Ahtahkakoop (, "Starblanket", – 4 December 1896) was a Head Chief of the Plains Cree and presided over the House Cree (Wāskahikaniwiyiniwak) division of the Plains Cree people of northern Saskatchewan, who led his people through the transition from hunter and warrior during an era where their natural sources of livelihood and cultural foundations such as the Bison were subjected to mass decline, to farmers where his people would survive amidst mass starvation of Indigenous peoples across the great plains. Despite transitioning his lifestyle; Chief Ahtahkakoop was known for encouraging traditional ways of living in his community (even as they worshipped as Christians), and his continual adherence of traditional Cree ceremonies, medicines, and feasts such as the Bear Ceremony- gave way for his non-Christian people to remain safe of any religious discrimination or persecution.
He rose to be a respected and tactical leader of the Cree Nation in the latter part of the 19th century. At the onset of his leadership, the plains buffalo herds were abundant in the northern plains and parklands, providing greatly to the social, environmental, and economical balance vital to the survival of the Cree. By the 1860s, the buffalo were rapidly disappearing and with the arrival of the European settlers this balance became altered. 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. Together with his friend and fellow Chief, Mistāwasis ("Big Child"), he signed the 1876 Treaty 6 as the second signatory chief at Fort Carlton, Saskatchewan. By signing this treaty he agreed to relocate his band to a 67 square miles reserve at Sandy Lake, 45 miles northwest of present-day Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Early life
Ahtahkakoop was born about 1816 in the Saskatchewan River country. Ahtahkakoop [Chatelain] was born to a French-Canadian father, Antoine Chatelain, and to a Cree woman, Okimawinotook. On the night of his birth, the young boy was said to have been born on a night where the stars blanketed the sky, and were more numerous and brighter than usual. He was thus given the name "Ahtahkakoop", the Plains Cree word for Starblanket- and his mother had wrapped the new born in a blanket sewn with pointed stars. He was one of five brothers. The remainder being named: Masuskapoe Chatelain, Sasakamoose Jacob Chatelain, Ahenakew David Chatelain, and Nāpēskis Chatelain. Ahtahkakoop's own descendants, and that of his brothers, are thought to be quite extensive although not completely compiled.
The third brother, Sasakamoose, whose name in English translates to "One Who Adheres"- was noted as a natural leader, and more respected medicine man than his brother Ahtahkakoop. Sasakamoose had been part of the mitewin, a secret and powerful medicine society; but, he was a small man and quick in both speech and anger. A beard and hunched back were his prominent features. The youngest of the brothers was Nāpēskis, a young and handsome warrior and fur-trapper, who had garnered the favor of the Hudson Bay Company and was given credit across Rupert's Land. In the summer of 1859, James Carnegie, the 9th Earl of Southesk, a renowned Scottish big-game hunter had taken up travel to the Herschel Area of South-western Saskatchewan. With the help of his guide, Nāpēskis, the Earl had killed several large game: mainly bison and plains Grizzly. At Kinnaird Castle in Scotland, some of the trophies credited to Nāpēskis and the Earl are still on display.
Ahathkakoop was brought up with the traditional values and way of life of the Plains Cree peoples. Thus, Ahtahkakoop was raised in a hunter-gatherer society. Every summer his family, in addition to other band members, would travel from their camps to the prairie grassland. Here they would hunt buffalo, and gather roots, herbs, and berries. The buffalo were especially important to the survival of Ahtahkakoop's people. 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. During the winter his people would separate back into their family groups and move to the parklands. Throughout the winter, in addition to buffalo, his family would hunt elk, moose, and deer. 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. During this time sap from maple and birch trees would be gathered and turned into syrup and sugar.
Spirituality was also an important aspect of life for the Plains Cree. 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. He also learnt about the various ceremonies, prayers, and songs involved in said ceremonies. When he was old enough Ahtahkakoop would have taken part in these ceremonies, such as being able to smudge and purify himself, pipe ceremonies, and sweat lodges. A very significant ritual that Ahtahkakoop would have taken part in during his early life was his vision quest. Around the age of 14, Ahtahkakoop would have left his family to seclude himself in the hills or forests around his camp. There, without food or water, he fasted in hopes of receiving a vision from the Creator. This ritual was an important part of puberty and a rite of passage.
Ahtahkakoop the Chief Throughout his adult life Ahtahkakoop was noted for his leadership skills. Even when he was still a young-adult, others noticed his knack for taking on responsibility and effectively leading his people. He often knew the best places to set up camps and where to hunt for buffalo, in addition to his impressive hunting skills. Most notable were his skills as a warrior. Many stories were told about his great war feats against other tribesmen. 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. This not only showed others his potential as an impressive leader, but also how the spirits favoured him and how powerful his spirit helpers were.
