Cree Nation

See also Chippeewa-Cree Indians

History

Brief Time Line

1611: First non-Indian contct with Henry Hudson

Late 1600's: Cree were trading with cononist and the Hudson Bay Company which had set up post at the mouth to the Nelson, Moose and Albany rivers.

1730: Removed to the prairies, making them less dependent on the trading post.  They took over land held by the Assinboin, The Assiniboin became their principal ally

1700's: trade relations with the Blackfeet, these relations were maintained until 1790-1810 when the relation broke down

1800: Missionaries convert many to Christianity

The Cree traded with both the English and the French

1840: Intertribal war with the Blackfeet, Dakota, Crow, Cheyenne, Nez Perce and Flathead

1860: population of the Plains Cree numbered 12,500 by  

1881: Buffalo herds deminished; the tribe near of starvation

1899: population 6,807

1916: assigned with the Chippewa to the Rocky Boy's Reservation in Montana

1920-1940: Many die from tuberculosis, flu, measles, whooping cough and bronchitis