Introduction to the Western Cree
Most sources agree that the Cree did not live in this area until sometime after the fur trade had already started. The Cree worked as middlemen in the fur trade. They trade furs at York Factory and then brought the goods back where they'd trade them, used, with the other native bands for higher prices. But eventually, the Cree lost their position as middlemen and had to accept other native groups trading directly with the trading posts.
Eventually a number of Cree bands begin moving out into the prairies, some adapting completely to the plains and others staying at the edge, near the woodland. As the buffalo grow scarce they begin to move further into the Blackfoot territory and wars between the two groups grew more common. Horse raids was another part of the tension between the two groups.
In his book The Plains Cree, David Mandelbaum explains the different groupings of the Plains Cree. They are divided into two large groups, and then into bands. The term band is also used to describe the smaller bands within the bands.
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Downstream People (mamihkiyiniwak) was the name given to the eastern bands. These bands were the Calling River People, Rabbit Skins and Touchwood Hills People. |
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Upstream People (natimiwiyiniwak) refers to the western bands. These include the House, Parklands, River People, Beaver Hills People, and sometimes the Prairie People. The term Upstream People could also refer specifically to the Beaver Hills People. |
It is the western bands with which this webpage is most concerned.
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