Piapot facts for kids
Piapot, also known as Payipwât, was a very important chief of the Plains Cree people. His name, Payipwât, means "Hole in the Sioux" or "One Who Knows the Secrets of the Sioux." He was born around 1816 and passed away in April 1908. Piapot was a strong leader of the Cree-Assiniboine / Young Dogs Band, which was a powerful group of the Plains Cree. He was one of the five main leaders of the Plains Cree after 1860.
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Early Life
Piapot was likely born near what is now the border between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. His first name was Kisikawasan, meaning "Flash in the Sky." When he was a child, Piapot and his grandmother were taken by the Sioux people. He grew up with them and learned many of their traditions and knowledge.
At age fourteen, Piapot was captured during a raid by the Cree and returned to his own people. He was then given the name Payipwât. This name showed that he had gained special knowledge while living with the Sioux. It meant he could "see through" their secrets.
Leading the Young Dogs
By 1860, Piapot had become a spiritual leader among the Cree. He also became the chief of a strong group called the Cree-Assiniboine or Young Dogs. This group included both Cree and Assiniboine people who spoke Cree.
The Young Dogs were known as excellent buffalo hunters and brave warriors. They were also known for being bold and sometimes causing trouble. As the number of buffalo herds began to shrink, Piapot believed the Cree needed to expand their hunting grounds. He wanted them to move into the Cypress Hills area.
Piapot was a key leader in this move. However, he had a dream that the Cree would be defeated. He tried to warn other leaders, but they did not listen. Piapot chose not to join the battle the next day, where the Cree attacked a Kainai village. This battle, known as the "Battle of the Belly River", was a disaster for the Cree. They lost many warriors, and it marked the end of their expansion into the Cypress Hills.
Signing Treaty 4
In 1875, Piapot met with William J. Christie, a representative from the Canadian government. Christie wanted Piapot to sign Treaty 4, an agreement that had been made a year earlier. Piapot asked for several changes to the treaty. He believed these changes would be made and signed the treaty on September 9, 1875.
Some of Piapot's requests were included in later treaties, like Treaty 6. However, many were not. Because of this, Piapot felt that the government had betrayed him. He continued to feel this way until he died.
For the next ten years, Piapot kept talking with the Canadian government. He and other Cree leaders refused to sign more treaties. They wanted the government to promise that the Cree people would have their own land and a united territory. When it became clear this would not happen, Piapot and other leaders asked for reserves in the Cypress Hills. These requested lands were all next to each other. The government agreed, which gave the Cree a united territory, much like Piapot had wanted.
Facing Challenges
By 1882, the buffalo herds were almost gone, and Piapot's people faced starvation. Piapot and the Young Dogs agreed to leave the Cypress Hills in exchange for food, horses, and supplies. But they soon returned. The next year, he agreed to leave again, this time for Indian Head, Assiniboia. The North-West Mounted Police escorted him there.
Once in Indian Head, Piapot immediately started working to organize his people again. His goal was to establish their own territory. He succeeded in getting permission for a new reserve right next to another Cree reserve. He also joined with other leaders to push the government for changes to the treaties.
However, in 1885, the government used the Métis North-West Rebellion as a reason to control the Cree more strictly. A military fort was built near Piapot's reserve. Several other leaders were arrested as rebels. Piapot was one of the few leaders who was not arrested, but the police and military watched him very closely.
Later Years
Even with these challenges, Piapot remained a respected spiritual leader among the Cree. He continued to speak up for his people's independence and worked to preserve Cree culture. The government, however, did not trust him.
In 1902, a government agent named William Morris Graham tried to remove Piapot as chief. He eventually succeeded when Piapot was arrested for holding a "Thirst Dance" (also known as a Sun Dance). This ceremony had been banned by the government in 1892. On April 15, 1902, the government officially removed Piapot as chief.
Piapot met with Governor General Lord Minto in September of that year. Lord Minto was convinced to try and lift the ban on the dances, but he was not successful.
Piapot passed away on his reserve in April 1908.
Images for kids
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Piapot in a studio photo around 1885.
