Ermineskin Cree Nation also known as the Ermineskin Tribe ( cr, ᓀᔮᐢᑵᔮᕽ, ), is a

Cree The Cree ( cr, néhinaw, script=Latn, , etc.; french: link=no, Cri) are a North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations. In Canada, over 350,000 people are Cree o ...

band government In Canada, an Indian band or band (french: bande indienne, link=no), sometimes referred to as a First Nation band (french: bande de la Première Nation, link=no) or simply a First Nation, is the basic unit of government for those peoples subjec ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest T ...

, Canada. A signatory to

Treaty 6 Treaty 6 is the sixth of the numbered treaties that were signed by the Canadian Crown and various First Nations between 1871 and 1877. It is one of a total of 11 numbered treaties signed between the Canadian Crown and First Nations. Specif ...

, Ermineskin is one of the Four Nations of Maskwacis, Alberta's largest Indigenous community. As of 2019, there are 4,879 registered Ermineskin Cree, of which 3,290 were living on

reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US ...

. The Ermineskin Cree Nation's two reserves (around Maskwacis, Alberta) total about 22,512

hectares The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100- metre sides (1 hm2), or 10,000 m2, and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. An acre is ...

and lived in an area around Pigeon Lake and the Bear Hills (known in

as ). Therefore, they were called or , meaning Bear Hills Cree. While the Ermineskin traditional territory includes the reserve lands, the reserve was formally established in 1885. The land houses substantial oil and gas deposits, agricultural land, and waterfront access to Pigeon Lake. The

Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canad ...

line runs through the reserve. The First Nation took its name from Ermineskin Kosikosowayano also known as ''Baptiste Piche''), Chief of the Bear Hills Cree. He was the son of

Peechee The Pee-Chee All Season Portfolio is an American stationery item that achieved popularity in the second half of the 20th century. It is commonly used by students for storing school papers. The folder, which was originally produced solely in a ...

( - "Mountain Lion", also known as ''Louis Piche''), Chief of the Asini Wachi Nehiyawak (Cree groups of the Rocky/Mountain Cree) and later head chief of the Rocky Mountain Cree ( or ) and also brother-in-law of

Pitikwahanapiwiyin Pîhtokahanapiwiyin ( – 4 July 1886), also known as Poundmaker, was a Plains Cree chief known as a peacemaker and defender of his people, the Poundmaker Cree Nation. His name denotes his special craft at leading buffalo into buffalo poun ...

(′Poundmaker′), Chief of the River Cree ( or ). Ermineskin was the younger brother of the well-known - Bobtail, also known as ''Alexis Piche''), who became Chief of the Bear Hills Cree after the death of their father Louie Piche also known as Pisu) who was the chief of the Rocky Cree ( or ) and became later head chief of the Western Cree (‘Pakisimotan Wi Iniwak’) and soon after head chief of all the groups of the Upstream People ( or ).

Indian Reserves

There are two Indian reserves under the governance of the band: *Ermineskin Indian Reserve No. 138, 10295.8 ha. * Pigeon Lake Indian Reserve No. 138A, 1921 ha. Pigeon Lake IR No. 138A is shared with three other governments, the

Samson First Nation Samson Indian Reserve No. 137, also known as Samson No. 137 and Samson 137, and as the Samson Reserve, is an Indian reserve in Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada. It is inhabited by members of the Samson Cree Nation and was established under the provisi ...

, the

Louis Bull First Nation Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis (d ...

and the Montana First Nation.

Notable members

*Chief Randy Ermineskin *

Willie Littlechild J. Wilton Littlechild (born 1944), known as Willie Littlechild, is a Canadian lawyer and Cree chief who was Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and a member of Parliament. A residential school survivor, he is known for ...

References

External links

* {{Authority control First Nations governments in Alberta Cree governments