Ahtahkakoop
Chief Ahtahkakoop understood that the ways of living that his band was used to needed to change in order for it and its future generations to survive.
Buffalo not only provided food but also their hides, which were used for a variety of purposes; from tipi covers and clothing to storage bags and cooking vessels.
Once the weather began to warm towards the end of winter, birds such as geese and ducks would return to these lands, which would also be hunted.
From a young age Ahtahkakoop would have been familiar with the stories of the Creator (māmawiwiyohtāwīmaw), his spirit helpers, and their place on Mother Earth.
In many, such as a clash with the Blackfoot warriors, he was outnumbered yet was still able to lead his party to victory while keeping his men unscathed.
Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis were close allies and friends throughout their lives, often camping near one another and spending their summers hunting with each other's peoples.
In the summer of 1874, Ahtahkakoop and his band traveled to Fort Carlton to pick up supplies before heading out to hunt buffalo.
During this visit Ahtahkakoop suggested to Hines that he should join them and move his settlement to Sandy Lake (yēkawiskāwikamāw) to be a minister there.
[6] Ahtahkakoop not only introduced Hines and his religious teachings to his own people but also other bands, such as that of Mistawasis and Okinomotayew of Stony Lake.
[6] Ahtahkakoop was under the impression that the previous missionaries under the Roman Catholic Church that visited his people would send somebody to educate his children, and others in his band, which they had stated they would.
With the drastic decrease in buffalo populations, which the Cree people had been so reliant on, Ahtahkakoop decided that turning to agriculture would provide the best and most stable economic income for the band.
Ahtahkakoop, aware of the many changes that were taking place in the world around him (especially with the decline of the buffalo and increase of settler populations), saw the need to learn and embrace a new way of life.
Chiefs Poundmaker, Badger, and Young Chipewyan spoke out against signing the treaty and the dividing of land that would come along with it.
[8] However, after hearing speeches from Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis were swayed by their opinions on why the treaty was important for the success of their people.
As a chief, Ahtahkakoop signed on behalf of all of his people who wished to peacefully share the land with settlers and the government.
[4] Despite the best intentions of Ahtahkakoop, there were misunderstandings in regards to the way in which the terms of the treaty would be upheld, due to differences in traditions between the Cree and the European settlers.
They were told that Louis Riel had gained power by creating his own provisional government, had organised a rebellion, and that he and Gabriel Dumont were demanding that the fort be turned over to them.
[4] Riel claimed that his actions were justified, as he believed that the government had failed to help the Métis in times of need.
Therefore, they told officials that if they were unable to stop Riel and his men via force, they would take their people to Prince Albert to keep them safe.
[4] Happy with the men's promises to remain loyal, officials stated that they would provide protection and supplies to their people in the case of evacuation.
[4] Ahtahkakoop died 4 December 1896 at the age of about 80 years, struck by what is believed to have been a heart attack while out on a walk with his grandson Pacī (James Starblanket).
[4] His son, Ka-miyoastotin (He Who Wears a Fine Hat), or Basil Starblanket, succeeded him as Chief of his father's band.
