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Cree Indian Divisions
The gentile form of social organization
appears to be wanting. On account of the uncertain application of the
divisional names given by the Jesuit missionaries and other early
writers it is impossible to identify them with those more modernly
recognized. Richardson save: "It would, however, be an endless task to
attempt to determine the precise people designated by the early French
writers. Every small band, naming itself from its hunting grounds, was
described as a different nation." The first notice of the Cree divisions
is given in the Jesuit Relation of 1658, which states that they are
composed of four nations or peoples, as follows:
Alimibegouek
Kilistinons of the bay of Ataotiabouscatouek
Kilistinons of the Nipisiriniens
Nisibourounik
At least 3 of these divisions are erroneously located
on the Creuxius map of
1660, and it is evident from the Relation that at least 3 of them were
supposed by the writer to have been situated somewhere south or southwest
of James Bay. Nothing additional is heard of them in the subsequent
notices of the tribe, which is otherwise divided into the Paskwawininiwug
and Sakawininiwug (people of the plains and of the woods), the former
subdivided into Sipiwininisvug and Mamikininiwug (river and lowland
people), the latter into Sakittawawininiwug and Ayabaskawininiwug (those
of Cross lake and those of Athabasca). In 1856 the Cree were divided,
according to Hayden, into the following bands, all or nearly all taking
their names from their chiefs:
Apistekaihe
Cokah
Kiaskusis
Mataitaikeok |
Muskwoikakenut
Muskwoikauepawit
Peisiekan
Piskakauakis |
Sheunaukau
Wikyuwamkamusenaikata |
besides several smaller bands and a considerable number around Cross lake,
in the present Athabasca, who were not attached to any band. So far as now
known the ethnic divisions, aside from the Cree proper, are the Maskegon
and the Monsoni. Although these are treated as distinct tribes, they form,
beyond doubt, integral parts of the Cree. It was to the Maskegon,
according to Richardson, that the name Kilistenaux, in its many forms, was
anciently applied, a conclusion with which Henry apparently agrees.
The books presented are for their
historical value only and are not the
opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook
of American Indians, 1906
Index of Tribes or Nations
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