Piapot, Cree Chief
Piapot was born in 1816 in southern Saskatchewan. His birth name was Kisikwawasan, meaning 'flash in the sky.' When he was a young boy, Piapot was taken prisoner with his grandmother by the Sioux and moved to present day North and South Dakota. He eventually learned the Sioux language, and escaped to return to his own people after 14 years. Since he had special knowledge of the Sioux, he received the name Piapot, meaning 'one who knew the secrets of the Sioux'. Piapot became a Medicine Man and
later Chief. Initially, he refused to sign Treaty 4 and accept a reserve, but like many other Aboriginal leaders of the time, he recognized that the buffalo had disappeared and his people were starving. He eventually signed in 1875 and his people received a reserve near the Qu'Appelle Valley. An error in spelling his name changed it from Payepot to Piapot. Piapot did not allow his people to join the Riel Rebellion in 1885, and as a form of thanks from the Canadian government, he received a free trip to Winnipeg.
« Back Top
|