About Peerless Trout First Nation

Peerless Trout First Nation became a First Nation in 2010. We are made up of two communities, Peerless Lake and Trout Lake. The main language is Cree and many people still rely on traditional foods and ways of life. Protecting the our land, waters and natural environment is essential to protecting our Culture. Peerless Trout Lake First Nation is located on traditional lands in northern Alberta in a setting that is rich in natural beauty. The area includes not only Peerless and Trout Lakes, but many other smaller lakes, muskegs and prairies, which supported the fish and wildlife needed to make a living. Due to this mixture of environments the land also provided a wide variety of plants, useful in many ways. Once referred to as Kapaskwatinak (Bald Hill), the name of this site was later changed to Peerless Lake by a trapper and trader originally from Nova Scotia. The settlement on the northeast shore, Peerless Lake, is located approximately 70 km northeast of Red Earth. The community, now known as Trout Lake is located at the south end of Graham Lake where once the Hudson’s Bay Company post was located. Earlier names for Trout Lake, include Old Post and Kinoseesak Kayaton. The stream connecting Trout Lake with Peerless Lake to the north is described as “Trout Lake Narrows.” The Trout Lake settlement is 90 km from Red Earth and 250 km by road from the nearest town, Peace River, Alberta. The Sakhaw Nehiyawak (Woods Cree) people who make up this community speak Nehiyawewin, the Cree language. It is the first language for most community members and is used for the most part, in all but school settings. Until recently, the people of the Peerless/Trout Lake area were registered as members of the Bigstone Cree Nation, over 150 km to the southeast. However, they have always held to their own status as a distinct people with their own lands, history, Elders and stories. They have now accomplished their long-desired objective to have their own government and their reserve lands are currently being surveyed. Now the achievement of other goals for their community is expected. They include education, training, and employment for children, youth and adults, respectively, while sustaining a “good way of life” for the people, animals and their lands.