Payipwât - Piapot - Notable First Nations People
Payipwât was kidnapped by the Lakota (Sioux) as a child, and ultimately made hsi way back to his people. By 1860 Payipwat was a spiritual leader among the Cree. During this same time, he had become chief of the Cree-Assiniboine or Young Dogs, a particularly powerful mixed band of Cree and Cree-speaking Assiniboine as well as some Plains Ojibwe. In 1875 he was a signatory to Treaty 4. After attempts at negotiating with the Canadian government proved rife with deceit and setbacks, Payipwât and other Cree leaders were able to attain reserves on some of the land they wanted. In 1882, facing starvation due to the declining buffalo herds, Payipwât and his people were again forced to move, to Indian Head. Three years later, his band was caught up in the Métis North-West Rebellion , and he was the only surviving Chief of his people by the end of it. Forever distrusted by the government due to his advocacy for his people, he was eventually deposed as Chief.
