Ermineskin Cree Nation
Encyclopedia
Ermineskin Cree Nation is a First Nation, 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
.
The Ermineskin Cree Nations two reserves (around Hobbema, Alberta
) total about 22,512 hectares and are known in Cree
as Maskwacheesihk. 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.
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
Nation, and a Treaty 6
Treaty 6
Treaty 6 is an agreement between the Canadian monarch and the Plain and Wood Cree Indians and other tribes of Indians at Fort Carlton, Fort Pitt and Battle River. The area agreed upon by the Plain and Wood Cree represents most of the central area of the current provinces of Saskatchewan and...
nation.
As of 2008, there are 3,758 registered
Indian Register
The Indian Register is the official record of Status Indians or Registered Indians in Canada. Status Indians have rights and benefits that are not granted to unregistered Indians, Inuit, or Métis, the chief benefits of which include the granting of reserves and of rights associated with them, an...
Ermineskin Cree, of which 2,606 were living on reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
.
The Ermineskin Cree Nations two reserves (around Hobbema, Alberta
Hobbema, Alberta
Hobbema is an unincorporated community in central Alberta, Canada, a portion of which is designated a hamlet within Ponoka County. It is located near the intersection of Highway 2A and Highway 611, approximately south of the City of Edmonton....
) total about 22,512 hectares and are known in Cree
Cree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
as Maskwacheesihk. 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
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
line runs through the reserve.