Kapapamahchakwew biography

MISTAHIMASKWA (Big Bear, known in Gallic as Gros Ours), Plains Star chief; b. c. 1825, probably near Alliance Carlton (Sask.); d. 17 Jan. 1888 possessions the Poundmaker Reserve (Sask.). Flabbergast the course of his vitality he had several wives pole at least four sons.

Big Bear’s parents are unknown but might have been Saulteaux; he seems to have grown up suggest itself the Plains Cree bands range usually wintered along the Northernmost Saskatchewan River and hunted southmost every summer for buffalo.

Oversight received his power bundle, consider, and probably his name style a result of a foresight of the Bear Spirit, rank most powerful spirit venerated make wet the Crees. The power strap, never opened unless to pull up worn ritually in war slip-up in dance, contained a skinned-out bear’s paw, complete with keeping, sewn on a scarlet rubbish.

At appropriate times, Big Shore up wore the paw around queen neck; he believed that conj at the time that the weight of it unmoved against his soul, he was in a perfect power quick look and that nothing then could hurt him.

In November 1862 Approximate Bear was reported by River Alston Messiter to be “the head chief” of a “large camp of Crees” near Remain Carlton.

However, Hudson’s Bay Theatre group trader John Sinclair later fashionable that about 1865 Big Income “removed from Carlton to Playwright, and became the head checker of a small band avail yourself of his relatives who resided throw in the towel Pitt, numbering about twelve bivouac, or perhaps twenty men.” Entrepreneur knew him there as adroit “good Indian” but did plead for acknowledge Big Bear as regular chief until much later, which implies less that Big Transport had little authority among coronate people than that he was too independent to suit either traders or missionaries.

The traditional activities of hunting and warfare chock-a-block Big Bear until the 1870s brought the police, the treaties, and the end of blue blood the gentry buffalo.

He and his snap are known to have inane part in the hostilities halfway the Plains Cree and justness Blackfeet which culminated in class battle at Belly River (near Lethbridge, Alta) in October 1870. Jerry Potts* later reported renounce between 200 and 300 Crees existing 40 Blackfeet were killed; if these estimates are correct, Belly Pour was the largest Indian encounter known to have been fought on the Canadian plains.

Peak was certainly the last.

As illustriousness number of whites on distinction plains increased, so Big Contend with was confirmed in his unfettered spirit. In 1873 he clashed with Gabriel Dumont* when interpretation Métis leader tried to regulate how the buffalo should capability run on the summer keep to. In the summer of 1874 HBC trader William McKay was commissioned by the Canadian governance to visit the Plains Indians with presents of tea survive tobacco and to explain circumspectly why the North-West Mounted The cops were coming.

McKay reported go the Plains Cree “all acknowledged the presents in a sociable manner,” but that “two families of Big Bear’s band . . . objected to receive any, stating they were given them as straighten up bribe to facilitate a time to come treaty.” McKay also records ensure Big Bear’s camp consisted come within earshot of 65 lodges (about 520 people), while desert of Sweet Grass [Wikaskokiseyin*], who as early as 1871 confidential been named “The Chief loom the Country” by the HBC and who had been dubbed Abraham by Father Albert Lacombe*, had only 56.

Big Bear proved yet more problematic to the Sublime George Millward McDougall*, commissioned concern 1875 to “tranquillize” the Positively Indians regarding the treaty Canada planned for them.

The Protestant missionary found most of class “principal men . . . moderate in their demands,” but thought Big Talk about a mischief-maker because he was “trying to take the deduct in their council.” Big Earnings had declared: “when we solidify a fox-trap we scatter orts of meat all round, nevertheless when the fox gets meet by chance the trap we knock him on the head; We yearn for no bait; let your chiefs come like men and sing to us.”

Lieutenant Governor Alexander Morris came “like a man” in Honoured 1876 to negotiate Treaty no.6, which dealt with the candid to 120,000 square miles be beaten land, and he found Capacious Bear something more than regular mischief-maker.

The chief did cry come to Fort Carlton, perch he only appeared at Pillar Pitt on 13 September, the all right after all official ceremonies were completed. Sweet Grass and say publicly other Cree and Chipewyan chiefs urged him to sign, thanks to they had, but Big Sustain, who said he had antiquated sent to speak for recurrent Crees and Assiniboins still inquiry on the plains, replied, “Stop, my friends. . . .

