Interesting Facts
The History of Our Name
In honour of Chief Mikisew (Justin Marten), the first Chief signatory to the Treaty 8 adhesion on July 13, 1899, the “Cree Indian Band” was re-named the “Mikisew Cree First Nation” in 1991 as we sought our own autonomy. We wanted a name that was meaningful and honourable to show appreciation and to pay our respects to the late Chief Mikisew.
Treaty 8 Signing
In 1899, the Mikisew Cree First Nation was an adhesion signatory with Canada to Treaty 8. In 1986, Mikisew signed a Treaty Land Entitlement that created several reserves in and around the Fort Chipewyan area and into the area north of Lake Athabasca.
The Significance of the Eagle
The eagle is an important element of the Mikisew logo. It is highly regarded by members as strong and powerful, and signifies love and virtue.
Lake Athabasca
Lake Athabasca, the eighth-largest natural lake in Canada, flows through Wood Buffalo National Park on its way down the Mackenzie River and to the Arctic. The Athabasca Delta, which is at the centre of Mikisew’s traditional lands, is a unique and cherished international ecosystem that sustains us. When the fur trade came west and established a trading fort in this area, the Mikisew Cree were among those who traded furs.
Mikisew Ecoregions, Geography and Habitat
Mikisew lands are in the Tazin Lake Upland ecoregion, extending north of Lake Athabasca, as well as the Athabasca Plain ecoregion. The Tazin Lake region is rugged and, in some areas, has soil that is frozen year-round. This ecoregion, full of trembling aspen, balsam poplar, white spruce, balsam fir and other species, has many small lakes and streams that eventually flow into Great Slave Lake. Here you can see black bear, moose, wolf, woodland caribou, beaver, muskrat, snowshoe hare and spruce grouse.
The Athabasca Plain ecoregion stretches south from Lake Athabasca, and features bedrock, sand dunes and wetlands that support stands of jack pine, paper birch, white spruce, black spruce, balsam fir and trembling aspen. Wildlife here includes moose, black bear, woodland caribou, lynx, wolf, beaver, muskrat, snowshoe hare, and many birds such as geese, pelicans and grouse.
Like to stay in the loop? Join our email list and follow us on social media.
| Justin Martin (Deceased 1909) | 1899 to 1909 |
| Justin Martin, Jr. (Resigned 1930) | 1909 to 1930 |
| Felix (Pierre) Guillaume (Whitehead) (Deceased 1941) | 1930 to 1941 |
| John Cowie | 1942 to 1968 |
| Ernest (Courtoreille) Wittago | 1968 to 1970 |
| Albert Gladue | 1970 to 1974 |
| John James Courtoreille | 1974 to 1976 |
| Archie Waquan (Resigned 1976) | 1976 to 1976 |
| Sammy Tuccaro (Resigned 1977) | 1976 to 1977 |
| Cecilia Simpson (Interim Chief) | 1977 to 1977 |
| Albert Gladue | 1977 to 1978 |
| Lawrence Courtoreille | 1978 to 1979 |
| Lloyd (John R.) Antoine | 1979 to 1980 |
| Lawrence Courtoreille | 1980 to 1984 |
| Archie Waquan | 1984 to 1986 |
| Rita Marten | 1986 to 1989 |
| Mathew Lepine | 1989 to 1990 |
| Archie Waquan | 1990 to 1993 |
| Lawrence Vermillion | 1993 to 1996 |
| Archie Waquan | 1996 to 1999 |
| George Poitras | 1999 to 2002 |
| Archie Waquan | 2002 to 2005 |
| Roxanne Marcel | 2005 to 2008 |
| Roxanne Marcel | 2008 to 2011 |
| Steve Courtoreille | 2011 to 2014 |
| Steve Courtoreille | 2014 to 2017 |
| Archie Waquan | 2017 to 2020 |
| Peter Powder (Resigned 2022) | 2020 to 2022 |