Big Island Lake Cree Nation

Big Island Lake Cree Nation
Band No. 399
People	Cree
Treaty	Treaty 6
Headquarters	Pierceland
Province	Saskatchewan
Land
Reserve(s)	Big Island Lake Cree Territory
Land area	47.001 km2
Population (2021)
On reserve	887
Off reserve	379
Total population	1266
Government
Chief	David Sandfly
Council	Carvey Sandfly; Donna Oseemeemow; Annabelle Sandfly; Ryan Sandfly;
Tribal Council
	Yawpowitik
Website
	Wikipedia

Big Island Lake Cree Nation (Cree: ᒥᐢᑎᑯᐢᑳᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, romanized: mistikoskâw-sâkahikan, lit. 'many-trees lake')^[2] is a Cree First Nation^[3] in Saskatchewan, Canada. They have 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 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 to Big Island Lake as Joseph Bighead’s Band. 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 chose not to follow anyone. He and his Band remained independent of any Tribal Council or Federation, in the belief that membership serves to diminish Treaty Rights.^[4]

References

^ "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
^ "Article Archives: Cree Place Names". www.bigorrin.org. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
^ "First Nation Detail – Big Island Lake Cree Nation". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
^ Barry, Bill (2005). Geographic Names of Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatchewan: People Places Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-897010-19-2.

[1] "First Nation Detail". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved September 10, 2019.

[2] "Article Archives: Cree Place Names". www.bigorrin.org. Retrieved January 2, 2025.

[3] "First Nation Detail – Big Island Lake Cree Nation". Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved December 1, 2018.

[SKtoponyms-4] Barry, Bill (2005). Geographic Names of Saskatchewan. Regina, Saskatchewan: People Places Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-897010-19-2.

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The Numbered Treaties: Treaty Six
Numbered Treaties	Treaty 1 Treaty 2 Treaty 3 Treaty 4 Treaty 5 Treaty 6 Treaty 7 Treaty 8 Treaty 9 Treaty 10 Treaty 11
Manitoba	Marcel Colomb First Nation Mathias Colomb First Nation
Saskatchewan	Ahtahkakoop First Nation Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation Big Island Lake Cree Nation Big River First Nation Flying Dust First Nation Island Lake First Nation James Smith First Nation Lac La Ronge First Nation Little Pine First Nation Lucky Man Cree Nation Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation Mistawasis First Nation Montreal Lake Cree Nation Moosomin First Nation Mosquito-Grizzly Bear's Head-Lean Man Muskeg Lake Cree Nation Muskoday First Nation One Arrow First Nation Onion Lake First Nation Pelican Lake First Nation Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Poundmaker Cree Nation Red Pheasant First Nation Saulteaux First Nation Sweetgrass First Nation Sturgeon Lake First Nation Thunderchild First Nation Waterhen Lake First Nation Witchekan Lake First Nation
Alberta	Alexander First Nation Alexis First Nation Beaver Lake Cree Nation Cold Lake First Nation Enoch Cree Nation Ermineskin Cree Nation Frog Lake First Nation Heart Lake First Nation Kehewin Cree Nation Louis Bull Tribe Michel Band (terminated) Montana First Nation O'Chiese First Nation Papaschase Band (terminated) Paul First Nation Saddle Lake Cree Nation Samson First Nation Sunchild First Nation Whitefish Lake First Nation (Goodfish)