Ermineskin Cree Nation

Ermineskin Cree Nation
Band No. 443

• ᓀᔮᐢᑵᔮᕽ
• neyâskweyâhk

People	Cree
Treaty	Treaty 6
Headquarters	Maskwacis
Province	Alberta
Land[1]
Main reserve	Ermineskin 138
Other reserve(s)	Pigeon Lake 138A
Land area	122.169 km2
Population (2019)[1]
On reserve	3290
On other land	11
Off reserve	1578
Total population	4879
Government[1]
Chief	Randy Ermineskin
Website
ermineskin.ca

Ermineskin Cree Nation /ˈɜːrmɪn.skɪn/ also known as the Ermineskin Tribe (Cree: ᓀᔮᐢᑵᔮᕽ, neyâskweyâhk), is a Cree First Nations band government in Alberta, Canada. A signatory to Treaty 6, Ermineskin is one of the Four Nations of Maskwacis, Alberta's largest Indigenous community.^[1]

As of 2019, there are 4,879 registered Ermineskin Cree, of which 3,290 were living on reserve.^[1]

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)^[2] and also brother-in-law of 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).