Observations of the allocation, habitation and use of the land identified as Indigenous lands in 1896, along the shores of Pigeon Lake.

“Prior to 1725, it was known that Crees were already there (Pigeon Lake). For many years, Pigeon Lake had been used as a winter camp and a permanent place of residency by the Crees of the Hobbema agency. The area that was to comprise Pigeon Lake Reserve was an area that, from reports of Inspectors and Indian Agents, was an area where much fishing went on. It was an area that was always known to the Crees as a place where they hunted and fished from a long time ago.”

Excerpt from A Historical Perspective of Pigeon lake Reserve #138A by Casey Rowan & Rik Yellowbird

“…in 1896 the government established an “Indian Reserve” on the south east shore of the lake where the small tract of land became home to about two hundred people who came from the Ermineskin, Louis Bull, Samson and Montana bands.”

Excerpt from the Crystal Springs history book

“The Land Act of 1873 set a large scale survey project in motion. Range and township lines were to subdivide the entire country into sections, administered through land title offices and, in the west, available for homesteading at certain conditions.

On the Aboriginal reserves food remained scarce. Producing farms took time to establish and in 1896, extra land was set aside for the four bands who resided near Hobbema: the Samson, Louis Bull, Ermineskin and Montana bands. This gave additional access to fishing and trapping. Most of the people who were still living along the north shore now migrated to the reserve on other side of the lake.”

Excerpt from Seeking the Story of Mission Beach - Rundle's Mission Historic Site - Thorsby, Alberta - Section 7. A New Era: Sections and Land Titles