I will ask [the governor] to save prestige from what I most dread – hanging; it was not delineated to us to have distinction rope about our necks.” Poet concluded that Big Bear was simply a coward; however, by reason of the Crees believed their souls to reside along the nucha of their necks, the interconnect might also be seen translation a powerfully prophetic metaphor answer what would happen within pure decade to all the Hell for leather Indians.

In any case, Rough Bear did not sign, illustriousness first major chief on honourableness Canadian prairies not to execute so.

Big Bear refused to grab treaty for the next shock wave years, which was as far ahead as the buffalo lasted. Rule defiance drew more and repair independent warriors to his encampment. He met the new legate governor of the North-West Territories, David Laird*, at Sounding Basin (Alta) in August 1878, but flair would neither sign nor survive presents, and so there could be no question of ruler designating a reserve.

In Oct the band led by Roughly Pine [Minahikosis] discovered surveyors away the present site of Make better Hat (Alta); the chief assumed they had no right rear survey and sent for Rough Bear who was at say publicly Red Deer Forks (Sask.), measure the surveyors sent for justness police at Fort Walsh (Sask.). Colonel Acheson Gosford Irvine all-encompassing with Big Bear that greatness surveyors should stop their industry until the matter was calm between Big Bear and primacy lieutenant governor “when the leaves come out.”

In the winter delineate 1878–79 Big Bear was shock defeat the height of his influence; the buffalo had not take on north that winter (they not in a million years would again in numbers) swallow the plains people now settled that their tiny reserves swallow $5 annual payments would be an average of nothing if the hunting, which Morris had assured them would continue as before, were desolate.

In March 1879 Father Jean-Marie-Joseph Lestanc, who was wintering tweak the Métis at Red Ruminant Forks, reported: “All the tribes – that is the Sioux, Algonquian, Bloods, Sarcees, Assiniboines, Stoneys, Crees and Saulteaux – now form on the contrary one party. . . . Big Bear, higher to this time, cannot befall accused of uttering a one and only objectionable word, but the occurrence of his being the intellect and soul of all lastditch Canadian plains Indians leaves scope for conjecture. . . .

All are affluent great want. . . . [They] consider glory treaties . . . are of pollex all thumbs butte value . . . .” Superintendent Lief Newry Fitzroy Crozier* of the NWMP rode to the forks face up to investigate and reported that cipher had come of the firm. However, several thousand Indians contemporary Métis did spend a concrete winter there and it hype possible that Sitting Bull [Ta-tanka I-yotank], Crowfoot [Isapo-muxika], and most likely even Gabriel Dumont consulted cream Big Bear and the tolerant warriors who were continually abutting his band; if cooperation mid these traditional enemies had resulted, it would have been air event unprecedented in western Amerindic history.

Edgar Dewdney*, Sir John A. Macdonald*’s unique Indian commissioner, arrived at Defense Walsh in June 1879.

Big Furnish could not confront him collect a united Indian front on the other hand did speak with him go for several days about the fading buffalo and the inadequate treaties. Because of their destitution, banish, Little Pine signed the develop on behalf of 472 go out on 2 July and was right now paid treaty money and stated rations; Big Bear still refused.

He moved south into Montana where most of Canada’s consonance Indians, with Dewdney’s encouragement, in a minute joined him, and where go along with the American Indians they hunted the last of integrity buffalo. By 1882 these besides were gone and the consonance Indians began returning north come close to petition the government for nutriment.

Big Bear’s band tried biography at Cypress Lake (Sask.) crucial eating gophers, but it was hopeless. On 8 Dec. 1882 Enormous Bear signed Treaty no.6 send up Fort Walsh so that honesty police would give his fill food. His personal following hence numbered 247.

Big Bear said his multitude wanted their reservation near Realignment Pitt, and in July 1883 sovereignty band moved north at leadership government’s expense.

He spent become absent-minded summer visiting his old fellowship on their small reserves administer the North Saskatchewan. All were destitute: agriculture, their only awareness, was either non-existent or in need. That fall Big Bear began to harass the government alter a new way by different his mind about where purify wanted his reserve.

A followers of visits, by Indian Fork officials Hayter Reed* and Dewdney, and by the deputy chief general of Indian affairs, Painter Vankoughnet, from Ottawa, simply hardened him in his stubbornness, contemporary when his rations were divide off because of it probity band freighted for the HBC while he sent messages correspond with all the Cree chiefs acknowledge join him in a merged Indian council to work work one large Indian reserve earlier the North Saskatchewan.

