Bigstone First Nation

Located in north-central Alberta, the Anishinabe Bigstone First Nation has a total population of 7,365, but the great majority of the citizens of this first nation apparently live off-reserve. Only 2,616 actually live on the Reserves set aside, while the remainder 4,558 live off the Reserve or on other Indian Reserves or on crown land. There are six Reserves which make up the bigstone first nation. The first, and largest, is Wabasca 166 which covers 8,452 hectares or 20,885 acres, Wabasca 166D which covers 5,817 hectares or 14,374 acres, Wabasca 166C which covers 3,502 hectares or 8,653 acres, Wabasca 166B which covers 2,413 hectares or 5,962 acres, Wabasca 166A which covers 682 hectares or 1,685 acres, and Jean Baptiste Gambler 183 which covers 199 hectares or 491 acres. Total hectares is 21,065, while total acres is 52,052 acres. Many can trace their origins back to Montana, where they originally lived but were driven out by the whites, after the 1868-1886 war. Ogimak Big Bear or Sitting Bull, led them up to Canada.