Peepeekisis Cree Nation facts for kids
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|
| People | Cree |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Treaty 4 |
| Headquarters | Balcarres |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Peepeekisis 81 |
| Other reserve(s) | |
| Land area | 112.587 km2 |
| Population (2021) | |
| On reserve | 726 |
| Off reserve | 2,422 |
| Total population | 3,148 |
| Government | |
| Chief | Francis Dieter |
| Tribal Council | |
| File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council | |
The Peepeekisis Cree Nation is a Cree First Nation community in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Their name, pîhpîkisîs, means "Sparrow Hawk" in the Cree language.
The main land for the community is called Peepeekisis 81. They also share Treaty Four Reserve Grounds 77 with many other First Nations. The community is about 19 kilometers east of Balcarres.
Contents
Who Lives Here?
In 2021, about 3,148 people were part of the Peepeekisis Cree Nation. Of these, 726 people lived on their reserve lands. The rest, 2,422 people, lived in other places off the reserve.
A Look at Their History
Signing Treaty 4
On September 21, 1874, Chief Can-ah-ha-cha-pew (Making Ready the Bow) signed Treaty 4. This treaty was an agreement between First Nations and the Canadian government. After Chief Can-ah-ha-cha-pew passed away, his son Peepeekisis became the new chief. That same year, the community moved from the Cypress Hills to a reserve in the File Hills. This new location was about 12 kilometers east of Balcarres.
The File Hills Colony
In 1896, a government agent named W.M. Graham arrived. At this time, the Peepeekisis community did not have a chief. This made it hard for them to stop Graham from creating the File Hills Colony in 1898. The colony was set up on the Peepeekisis reserve land.
The plan was to bring young men who had finished industrial schools to live and farm there. These young men were from other First Nations, not Peepeekisis. They were meant to become members of the Peepeekisis Band. However, this meant the original Peepeekisis members were moved from their homes. They also lost the use of their shared lands.
Seeking Justice
The Peepeekisis people complained about these changes. In 1945, questions were raised about whether these land transfers were fair. It took a long time, but in 1986, they were finally able to make a formal claim. This claim was submitted to the Department of Indian Affairs.
In 2004, the Indian Claims Commission agreed that Canada had broken its promises to the band. They suggested that the claim should be settled through talks. The issue was not fully settled for many more years.
Modern Community and Settlement
The Peepeekisis reserve covers about 112.587 square kilometers. They also share 0.992 square kilometers of the Treaty 4 Reserve Grounds. The community has important buildings like a band office, a gym, a school, and a health clinic.
In 2021, the Peepeekisis Cree Nation and the Canadian government reached a $150 million agreement. On August 3, 2022, Marc Miller, a Canadian government minister, apologized to the community. He admitted that the government's past actions had caused cultural loss. These actions included limiting land access and banning cultural practices.
In September 2022, the Peepeekisis Cree Nation bought the Temple Gardens Hotel & Spa in Moose Jaw. This shows their growth and strength as a community.
