses with reference to legally constituted Indian bands.

  • 1900  . . . the Canadian system of band-reserves was the application of the Imperial maxim Divide et impera.
  • 1957  Band corporations should be set up, and all band property rights should be given to them.
  • 1963  Six women are band chiefs, many are councillors. . . .
  • 1965  Now he sits back in an advisory capacity, encouraging the band council to do as much as it can

• 3a n. a herd of buffalo, cattle, horses, caribou, or other such animals.

  • 1824  He was watching all night along the Lake as the Chipeweans do in hopes of the Carribou coming into the waters but . . . the band of Carribou is gone farther.
  • 1825  (1950)  The hunters returned having killed 20 Buffaloe all Bulls [;] many large bands were seen by them but no Cows.
  • 1965  This band, however, rallied unexpectedly to follow the old mare's colt, and during three weeks of daily pursuit by men on fresh horses, they could not be approached.

• 3b n. West a flock of sheep.

  • 1953  Herder and "band" (not flock) have lost their lives in blizzards year after year.
  • 1963  A thousand sheep is called a "band"--not a flock; that would be farmer parlance.