Bigstone Cree Nation

The Bigstone Cree Nation is a First Nations band government in Alberta, Canada. As Woodland Cree, they are a western branch of the larger Cree nation, and are a party to Treaty 8 with Canada. The Bigstone Cree Nation was divided into two bands in 2010, with one group continuing under the former name, and the other becoming the Peerless Trout First Nation.

History

The forerunners of the Bigstone Cree signed onto Treaty 8 in 1899 and were provided with reserved lands based on a population survey. The Bigstone claimed that the lands they were assigned were not large enough based on the 1913 and 1937 population surveys. Banda members settled into five communities all named after nearby lakes: Calling Lake, Chipewyan Lake, Peerless Lake, Trout Lake and Wabasca. The band has six reserves totalling 21,066.6 hectares (52,057 acres). These included 166 A, 166 B, 166 C, 166 D, all in the vicinity of the Hamlet of Wabasca (also known as Wabasca-Desmarais),^[1] 166 south of the Hamlet of Sandy Lake,^[2] and Jean Baptiste Gambler Reserve 183 surrounded by the Hamlet of Calling Lake.^[3] All of these reserves are surrounded by the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17. In 2007, there were 6,781 registered Bigstone Cree,^[4] of which 2,397 were living on reserve.^[5]

The people living at Chipewyan Lake, Peerless Lake, and Trout Lake and lived off-reserve on Crown land and did not have access to the same services available to those at Wabasca. The Canadian government accepted the claim in 1998 and negotiations began which resulted in a settlement in 2010, the largest land settlement in Alberta's history. The agreement ended with the separation of the Peerless Trout First Nation from the Bigstone Cree, and new reserve lands for both bands. The Calling Lake reserve was slightly enlarged and a new reserve was created at Chipewyan Lake.^[6][7]

Annual events

The Bigstone Cree First Nation host the annual Treaty Days Festivities in August of each year, celebrating their culture, language and achievements.

See also

• First Nations in Alberta
• List of Indian reserves in Alberta
• List of First Nations peoples
• Indian Act
• List of Aboriginal communities in Canada

References

External links

• Bigstone Cree Nation

The Numbered Treaties: Treaty Eight Numbered Treaties Treaty 1 Treaty 2 Treaty 3 Treaty 4 Treaty 5 Treaty 6 Treaty 7 Treaty 8 Treaty 9 Treaty 10 Treaty 11 Saskatchewan Black Lake Denesuline First Nation Clearwater River Dene Nation Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation Alberta Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Beaver First Nation Bigstone Cree Nation Chipewyan Prairie First Nation Dene Tha' First Nation Driftpile First Nation Duncan's First Nation Fort McKay First Nation Fort McMurray First Nation Horse Lake First Nation Kapawe'no First Nation Little Red River Cree Nation Loon River First Nation Lubicon Lake Indian Nation Mikisew Cree First Nation Sawridge Band Smith's Landing First Nation Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Sucker Creek Cree First Nation Swan River First Nation Tallcree First Nation Whitefish Lake First Nation Woodland Cree First Nation British Columbia Blueberry River First Nation Doig River First Nation Fort Nelson First Nation Halfway River First Nation McLeod Lake First Nation Prophet River First Nation Saulteau First Nation West Moberly First Nations Northwest Territories Deninu K'ue First Nation K'atlodeeche First Nation Lutsel K'e First Nation Salt River First Nation Yellowknives Dene First Nation

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