Ermineskin First Nation

They or the Ojibwa Ermineskin First Nation Reserve along with Louis Bull, Montana and Samson Ojibwa's, have links to Montana. Below are google earth photos of their capital of Hobbema or Maskwacis. Ermineskin First Nation is one of four Reserves that make up Montana Reserve, which was mainly created for Montana Ojibwa's forced to relocate from Montana, to Alberta. Their Reserve covers a land area of 104.6 sq. km. or 40.3 sq. mi. All four Reserves, which are actually just one Reserve, covers a land area of 293.73 sq. km. or 113.4 sq. mi. It's actually a larger Reserve however! A land loss supposedly happened in 1901. Canada actually gave land to chief Rocky Boy's Montana Ojibwa Subjects. Chief Rocky Boys father and his uncles were set aside Hobbema Reserve in 1877, 1878 and 1879. However, it was not until 1885 when Hobbema Reserve was created. Before 1885, these Ojibwa's lived at the Bear Hills (Beaver Hills) east of Edmonton. After 1885's Northwest Rebellion they were forced to relocate to their current Reserve which was significantly smaller. During those years a migration of Montana Ojibwa's during 1876-1877's War led them to south central Alberta. Cree People are really the Athabascan Beaver Tribe. There are no Cree First Nations at Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec! Below the photos are excerpts from very old books that will help you learn information on this page! Look for the 18th century maps. Instead of south to north they are from southeast to northwest. Churchill River is the north boundary. A few Assiniboine and Cree lived west of Lake Winnipeg but were driven to the northwest by 1800 by Ojibwa Soldiers. Churchill River was a boundary used in the 18th century. From Churchill, Manitoba to South Indian Lake, Manitoba to Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan to Buffalo Narrows, Saskatchewan where the source of Churchill River is, this river flows for 1,000 miles. It's source is Churchill Lake, Saskatchewan. All land north of Churchill River is Chipewyan land. Chipewyan is the correct pronunciation of O Chib-bwan or Chib-bwan which means "The Originals and Originals in Ojibwa Language."

Chief Bobtail (it should be chief Bobcat - word for bobcat in Ojibwa Language is bi-zhoo or in western Ojibwa bi-zoo or pizoo) was set aside his Reserve we'll identify as Montana Reserve in 1877. His brother Ermineskin was set aside Ermineskin District in 1879. His other brother Louis Bull was set aside Louis Bull District in 1877. His other brother Samson was set aside Samson District in 1879. None of his brothers were chiefs! Sharphead was set aside Sharphead District in 1878. Montana Reserve (it's supposedly four Reserves yet it's only one) has strong links to chief Rocky Boy of Montana. His grandson or son chief Robert Smallboy (aka A-pit-chi-chiw) was chief of Ermineskin First Nation. He was very much like his grandfather or father or defiant. He was revolted by conditions at his nation and fled his nation with nearly 200 of his Ojibwa Subjects in 1968. They took to living in mountains 53.7 miles or 86.4 kilometers west of O'Chiese/Sunchild Reserve. They changed Hobbema's name to Maskwacis (it's pronounced Mask-wa-cheez or Mac-wa-cheez) for good reason. They have to distinguish between Ermineskin's Maskwacis and Montana and Samson Maskwacis. According to a 2021 census, Ermineskin First Nation Reserve has an on-Reserve population of 2,256. They have 515 dwellings with 489 lived in. Average household size is 4.6 persons per household. According to 2021's census, 310 people speak Corrupted Ojibwa Language which is what Lewis and Clark called Cree Language. We know Hobbema Reserve is Ojibwa. If chief Rocky Boys family founded Hobbema Reserve it's an Ojibwa Reserve. Most of Maskwacis Town is located at Ermineskin District. The other portion is located at Samson District.

Land Surrenders

Two land surrenders did not take land from Hobbema Reserve. During late spring and early summer 1896, American Soldiers and Little Bears Ojibwa Soldiers, rounded up 1,000's of Ojibwa's living at their Reservation between Great Falls and Helena. They were taken to Great Falls to wait for forced relocations. One location they were sent to is Sharphead Reserve or Sharphead District of Hobbema Reserve. We have to follow Sharphead to Paul Reserve. We've been told to find evidence along the trail by prophesy! A total of 27,136 acres (it was all of Sharphead Reserve) was given to them in 1897. Historians have written that Ojibwa's fled to the United States in 1885 then were sent back to Canada in 1897. That's wrong! Their reason for using deception deals with the large Ojibwa Reservation between Great Falls and Helena which was created in 1855. American leaders can't produce evidence the Reservation was ceded. Thus, it remains an Ojibwa Reservation. American leaders were bothered by Seven Fires Prophesy and conspired to relocate the Reservations Ojibwa Subjects to other Montana Reservations and away from Montana. Canada tried to settle Assiniboine Ojibwa's (they are from the Beaver Tribe who Ojibwa Traditionalists hated) at Sharphead yet strong protests from Ojibwa's forced Canada to send them to Stony Reserve near Calgary. A few were allowed to stay at Hobbema Reserve and some were sent to Paul Reserve. More research into the relocation to Paul Reserve is a good suggestion. The relocation indicates they were from Montana. So during 1897 many Montana Ojibwa's were sent to Sharphead and also Paul Reserve. Canada used deception or refused to honor the agreement. Sharphead remains a part of Hobbema Reserve. Another forced relocation of chief Rocky Boys Montana Ojibwa's took place in 1909. Canada agreed to accept many of them. This time chief Bobcats Reserve was selected to be settled by Montana Ojibwa's led by his son chief Rocky Boy. Of chief Bobcats Reserve of 20,160 acres a total of 10,880 acres was set aside for Montana Ojibwa's in 1909. Chief Bobcats Reserve is Montana Reserve.

Map of Montana Reserve

Maskwacis Satellite Image

Ermineskin Maskwacis Road Closeup

Ermineskin Road Closeup

Ermineskin Road Closeup

Ermineskin Road Closeup

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Ermineskin Road Closeup

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Ermineskin Road Closeup

Samson Maskwacis Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

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Samson Road Closeup

Samson Road Closeup

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Samson Road Closeup

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Samson Road Closeup

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Samson Road Closeup

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