Big Island Lake Cree Nation

Big Island Lake Cree Nation
Band No. 399

People	Cree
Treaty	Treaty 6
Headquarters	Pierceland
Province	Saskatchewan
Land[1]
Reserve(s)	Big Island Lake Cree Territory
Land area	47.001 km^2
Population (2021)[1]
On reserve	887
Off reserve	379
Total population	1266
Government[1]
Chief	David Sandfly
Council	Carvey Sandfly Donna Oseemeemow Annabelle Sandfly Ryan Sandfly
Tribal Council[1]
Yawpowitik
Website
Wikipedia

Big Island Lake Cree Nation (Cree: ᒥᐢᑎᑯᐢᑳᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ mistikoskâw-sâkahikan, meaning many trees lake)[2] is a Cree First Nation[3] in Saskatchewan, Canada. They have reserved for themselves one reserve, also called Big Island Lake Cree Nation, within Rural Municipality of Beaver River No. 622.

History

On June 25, 1913, Chief Joseph Bighead, representing the Big Island Lake Cree Nation, also known as Lac Des Isles, signed an adhesion to Treaty 6. Indian Agents got into the habit of referring Big Island Lake as Joseph Bighead’s Band so the name stuck until 2000 when Indian Affairs was reminded to call the Band Big Island Lake Band by its original name of Big Island Lake Cree Nation and its Territory as signed at Treaty Adhesion! Chief Joseph Bighead - Atinistikwan was a leader that choose not to follow anyone and he and his Band continue to be independent of any Tribal Council or Federation believing membership serves to diminish Treaty Rights.[4]

References

1. "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
2. http://www.bigorrin.org/archive19.htm
3. "First Nation Detail - Big Island Lake Cree Nation". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
4. Barry, Bill (2005). Geographic Names of Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatchewan: People Places Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-897010-19-2.