Jean-Baptiste Wabiskawan Piche' (Ermineskin) 1835-1906

ERMINESKIN (aka KOSIKOSOWAYAN or BAPTISTE PICHE)

Chief of the Bear Hills Cree Band: Cree name was Kosihkosiwayaniw or Schkosowayanew

Chief of the Bear Hills Cree

The Ermineskin Cree Nation took its name from Ermineskin Kosikosowayano also known as Baptiste Piche), Chief of the Bear Hills Cree. He was the son of Peechee (Pisu - "Mountain Lion, also known as Louis Piche), Chief of the Asini Wachi Nehiyawak (Cree groups of the Rocky/Mountain Cree) and later head chief of the Rocky Mountain Cree (Asini Wachi Wi Iniwak or Asinīskāwiyiniwak) and also brother-in-law of Pitikwahanapiwiyin (′Poundmaker′), Chief of the River Cree (Sipi Wi Iniwak or Sīpīwininiwak), Ermineskin was the younger brother of the well-known Kiskiyo - Bobtail, also known as Alexis Piche), who became Chief of the Bear Hills Cree after the death of their father Louie Piche also known as Pisu) who was the chief of the Rocky Cree (Asini Wachi Wi Iniwak or Asinīskāwiyiniwak) and became later head chief of the Western Cree (‘Pakisimotan Wi Iniwak’) and soon after head chief of all the groups of the Upstream People: Natimiw Iyiniwak or Natimiyininiwak. Wikipedia: Ermineskin Cree Nation

Commutation of the Annuity belonging to his daughter Rosalie

PEACE HILLS AGENCY - ERMINESKIN BAND - COMMUTATION OF ANNUITY OF ROSALIE HOWSE NEE ERMINESKIN (PAY TICKET NUMBER 1) [Library and Archives Canada, Commutation of Annuity, reference RG10. Volume/box number: 3853. File number: 78427. Copied container number: C-10193]

1. http://data2.archives.ca/e/e315/e007850137.jpg
2. http://data2.archives.ca/e/e315/e007850138.jpg
3. http://data2.archives.ca/e/e315/e007850139.jpg
4. http://data2.archives.ca/e/e315/e007850140.jpg

Jean-Baptiste Wabiskawan Piché “Ermineskin”. (1835-1906)
Baptiste, whose Cree name was Sehkosowayanew, and was also called Ermineskin, was
the son of Louis Piché (Métis) and Opeh-tah-she-toy-wishk (a Plains Cree woman). He
was the younger brother of Chief Bobtail.
Ermineskin with his granddaughters.
John Buffalo was interviewed about Bobtail and Ermineskin on April 18, 1975 by
Richard Lightning.
Source: http://ourspace.uregina.ca/bitstream/10294/2001/1/IH-169,%20169%2B.pdf
My grandmother was present at the time when they received their final payment
there. That is also the time the chiefs were given their authority, and also the
councillors. That is when Bobtail became a chief and Ermineskin wanted to
become a chief also but he was told that he couldn't become a chief because they
were related. However he was told that he could become a councillor, so he did.
This was told to me by my mother-in-law, Mrs. Smallboy. She is about 108 or
100 years old and she is being cared for in Edmonton. I hear this old woman
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telling the story of the treaty; she was there. Bobtail, the first chief was her
grandfather. It was also during that time that they came to Hobbema. That is what
the old Mrs. Smallboy said. She said that the reserve here at Hobbema was one
whole reserve at the time. Then Ermineskin decided to separate to form the
Ermineskin band. His older brother (Bobtail) gave him a portion of the reserve.
He was then the chief and his councillor was Louis Bull, David Headman, Johnny
Ermineskin another man. Finally Louis Bull asked Ermineskin if he too could
have his own reserve. Ermineskin did give him some reserve land - he was the
chief of that reserve. So there the Ermineskin reserve and the Bull reserve, they
wanted to be on their own. When all that had taken place, Bobtail took
enfranchisement. He left the reserve for his people, that was the Montana
Reserve.
My mother-in-law said that Samson also asked for some reserve land from
Bobtail, that was a long time ago, so old Chief Samson also received some reserve
land. So Montana became a small reserve as a result. The people who now live
there were transported here by freight train; they were wandering around before
they were gathered and shipped here. The freight train stopped at Ponoka and the
Indians were brought to the Montana Band. They stayed there for one winter and
in the summer they started to wander away again. Their excuse was that they were
going berry picking but they left for good and today they are the Crees of Rocky
Boy, Montana - those people are from here. Some of the older people fled to
Montana during the Rebellion [1885]. So that is how they made their homes in
Montana, according to my mother-in-law.
Ermineskin, Charles Rabbit and Joe Samson
Piché – Cantara Scrip Record
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Piché, Josephte - Concerning her claim as a head of family - Address, Victoria - Born,
1842 at Mission St. Paul - Father, Modeste Cantara alias Cotteret, (French Canadian) -
Mother, Marie Clare, (Métis) - Married, 1859 on Plains to Baptiste Piché - Children
living, four (names on declaration) - Children deceased, three - Scrip for $160 - Claim
1095.
Scrip Certificate No. 332 Form A for $47.00 in favour of Josephte Cantara. Refund of
Treaty Money.
Piché, Josephte dit Wabikaskawan; for her deceased children; Jean Marie, born: 1865 at
Vermillion; died: 1878; Marie, born: 1875 at Bears Hills; died: 1881 at St. Albert;
address: St. Albert; father: Jean Baptiste Piché dit Wabikaskawan; (Métis); mother:
Josephte Cantara or Omilkis (Métis and deponent); claim no. 2103.
Reference: RG15, Interior, Series D-II-8-c, Volume 1363, Reel C-14997, Access code:
90
References:
Botting, Gary. Chief Smallboy: In Pusuit of Freedom. Calgary: Fifth House Ltd., 2005.

Information was also provided by Katrina Bull and George Littlechild.
Edited and Compiled by Lawrence Barkwell
Coordinator of Métis Heritage and History Research
Louis Riel Institute.