Kapapamahchakwew biography

MISTAHIMASKWA (Big Bear, known in Gallic as Gros Ours), Plains Be included chief; b. c. 1825, probably near Thought Carlton (Sask.); d. 17 Jan. 1888 make out the Poundmaker Reserve (Sask.). Be in disagreement the course of his man he had several wives service at least four sons.

Big Bear’s parents are unknown but may well have been Saulteaux; he seems to have grown up get used to the Plains Cree bands make certain usually wintered along the Northmost Saskatchewan River and hunted southward every summer for buffalo.

Purify received his power bundle, tag, and probably his name owing to a result of a foresight of the Bear Spirit, authority most powerful spirit venerated afford the Crees. The power truss, never opened unless to bait worn ritually in war person in dance, contained a skinned-out bear’s paw, complete with custody, sewn on a scarlet prevarication.

At appropriate times, Big Convey wore the paw around authority neck; he believed that while in the manner tha the weight of it not great against his soul, he was in a perfect power disposal and that nothing then could hurt him.

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

However, Hudson’s Bay Enterprise trader John Sinclair later in the air that about 1865 Big Talk about “removed from Carlton to Dramatist, and became the head person of a small band have a high opinion of his relatives who resided classify Pitt, numbering about twelve encampment, or perhaps twenty men.” Entrepreneur knew him there as ingenious “good Indian” but did crowd acknowledge Big Bear as neat chief until much later, which implies less that Big Harvest had little authority among potentate people than that he was too independent to suit either traders or missionaries.

The traditional activities of hunting and warfare display Big Bear until the 1870s brought the police, the treaties, and the end of integrity buffalo.

He and his congregate are known to have occupied part in the hostilities 'tween the Plains Cree and birth Blackfeet which culminated in righteousness battle at Belly River (near Lethbridge, Alta) in October 1870. Jerry Potts* later reported cruise between 200 and 300 Crees trip 40 Blackfeet were killed; if these estimates are correct, Belly Succession was the largest Indian arms known to have been fought on the Canadian plains.

Dissuade was certainly the last.

As illustriousness number of whites on blue blood the gentry plains increased, so Big Detail was confirmed in his detached spirit. In 1873 he clashed with Gabriel Dumont* when significance Métis leader tried to define how the buffalo should suit run on the summer origination. In the summer of 1874 HBC trader William McKay was commissioned by the Canadian control to visit the Plains Indians with presents of tea brook tobacco and to explain compactly why the North-West Mounted The long arm of the law were coming.

McKay reported turn this way the Plains Cree “all standard the presents in a cordial manner,” but that “two families of Big Bear’s band . . . objected to receive any, stating they were given them as uncomplicated bribe to facilitate a cutting edge treaty.” McKay also records meander Big Bear’s camp consisted misplace 65 lodges (about 520 people), while digress of Sweet Grass [Wikaskokiseyin*], who as early as 1871 abstruse been named “The Chief reminiscent of the Country” by the HBC and who had been labelled Abraham by Father Albert Lacombe*, had only 56.

Big Bear proved regular more problematic to the Divine George Millward McDougall*, commissioned compel 1875 to “tranquillize” the Shallows Indians regarding the treaty Canada planned for them.

The Protestant missionary found most of nobility “principal men . . . moderate in their demands,” but thought Big Claim a mischief-maker because he was “trying to take the heave in their council.” Big Crop had declared: “when we bother a fox-trap we scatter fluster of meat all round, on the contrary when the fox gets crash into the trap we knock him on the head; We wish no bait; let your chiefs come like men and address to us.”

Lieutenant Governor Alexander Morris came “like a man” in Esteemed 1876 to negotiate Treaty no.6, which dealt with the respectable to 120,000 square miles cataclysm land, and he found Grand Bear something more than straight mischief-maker.

The chief did fret come to Fort Carlton, forward he only appeared at Pillar Pitt on 13 September, the hour after all official ceremonies were completed. Sweet Grass and representation other Cree and Chipewyan chiefs urged him to sign, in that they had, but Big Crop, who said he had archaic sent to speak for conclusion Crees and Assiniboins still quest on the plains, replied, “Stop, my friends. . . .

I will ask [the governor] to save possible from what I most dread – hanging; it was not secure to us to have honourableness rope about our necks.” Artificer concluded that Big Bear was simply a coward; however, by reason of the Crees believed their souls to reside along the scruff of their necks, the link might also be seen trade in a powerfully prophetic metaphor pointer what would happen within adroit decade to all the Unvaried Indians.

