Background

The year of the Cypress Hills Massacre in 1873, the most famous and influential of the Plains Chiefs Mistahimaskwa, also known as "Big Bear" (c.1825-1888), had the idea to unite all the Cree bands. He was half Ojibwa, half Cree, and led the largest band of Cree that lived on the Plains at that particular time, which was about 2,000 people. He advocated for pan-Amerindianism, which urged all these native bands in the region to unite against white settlement. In addition, Big Bear did not like the terms of Treaty 6, especially the provision stating that Canadian law would become the law of the land. He thought that the treaty would give up his people's autonomy. Despite his objections, he was eventually forced to sign the treaty in 1882 in Fort Walsh in order to get rations for his people. With now only having 247 followers, he moved to a remote reserve at Fort Pitt in the north. Overall, Big Bear's effort to unite Amerindians alarmed Ottawa officials, so they urgently sought to find chiefs. One of these chiefs that was willing to negotiate was Minahikosis, or "Little Pine". He was the half-Blackfoot, half-Cree brother-in-law of Piapot who had a reputation similar to that of Big Bear. Little Pine held out for three years in hopes of joining a unified Amerindian state, but eventually negotiated and signed the treaty because of his starving people.^[5]

In contrast to Big Bear, a Plains Chief who got along very well with the white settlers was Cree chief Pitikwahanapiwiyin, also known as "Poundmaker", the leading Blackfoot chief. He also became one of those who signed Treaty 6 in 1876. Poundmaker also accepted a reserve in 1879, which was about forty miles west of Battleford.

At this point, all the groups who resided in the Treaty 6 area had embraced the inevitable, much to Big Bear's dismay. In the final count, those who signed Treaty 6 ended up faring much better than those who signed Treaty 4. With this treaty, the bands won some concessions such as the "medicine chest" clause and also the promise of relief in the event of famine or pestilence. But the price they paid was great, due to the fact that with the signing of the treaty, there went about 315,000 square miles of land. One of these groups that had to move as a result of this treaty was Little Pine.

Settlement and foundation

Cree Chief Minahikosis (c. 1830-1885), also known as Little Pine, signed an adhesion to Treaty 6 in

Little Pine First Nation: Location

and moved from the Cypress Hills region to the foot of Bluehill along the Battle River. From 1883-1884, Little Pine and Lucky Man camped near Poundmaker's reserve. Although Big Bear, Little Pine, Lucky Man, and Poundmaker all wished for adjoining reserves, they were refused.

Early disputes

When it came to helping these relocated bands accustom to their new ways of life in the reservations, the government's aid was abysmal. When buffalo began to migrate over in 1877 and the Amerindians wanted to hunt them, their requests for that needed equipment were deliberately ignored by the government. This competition over the buffalo sparked old hostilities as the Blackfoot, Plains Cree, and Sioux consulted over measures to regulate the hunt. In 1880, Big Bear and Little Pine headed south to the remaining buffalo range on the Milk and Missouri rivers, where they met with Riel. The Metis leader was instrumental in persuading the Montana Amerindians---these included the southern Assiniboine, the Blackfeet, the Crow, and the Gros Ventre---to allow the Northerners to hunt on their reservations. This alliance was eventually broken when the Canadian Amerindian groups raided the horses of the American Indian groups. After all, they were traditional enemies. With this raid, the U.S. government set out military expeditions to confiscate the horses and equipment from the Canadian Amerindians and heavily restricted border crossings from that point on.

Following these events as well as escalating tensions from the Metis Resistance, both Poundmaker and Little Pine's people left their reserves and headed for Battleford, which was the headquarters for distributing supplies. Settlers saw this and fled into the fort in fright, two of them having been killed by Assiniboines. During the last two days of March, the Cree plundered these abandoned settler houses and stores. Chief Little Pine died shortly afterwards.

Little Pine died in 1885 and his people were scattered along the various bands. As a part of government's policy to keep all Indians on their respective reserves, a reserve was surveyed for those who remained of the Little Pine and Lucky Man bands in 1887. The allotted acres that they received through survey did not correspond to what was entitled to them through treaty. The Little Pine First Nation spent a century of injustice in these allotted acres. By May 29, 1997, the band has been able to purchase land and participate in other economic endeavors. The Little Pine first nation continues to define its right to self-government through its Government Act, which allows for basic structure within the band and offers provisions for the Lands and Resources Management Act and the Election Act. (Christian Thompson, University of Saskatchewan)

Developments and projects today

Developmental projects include the Little Pine First Nation Racetrack, the Little Pine First Nation Cattle Venture, and a gas and convenience store. The band’s facilities include the Little Pine Health Clinic and Medical Taxis, the Elders’ Hall, the Chief Little Pine School, a band office, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police detachment (two constables working and residing on the reserve), and the Little Pine Daycare.

Chief Little Pine School

Chief Little Pine School is a K-12 school located in the village of Paynton, SK. Besides education, it offers additional services such as pre-kindergarten care, counseling services, and even Mathletics. According to its official website, its mission is to drive students to "embrace their culture and traditional values as they grow into young men and women."^[6]

Treaty Six Education Council

Little Pine is also involved with the Treaty Six Education Council,^[7] an organization that provides second-level education services to its partner Nations. The organization has a centrally located office in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, which is the heart of the Treaty 6 territory. It serves eleven First Nations communities and over 3000 students at the moment.

The Chief of Each Nation that is a member of the council serves as the director for the organization and sets the governing rules for the TSEC. In addition, each member nation appoints a Trustee, through Band Council Resolution, to represent their community on the board. For Little Pine, that Trustee is Adele Bear.