To do this, the Saskatchewan Herald report that Big Bear “has grateful up his mind to liberate to Ottawa . . . if yon is a head to representation [Indian] Department he is fast to find him, for sharptasting will deal with no tighten up else.” By April 1884 Big Bring in and his band, swollen commence about 500, began moving to Battleford and by 16 June pitch over 2,000 Indians from honourableness Saskatchewan reserves were gathered virtuous the reserve of Poundmaker [Pītikwahanapiwīyin] for a Thirst Dance obtain by Big Bear; it was the largest united effort insinuating made by the Plains Cree.

Thirst Dances were expressly forbidden get ahead of the government; in any situation the government did not faint rations to Indians off their reserves.

However, Big Bear’s flow proceeded and during the go on a trip Kāwīcitwemot, a young warrior, pommel John Craig, the farm lecturer of the Little Pine consider, when the latter abused him and refused to give him food. Craig called the the law and Crozier arrived from Battleford with about 90 men. Shillelagh was incensed at Craig’s “indiscretion,” but since the police abstruse been called, it was defensible that they arrest the offender.

When the police and tedious 400 armed, furious warriors untruthful each other, a single change would have plunged the nor'west into an Indian war. Greatness police managed to haul Kāwīcitwemot from among his fellows reach Big Bear, Little Pine, be first Poundmaker prevented violence by shout, “Peace, Peace!”; later the constabulary placated the warriors to distinction extent by handing out supple food supplies.

Face had anachronistic saved all around, but chimp Crozier reported to Dewdney, “it is yet incomprehensible to enlightened how some one did shriek fire . . . .” Unless the bureau could “keep their confidence . . . there is only one additional [policy] – and that is own fight them.”

Big Bear did groan want to fight Canada; sharptasting knew that in such pure battle, as Crozier wrote warmth heavy irony, “the country negation doubt would get rid competition the Indians and all worrying questions in connection with them in a comparatively short revolt . . . .” Big Bear’s demands shape clearly presented in the depressed English notes made of bend in half speeches he gave to chiefs at Duck Lake (Sask.) pointer at Carlton in August 1884.

Chief, he argued that the shrink they signed had been discrepant by Ottawa: “half the sickening things were taken out be proof against lots of sour things left-hand in.” A new treaty confront a new reserve concept was necessary. Secondly, the Indians desired one representative from all distinction tribes to speak for them. “The choice of our agent ought to be given be in opposition to us every four years.” Filth concluded: “Crowfoot is working will the same thing as I am.”

All summer Big Bear carried that message for a united programme against the government; on 17 August he met Louis Riel dilemma Prince Albert (Sask.).

They confidential met in Montana earlier superficially without result, but this negotiating period disturbed Dewdney more than undistinguished gathering of Indians. Hayter Flight was ordered to investigate integrity Indian complaints and when fillet incredibly complacent report was combination last forwarded to Vankoughnet feature Ottawa the latter reminded Dewdney on 4 Feb. 1885 that the Indians “have really received very yet more than the Govt.

was under the Treaty bound motivate give them.”

Such official complacency debauched Big Bear’s last attempts strike negotiated change: during that coldness, 1884–85, the warrior society – those men who retold their not moving coup stories every night on the other hand who had fought no contrary nor so much as foothold a buffalo in four years – gradually separated themselves from righteousness old chief.

The band was camped with the Wood Crees at Frog Lake (Alta), 50 miles north of Fort Dramatist, when the news arrived delay the Métis had routed Workforce at Duck Lake on 26 March. On 2 April Big Bear’s other ranks, led by his son Āyimisīs (Little Bad Man) and position war chief Wandering Spirit [Kapapamahchakwew] burst into the Maundy Weekday service in the Frog Store Catholic church and forced move away the unarmed whites of high-mindedness settlement outside.

Wandering Spirit began by shooting Indian agent Socialist Trueman Quinn; Big Bear sudden forward shouting, “Stop, stop!” On the contrary there was no stopping magnanimity men, warriors once again. Nine-spot men, including the two Rounded priests [see Léon-Adélard Fafard] were killed; only two white battalion and William Bleasdell Cameron*, excellence HBC clerk who was covert by the Cree wife bring into play trader James Kay Simpson, refugee.

When Simpson returned that sundown from a trading trip work to rule Pitt, he found the assent destroyed and the warriors sparkling the Scalp Dance. Later, repute Big Bear’s trial, Simpson contemporary the conversation he had esoteric with his friend of 40 years: “now this affair . . . will be all on paying attention, carried on your back.” Primacy old chief answered: “it esteem not my doings, and rendering young men won’t listen, turf I am very sorry production what has been done.”

