Ermineskin Cree Nation

Ermineskin Cree Nation /ˈɜːrmᵻn.skɪn/ also known as the Ermineskin Tribe,^[1] is a band government in Alberta, Canada, a western branch of the large Cree Nation, and a Treaty 6 nation.

As of 2008, there are 3,758 registered Ermineskin Cree, of which 2,606 were living on reserve.^[2]

The Ermineskin Cree Nation's two reserves (around Maskwacis, Alberta) total about 22,512 hectares and lived in an area around Pigeon Lake and the Bear Hills (known in Cree as Maskwacheesihkare). Therefore, they were called Maskwa Wachi-is Ininiwak, Maskwacheesihk Wiyiniwak or Amiskwacīwiyiniwak, 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 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 (Pisu - "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 (Asini Wachi Wi Iniwak or Asinīskāwiyiniwak)^[3] and also brother-in-law of Pitikwahanapiwiyin (′Poundmaker′), Chief of the River Cree (Sipi Wi Iniwak or Sīpīwininiwak). Ermineskin was the younger brother of the well-known Kiskiyo - 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 (Asini Wachi Wi Iniwak or Asinīskāwiyiniwak) 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 (Natimiw Iyiniwak or Natimiyininiwak).

Indian Reserves

There are two Indian reserves under the governance of the band:^[4]

• 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 and the Montana First Nation.

Notable members

• Willie Littlechild
• Aliesha Ermineskin

References

External links

The Numbered Treaties: Treaty Six
Numbered Treaties	Treaty 1 Treaty 2 Treaty 3 Treaty 4 Treaty 5 Treaty 6 Treaty 7 Treaty 8 Treaty 9 Treaty 10 Treaty 11
Manitoba	Marcel Colomb First Nation Mathias Colomb First Nation
Saskatchewan	Ahtahkakoop First Nation Beardy's and Okemasis First Nation Big Island Lake Cree Nation Big River First Nation Flying Dust First Nation Island Lake First Nation James Smith First Nation Lac La Ronge First Nation Little Pine First Nation Lucky Man First Nation Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation Mistawasis First Nation Montreal Lake First Nation Moosomin First Nation Mosquito-Grizzly Bear's Head-Lean Man Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Muskoday First Nation One Arrow First Nation Onion Lake First Nation Pelican Lake First Nation Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Poundmaker Cree Nation Red Pheasant First Nation Saulteaux First Nation Sweetgrass First Nation Sturgeon Lake First Nation Thunderchild First Nation Waterhen Lake First Nation Witchekan Lake First Nation
Alberta	Alexander First Nation Alexis First Nation Beaver Lake Cree Nation Cold Lake First Nation Enoch Cree Nation Ermineskin Cree Nation Frog Lake First Nation Heart Lake First Nation Kehewin Cree Nation Louis Bull First Nation Michel Band (disputed) Montana First Nation O'Chiese First Nation Papaschase (disputed) Paul First Nation Saddle Lake Cree Nation Samson First Nation Sunchild First Nation Whitefish Lake First Nation (Goodfish)

Subdivisions of Alberta
Subdivisions	Regions Census divisions Census agglomerations Municipalities Municipal districts (counties) Specialized municipalities School authorities
Communities	Cities Towns Villages Summer villages Hamlets Indian reserves and settlements Metis settlements Ghost towns Designated places
Cities and urban service areas	Airdrie Brooks Calgary Camrose Chestermere Cold Lake Edmonton (capital) Fort McMurray Fort Saskatchewan Grande Prairie Lacombe Leduc Lethbridge Lloydminster Medicine Hat Red Deer Sherwood Park Spruce Grove St. Albert Wetaskiwin
Indian reserves	?Ejere K'elni Kue Alexander Alexis Alexis Cardinal River Alexis Elk River Alexis Whitecourt Allison Bay Amber River Assineau River Beaver Lake Beaver Ranch Big Horn Bistcho Lake Blood Blue Quills Boyer Buck Lake Bushe River Charles Lake Child Lake Chipewyan Clear Hills Clearwater Cold Lake Collin Lake Cornwall Lake Cowper Lake Devil's Gate Dog Head Drift Pile River Duncan's Eden Valley Ermineskin Fitzgerald Fort Mckay Fort Vermilion Fox Lake Gregoire Lake Hay Lake Heart Lake Hokedhe Túe Horse Lakes Jackfish Point Janvier Jean Baptiste Gambler John D'Or Prairie Kapawe'no Kehewin K'i Túe Li Dezé Loon Lake Loon Prairie Louis Bull Makaoo Montana Namur Lake Namur River O'Chiese Old Fort Peace Point Peigan Timber Limit "B" Pigeon Lake Piikani Puskiakiwenin Saddle Lake 125 Samson Sandy Point Sawridge Siksika Stoney Stony Plain Sturgeon Lake Sucker Creek Sunchild Swampy Lake Swan River Tall Cree Thabacha Náre Thebathi Tsu K'adhe Túe Tsu Túe Tsuu T'ina Tthe Jere Ghaili Unipouheos Upper Hay River Utikoomak Lake Wabamun 133A Wabamun 133B Wabasca 166, 166A, 166B, 166C, 166D Wadlin Lake White Fish Lake 128 William Mckenzie Winefred Lake Woodland Cree Zama Lake
Indian settlements	Carcajou Cadotte Lake Desmarais Fort MacKay Garden Creek Little Buffalo
Metis settlements	Buffalo Lake East Prairie Elizabeth Fishing Lake Gift Lake Kikino Paddle Prairie Peavine
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