Cross Lake is the principal community of the Pimicikamak indigenous people that made treaty with the British Crown in 1875.

[5] In March 2016, Cross Lake appeared in the national news after its officials declared a state of emergency because of an epidemic of suicides.

The Canadian Press reported that there had been "six suicides in the last two months", and band councillor Donnie McKay said the community "is traumatized and needs immediate help from the provincial and federal governments".

[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] As of August 2014 Cross Lake First Nation had a total registered membership of 8,034 with 5,642 members living on-reserve.

Other major communities for the First Nation are: Cross Lake was the site of a residential school operated under Canada's aboriginal assimilation policy.