THE BATTLES OF THE NORTH WEST REBELLION
NORTH WEST MOUNTED POLICE: Created in 1873 by the government of Canada. Why would the government of Canada want to create the North West Mounted Police?
Known to the Métis his hunting skills. Usually led the annual Métis buffalo hunt. He left the Red River Resistance and encouraged many of the Métis people to settle in the South Branch region.
Gabriel Dumont went down to Montana to seek the help of Louis Riel. Riel was living in a Montana community, he was married and had started a family. Even though Riel had a new life, he left Montana and came up to the South Branch communities with his family. When Riel returned to Canada he immediately started talking to Francophone and Anglophone Métis, and other settlers about a way to move forward. Riel had received support from Big Bear and Poundmaker
Concerned about the declining buffalo and increased amount of European settlers. Tribe was suffering from starvation and had no choice to sign treaties and seek help from the White men.
Did not gain his reputation as a great hunter or great warrior. Known for his ability to talk and have a battle with his words. Tribe was also starving and needed to seek help from the white man
Most of the buffalo were killed off, so the Natives became hungry, and many were starving. The White man offered treaties in which the Natives could agree to give up most of the land in exchange for promises of food, treaty money, reserves to live on, and help with farming.
BATTLE OF DUCK LAKE When: March 26,1885 Where: Duck Lake, near the old Carlton Trail What: The opening battle of the 1885 Resistance. The Mounted Police opened fire on a larger group of Métis. Police and volunteers retreated about half an hour later. Riel watched the battle on horseback, held a wooden cross and prayed out loud. Death Toll: 6 of the Métis force, and 12 to the police force.
LOOTING OF BATTLEFORD When: March 30, 1885 Where: Battleford, Saskatchewan What: A group of Cree people, who were short of food because of the declining buffalo populations looted the town of Battleford. When the Cree approached Battleford, the people fled to a nearby North-West Mounted Police post (Fort Battleford) The Cree's then took the food and supplies they needed.
FROG LAKE MASSACRE When: April 2, 1885 Where: Frog Lake, Alberta What: Mounted Police seemed to be retreating, young First Nations were becoming angered with treaty promises not being honoured. First Nations went to raid HBC store in search of food. An altercation broke out and the First Nations killed nine white men. Death Toll: 9 Canadians
FROG LAKE TODAY Commemorating the Frog Lake Massacre located in the cemetery with the graves of some of those who were killed. Frog Lake National Historic Site of Canada is located near Frog Lake, Alberta
BATTLE OF FORT PITT When: April 2-15, 1885 Where: Frenchman Butte, Saskatchewan What: Cree warriors descended on Fort Pitt. They killed one, and captured 23. Eventually, Big Bear released the people but he destroyed the Fort. Death Toll: 1 Canadian
BATTLE OF FISH CREEK When: April 24, 1885 Where: The first skirmish in the leading to the battle of Batoche. What: Dumont launched an ambush. Middleton s troops could not break through the Métis defence. Slowed down the Canadians. Death toll: 4 Métis and 10 Canadian
THE BATTLE OF BATOCHE When: May 9-12 1885 Where: Batoche, Saskatchewan What: First used of the gatling gun. After three days of resistance the Métis are overwhelmed. Dumont fights till the very end, the Métis ran out of ammunition. Death Toll: Estimated one hundred Métis fighters and Canadians had died, including one child.
The graveyard, the brown fenced structure in the miss is a mass grave of 9 Métis who died in the Battle of Batoche The actual church which Riel and the Métis used during the Rebellion