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 Indigenous peoples of the Americas, North American Indigenous people. They live primarily in Canada, where they form one of the country's largest First Nations in Canada ...

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 ...

in Alberta, Canada. A signatory to Treaty 6, Ermineskin is one of the Four Nations of

Maskwacis Maskwacis (; cr, ᒪᐢᑿᒌᐢ, ), renamed in 2014 from Hobbema (), is an unincorporated community in central Alberta, Canada at intersection of Highway 2A and Highway 611, approximately south of the City of Edmonton. The community consists ...

, Alberta's largest Indigenous community. As of 2019, there are 4,879 registered Ermineskin Cree, of which 3,290 were living on reserve. The Ermineskin Cree Nation's two reserves (around

, Alberta) total about 22,512 hectares 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 Canadi ...

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 ( - "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 (′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, 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 The Montana First Nation ( cr, ᐊᑳᒥᕽ, ) is a First Nations band government in Alberta, Canada. It is a Treaty 6 government. Formerly the Montana Band of Indians, it is one of four First Nations in the area of Maskwacis. Indian Reserves T ...

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