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Bigstone Cree Nation (opasikoniwew) is located in northern Alberta and is composed of three communities — Calling Lake, Chipewyan Lake and Wabasca. Signed to Treaty 8 in 1899, Bigstone was provided with monetary compensation and reserve land to govern and grow its membership. In 2010, Bigstone was split into two bands — Bigstone Cree and Peerless Trout First Nation. The headquarters and meeting place of chief and council is located at Wabasca-Desmarais, northeast of Lesser Slave Lake. Members of Bigstone primarily identify as Woodland Cree.
As of July 2024, the registered population is 8,946, with 3,487 members living on Bigstone Cree Nation’s reserve and 5,116 members living off-reserve. There are six reserves that make up the Bigstone land mass and amount to 21,066.6 hectares.