Although there is no certain date, it is believed that Ahtahkakoop was recognized as a chief no later than some time in the 1850s (although potentially earlier). Ahtahkakoop's band was part of the Fort People (wāskaahikaniyiniwak), so called for their close proximity to Fort Carlton. The territory of the Fort People spanned north, west, and south-west of Fort Carlton, although Ahtahkakoop's typical hunting grounds were located north of the Bad Hill (maci-waciy), north-west of modern-day Rosetown. The other major chief of the Fort People at this time was Mistawasis. 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. Their families were also closely linked. Ahtahkakoop's eldest son Kā-miyo-ahcahkwēw (Good Spirit) married Mistawasis' daughter Judique, and Ahtahkakoop's daughter Isabella married Mistawasis' eldest son Wēyatōkwapew (Lively Man). The two men also worked closely together when hunting and trapping for the Hudson's Bay Company, who recognised both of these men as prominent chiefs.
As a recognized chief, and a man of high rank, it was appropriate for Ahtahkakoop to take on multiple wives. He is known to have had at least three wives, one of which, named Mary, was the daughter of Nātowēw (although the names of the other women are unknown). These women would have been important in sharing the workload of the band as a whole in addition to organizing family matters. The women were all likely from other prominent bands, as interband marriages were pivotal in creating ties and alliances.
John Hines
In the summer of 1874, Ahtahkakoop and his band traveled to Fort Carlton to pick up supplies before heading out to hunt buffalo. While at the stop in Carlton he met the young missionary, John Hines, only in passing. However, Ahtahkakoop had been hoping to meet someone that could help his people transition and adapt to the changing world around them. The two men parted ways, with Ahtahkakoop leaving for the hunt and Hines setting out to build a new home for himself. However, when Ahtahkakoop heard that Hines was living nearby at a site on Whitefish Lake he decided to pay Hines a visit. 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. In October of the same year, Hines moved his settlement to Sandy Lake, camping on Ahtahkakoop's land, which was much more appropriate for cultivation than his previous settlement sites.
This was not Ahtahkakoop's first encounter with missionaries. Prior to his encounter with Hines, Roman Catholic priests had visited Ahtahkakoop and his people. Ahtahkakoop had allowed for these priests to baptize his children. Ahtahkakoop had yet to be converted and baptized when Hines arrived at his camp. He was baptized 20 May 1877 along with his wife, who had been cautious about converting under the Church of England due to the fact that this church differed from that of her children. 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. He stated that it was neither the work of Hines nor his own work that led to the spread of Christianity, but that rather people converted of their own accord.
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. However, he was underwhelmed by these missionaries and was therefore excited for Hines to start educating his children and others at his camp. Therefore, Hines established a day school at Ahtahkakoop's site. He later set up additional day schools at other camps, one of which at Stony Lake which was run by one of Hine's previous pupils that had been taught at the school at Sandy Lake.
Ahtahkakoop was not only concerned about religious and practical teachings that Hines could provide but also agricultural teaching. Ahtahkakoop was aware of the changing economic world around him. 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. Therefore, Hines taught Ahtahkakoop and his people various agricultural tools, such as how to sow grain and plant gardens. At any given time, Ahtahkakoop's land had anywhere between 20 and 120 acres of land in use for agricultural purposes. In later years the Government of Canada praised Ahtahkakoop and Hines on their agricultural efforts.
Treaty 6
On August 15, 1876, Ahtahkakoop, along with various other chiefs and officials met at Fort Carlton. On August 18, negotiations began and by August 23 Treaty Six had been signed first by Mistawasis, followed by Ahtahkakoop and 11 other chiefs, overseen by Lieutenant-Governor Alexander Morris. Representing the Wāskahikaniwiyiniwak (House Cree), Ahtahkakoop and his four headmen: Sah-Sah-Koo-Moos (Adherer), Benjamin (Thigh), Mee-Now-Ah-Chahk-Way (Good Spirit), and Kee-Sik-Ow-Asis (Sky Child) signed in agreement with the presented treaty terms. Each chief was presented with a medal and flag, and as head chiefs Ahtahkakoop and Mistawasis were presented with the chief's government uniform which included a gold-trimmed scarlet coat, a felt top hat, pants, a shirt, and a handkerchief. They were told that by accepting this uniform they became representatives on the kingdom and the Queen.