Mistawasis

Cree chiefs and an interpreter in 1886, with Mistawasis seated at the bottom right. His ally, Ahtahkakoop, is seated at the bottom left. Mistawasis (, meaning "Big Child"; born Pierre Belanger) was a Chief of the Sak-kaw-wen-o-wak Plains Cree, notable for his role as the leader of his people during the signing of Treaty 6 in 1876, to which he was the first signatory. Due to the dwindling buffalo population caused by excessive hunting, he was forced to look for new strategies to ensure the survival of his people and their culture. He believed the only way to save his people was to negotiate with the Canadian Government. As a result of his strong influence over the Cree people, he and his close ally, Ahtahkakoop, were able to argue successfully for the adoption of Treaty 6 by his fellow Cree. After the treaty was signed he remained an ally of the Canadian government until his death.

Early life The exact date of Mistawasis’ birth is disputed. It is estimated that he may have been born sometime between 1796 and 1813.

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) would utilize his prowess as a provider, commonly trading for buffalo meat in exchange for other goods.

Disappearance of the Buffalo The American buffalo's habitat once ranged in the general area from the American east coast, south-west to near Mexico, and northwards to Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. They are the largest land mammals found on the continent of North America. The Buffalo's first contact with Europeans most likely occurred in the 1500s when they were spotted by Spanish conquistadors. The fur trade was especially detrimental to populations as the hunters would, more often than not, prioritize acquiring the furs of the females over that of the males. This was due to their relative lightness as well as the ability to tan the furs at a quicker rate then the males. It was a resource which was used extensively by the Cree for many different purposes. Its meat was used as food for personal sustenance as well as for trade with the Hudson's Bay Company. He perceived a European education as important to the future survival of his people and attempted to gain access to this through the Canadian government. Mistawasis argued for the treaty as a necessity for acquiring food by claiming that "Our way of living is gone, there are no more buffalo, we have to find a new way to feed our people." Treaty 6 would later be added onto by other members of the Cree nation at Fort Pitt in September 1876. In addition to these basic tenets it also contained some additional decrees. Mistawasis would later allow a Presbyterian Mission to be established on his reserve. Mistawasis maintained a positive relationship with the Canadian Government during the 1885 Riel Rebellion, when he offered to defend the city of Prince Albert from any incursion by Riel.

Honours The City of Saskatoon named its newest vehicular bridge the Chief Mistawasis Bridge on June 21, 2018.