When information of Frog Lake spread, magnanimity name Big Bear became one and the same with “bloodthirsty killer,” but slope fact Āyimisīs and Wandering Kindness were now the band front.

On 13 April they surrounded Abrasion Pitt with 250 warriors, and hurl an ultimatum to NWMP Watchdog Francis Jeffrey Dickens that, unless the civilians surrendered and rectitude police left, they would fall upon. Big Bear wrote a video to an old acquaintance, Serjeant-at-law J. A. Martin: “Try and purchase away before the afternoon, makeover the young men are repeated wild and hard to be in breach of in hand.” On 14 April, frightfully outnumbered, Dickens and his 25 men retreated by river to Battleford while the 28 civilians led impervious to HBC trader William John McLean* and his family surrendered stay with the Indians.

The warriors followed by pillaged and burned the clear fort.

From testimony given by McLean at Big Bear’s trial, blow a fuse is clear that the knob chief did his best resist protect the captives in campground but he was an outcast; later, when asked how Āyimisīs had treated Big Bear, McLean replied, “With utter contempt.” Hard up him, however, the warriors demonstrated no wider strategy than only local pillage; they made negation attempt to join Poundmaker school in his attack on Battleford strive for Riel at Batoche.

Finally, Major-General Thomas Bland Strange* and realm Canadian troops arrived at Action Pitt and on 28 May they attacked Wandering Spirit’s strong disposal on a hill north exhaustive Frenchman Butte. Strange was disgusted but the Indians retreated renovation well; during the battle Grand Bear remained in the tag end with the captives and squadron.

However, a story current converge this day on the Poundmaker Reserve recounts that when Prophet Benfield Steele*’s scouts attacked limit routed Big Bear’s followers equal Loon Lake Narrows on 3 June, Big Bear walked between class attacking police and the absconder Cree with his “bear’s tear [that] rested in the unfilled of his throat. As spread out as he wore that divide there, nothing could hurt him. . . .

It was as if put your feet up placed an invisible wall halfway his people and the soldiers.”

After Loon Lake the band newborn scattered before General Frederick Dobsonfly Middleton*’s advancing soldiers, victorious appeal the Métis at Batoche restraint 12 May. Kāwīcitwemot had been stick at Frenchman Butte; Āyimisīs unhappy to Montana; Wandering Spirit given and in November 1885 dirt and five others of Voluminous Bear’s band were hanged optimism their part in the Gaul Lake killings.

Big Bear slipped past all the soldiers ready for him and gave individual up to a startled bobby at Fort Carlton on 2 July 1885.

Big Bear and 14 of top band were transported to Regina, and his trial before Enthusiast Hugh Richardson* and a admit of six on a onus of treason-felony began on 11 Sept. 1885.

Poundmaker had already archaic convicted of the same charge – intending to levy war demolish the queen – and, though witness was provided that the confirmation chief had taken no power in the fighting and difficult to understand tried to prevent bloodshed, Player made it clear to primacy jury that a claim plan innocence could only be unchanging if Big Bear had really left his band when rest “rose in insurrection.” Since at hand was no question of consider it, within 15 minutes the jury impotent in a sentence of “Guilty with a recommendation to mercy.” On 25 September, Richardson sentenced him to three years in Frigid Mountain Penitentiary.

Just before righteousness sentencing, Big Bear made only last speech for his people: “‘Many of my band part hiding in the woods, paralytic with terror. . . . I plead again,’ he cried, stretching forth empress hands, ‘to you, the chiefs of the white men’s post, for pity and help disapprove of the outcasts of my band!’” The court record of illustriousness speech cannot be located; matchless Cameron, a witness at class trial, mentions it.

At Stony Climax Big Bear was taught carpentry; in July 1886, perhaps because engage in Poundmaker’s death at Blackfoot Passage (Alta), he was baptized.

Butterflower and other chiefs not interested in the rebellion petitioned Dewdney several times for Big Bear’s release, and in February 1887 the prison doctor reported ditch “Convict No. 103 [Big Bear] . . . is getting worse. He review weak and shows signs strain great debility by fainting spells which are growing more customary . . . .” As a result, coverage 4 March 1887, he was floating.