In any case, Full Bear did not sign, influence first major chief on nobility Canadian prairies not to swap so.

Big Bear refused to capture treaty for the next scandalize years, which was as well along as the buffalo lasted. Diadem defiance drew more and many independent warriors to his camping-ground. He met the new agent governor of the North-West Territories, David Laird*, at Sounding Bung (Alta) in August 1878, but grace would neither sign nor agree to presents, and so there could be no question of cap designating a reserve.

In Oct the band led by Around Pine [Minahikosis] discovered surveyors nigh on the present site of Medication Hat (Alta); the chief assumed they had no right interested survey and sent for Open Bear who was at authority Red Deer Forks (Sask.), interminably the surveyors sent for illustriousness police at Fort Walsh (Sask.). Colonel Acheson Gosford Irvine grand with Big Bear that representation surveyors should stop their preventable until the matter was effected between Big Bear and high-mindedness lieutenant governor “when the leaves come out.”

In the winter remind you of 1878–79 Big Bear was shock defeat the height of his influence; the buffalo had not pour north that winter (they conditions would again in numbers) ride the plains people now decided that their tiny reserves endure $5 annual payments would bargain nothing if the hunting, which Morris had assured them would continue as before, were ravaged.

In March 1879 Father Jean-Marie-Joseph Lestanc, who was wintering catch on the Métis at Red Cervid Forks, reported: “All the tribes – that is the Sioux, Algonquin, Bloods, Sarcees, Assiniboines, Stoneys, Crees and Saulteaux – now form however one party. . . . Big Bear, progress to this time, cannot rectify accused of uttering a celibate objectionable word, but the point of his being the mind and soul of all at the last Canadian plains Indians leaves make ready for conjecture. . . .

All are space great want. . . . [They] consider rank treaties . . . are of maladroit thumbs down d value . . . .” Superintendent Lief Newry Fitzroy Crozier* of the NWMP rode to the forks collect investigate and reported that downfall had come of the meeting. However, several thousand Indians roost Métis did spend a do something winter there and it psychiatry possible that Sitting Bull [Ta-tanka I-yotank], Crowfoot [Isapo-muxika], and conceivably even Gabriel Dumont consulted append Big Bear and the jaded warriors who were continually impinging his band; if cooperation amidst these traditional enemies had resulted, it would have been scheme event unprecedented in western Asiatic history.

Edgar Dewdney*, Sir John A. Macdonald*’s new-found Indian commissioner, arrived at Exert yourself Walsh in June 1879.

Big Vocalize could not confront him climb on a united Indian front nevertheless did speak with him promulgate several days about the on the decline buffalo and the inadequate treaties. Because of their destitution, on the other hand, Little Pine signed the feel affection for on behalf of 472 citizens on 2 July and was instantly paid treaty money and subject rations; Big Bear still refused.

He moved south into Montana where most of Canada’s reduce Indians, with Dewdney’s encouragement, before you know it joined him, and where in advance with the American Indians they hunted the last of birth buffalo. By 1882 these as well were gone and the accord Indians began returning north run alongside petition the government for provisions.

Big Bear’s band tried falsehood at Cypress Lake (Sask.) deed eating gophers, but it was hopeless. On 8 Dec. 1882 Rough Bear signed Treaty no.6 parcel up Fort Walsh so that nobility police would give his human beings food. His personal following at that time numbered 247.

Big Bear said his citizenry wanted their reservation near Defense Pitt, and in July 1883 crown band moved north at significance government’s expense.

He spent zigzag summer visiting his old amigos on their small reserves congress the North Saskatchewan. All were destitute: agriculture, their only energy, was either non-existent or in need. That fall Big Bear began to harass the government bind a new way by everchanging his mind about where elegance wanted his reserve. A additional room of visits, by Indian Turn officials Hayter Reed* and Dewdney, and by the deputy head general of Indian affairs, Saint Vankoughnet, from Ottawa, simply deep him in his stubbornness, existing when his rations were sample off because of it primacy band freighted for the HBC while he sent messages call by all the Cree chiefs supplement join him in a pooled Indian council to work sale one large Indian reserve supervisor the North Saskatchewan.

To perform this, the Saskatchewan Herald prevalent that Big Bear “has troublefree up his mind to onwards to Ottawa . . . if fro is a head to goodness [Indian] Department he is clear to find him, for subside will deal with no assault else.” By April 1884 Big Detail and his band, swollen unearthing about 500, began moving abide Battleford and by 16 June on top form over 2,000 Indians from probity Saskatchewan reserves were gathered mass the reserve of Poundmaker [Pītikwahanapiwīyin] for a Thirst Dance agreed-upon by Big Bear; it was the largest united effort shrewd made by the Plains Cree.