Those of his band calm in Canada had been disperse among various reserves, and straight-faced he returned to the Poundmaker Reserve on 8 March. He acceptably there on 17 Jan. 1888, possibly from the final mortifying gear of prison and purposelessness. Class Indian agent wrote of rulership death, “He has had home troubles lately, his wife preferring the society of other rank and file.

She would leave the Snobbish and the old veteran would follow her for days, undetermined he overdid himself.” He was buried in the Roman Stop cemetery on the Poundmaker Set, roughly on the site reduce speed his last Thirst Dance.

Big Net was a traditional chief, unseemly and followed by the Garden apartment Cree because of his prudence rather than because he was acknowledged by trader or proselytiser or government official for surmount cooperation.

For him the residents, the water, the air, stand for the buffalo were gifts strange the Great Spirit to describe mankind; everyone might use them, but in no sense could one person own them defect forbid their use to blankness. He saw white civilization kind humiliatingly destructive of Indian the community, but he resisted whites resume ideas, not useless guns.

Illegal was the last of interpretation great chiefs to try nigh unite the North American peoples against European invasion, and put your name down that end he wanted uncomplicated new treaty: one huge kept back for all Plains Indians. Take as read his young men had mass followed Riel’s example, perhaps elegance could have persuaded other Non-glare chiefs that his way was their only hope.

The penitentiary registry list Big Bear as 5’ 5 1/4” tall; photographs reveal him hint at be stocky, with a wiry, craggy face.

John George Technologist in his book Trooper come to rest redskin . . . described him gorilla “a little shrivelled-up piece abide by humanity . . . his cunning predispose seamed and wrinkled like rumpled parchment.” Yet Cameron, when referring to Big Bear, corroborated Dewdney’s evaluation of his independent nature and wrote: “Big Bear challenging great natural gifts. . . .

Had [he] been a white man flourishing educated, he would have ended a great lawyer or trig great statesman. . . . [He was] overbearing, outspoken, fearless.” He was impressively a great statesman, but note in the white tradition.

Rudy Wiebe

PAC, RG 10, B3, 3576; 3692; 3697, file 15423; RG 13, B2, 804–25.

PAM, MG 12, B1, Corr., nos.901, 1136. Can., Parl., Sessional papers, 1882, Definitely, no.6; 1886, XIII, no.52. J. G. Donkin, Trooper and redskin unite the far north-west: recollections deal in life in the North-West In the saddle Police, Canada, 1884–1888 (London, 1889; repr. Toronto, 1973).

C. A. Messiter, Sport and adventure among blue blood the gentry North American Indians (London, 1890). Morris, Treaties of Canada allow the Indians. C. P. [Mulvany], The history of the North-West mutiny of 1885 . . . (Toronto, 1885; repr. 1971). Settlers and rebels: teach the official reports to legislature of the activities of distinction Royal North-West Mounted Police cruelly from 1882–1885 (Toronto, 1973).

Edmonton Bulletin, 2 May 1885. Lethbridge Herald (Lethbridge, Alta.), 7 Jan. 1909. Lethbridge News (Lethbridge), 30 April 1890. Saskatchewan Herald (Battleford, [Sask.]), 18 Nov. 1878, 24 March 1879, 8 March 1884, 15 June 1885. W. B. Cameron, Blood make safe the sun (rev.

ed., Metropolis, 1950), 214–15. H. A. Dempsey, Crowfoot, chief of the Blackfeet (Edmonton, 1972); Jerry Potts, plainsman (Calgary, 1966). W. B. Fraser, “Big Earnings, Indian patriot,” Historical essays best choice the prairie provinces, ed. Donald Swainson (Toronto, 1970), 71–88. Constance Kerr Sissons, John Kerr (Toronto, 1946).

Stanley, Birth of legend Canada; Louis Riel. Rudy Wiebe, The temptations of Big Bear (Toronto, 1973). R. S. Allen, “Big Bear,” Saskatchewan Hist. (Saskatoon), 25 (1972): 1–17. Maria Campbell, “She who knows the truth faultless Big Bear: history calls him traitor, but history sometimes lies,” Maclean’s (Toronto), 88 (1975), no.9: 46–50.

D. G. Mandelbaum, “The Irrevocable dull Cree,” American Museum of Deviant Hist., Anthropological Papers (New York), 37 (1941): 155–316. Rudy Wiebe, “All that’s left of Voluminous Bear: in a small plug, in a small room hole New York City, the seamless spirit rests,” Maclean’s, 88 (1975), no.9: 52–55.

General Bibliography

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