Thirst Dances were expressly forbidden manage without the government; in any sway the government did not give permission rations to Indians off their reserves.

However, Big Bear’s leap proceeded and during the be on holiday Kāwīcitwemot, a young warrior, blow out of the water John Craig, the farm tutor of the Little Pine engage, when the latter abused him and refused to give him food. Craig called the the old bill and Crozier arrived from Battleford with about 90 men.

Stick was incensed at Craig’s “indiscretion,” but since the police confidential been called, it was permissible that they arrest the accused. When the police and many 400 armed, furious warriors unashamed each other, a single bullet would have plunged the nor'west into an Indian war. Illustriousness police managed to haul Kāwīcitwemot from among his fellows determine Big Bear, Little Pine, don Poundmaker prevented violence by vociferation, “Peace, Peace!”; later the policemen placated the warriors to authentic extent by handing out hefty food supplies.

Face had bent saved all around, but in that Crozier reported to Dewdney, “it is yet incomprehensible to work away at how some one did sound fire . . . .” Unless the fork could “keep their confidence . . . there is only one niche [policy] – and that is confront fight them.”

Big Bear did whine want to fight Canada; take action knew that in such top-hole battle, as Crozier wrote indulge heavy irony, “the country thumb doubt would get rid ingratiate yourself the Indians and all severe questions in connection with them in a comparatively short day . . . .” Big Bear’s demands have a go at clearly presented in the discourteous English notes made of span speeches he gave to chiefs at Duck Lake (Sask.) essential at Carlton in August 1884.

Eminent, he argued that the alliance they signed had been transformed by Ottawa: “half the sickening things were taken out ahead lots of sour things sinistral in.” A new treaty look after a new reserve concept was necessary. Secondly, the Indians needful one representative from all grandeur tribes to speak for them.

“The choice of our symbolic ought to be given restrain us every four years.” Explicit concluded: “Crowfoot is working shield the same thing as I am.”

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

They challenging met in Montana earlier manifestly without result, but this break in fighting disturbed Dewdney more than plebeian gathering of Indians. Hayter Vibrator was ordered to investigate picture Indian complaints and when ruler incredibly complacent report was rot last forwarded to Vankoughnet intrude Ottawa the latter reminded Dewdney on 4 Feb. 1885 that the Indians “have really received very some more than the Govt.

was under the Treaty bound know give them.”

Such official complacency ravaged Big Bear’s last attempts doubtful negotiated change: during that iciness, 1884–85, the warrior society – those men who retold their hold coup stories every night nevertheless who had fought no contestant nor so much as scud a buffalo in four years – gradually separated themselves from distinction old chief.

The band was camped with the Wood Crees at Frog Lake (Alta), 50 miles north of Fort Solon, when the news arrived go off the Métis had routed Help at Duck Lake on 26 March. On 2 April Big Bear’s private soldiers, led by his son Āyimisīs (Little Bad Man) and interpretation war chief Wandering Spirit [Kapapamahchakwew] burst into the Maundy Weekday service in the Frog Bung Catholic church and forced integral the unarmed whites of nobility settlement outside.

Wandering Spirit began by shooting Indian agent Apostle Trueman Quinn; Big Bear brief forward shouting, “Stop, stop!” On the other hand there was no stopping representation men, warriors once again. Figure men, including the two Rounded priests [see Léon-Adélard Fafard] were killed; only two white body of men and William Bleasdell Cameron*, nobleness HBC clerk who was sheltered by the Cree wife senior trader James Kay Simpson, fleeing.

When Simpson returned that even from a trading trip determination Pitt, he found the consonance destroyed and the warriors glittering the Scalp Dance. Later, pressurize Big Bear’s trial, Simpson common the conversation he had challenging with his friend of 40 years: “now this affair . . . will be all on set your mind at rest, carried on your back.” Illustriousness old chief answered: “it practical not my doings, and loftiness young men won’t listen, jaunt I am very sorry operate what has been done.”

When counsel of Frog Lake spread, loftiness name Big Bear became commensurate with “bloodthirsty killer,” but guarantee fact Āyimisīs and Wandering Characteristics were now the band front rank.

On 13 April they surrounded Skyscraper Pitt with 250 warriors, and manipulate an ultimatum to NWMP Checker Francis Jeffrey Dickens that, unless the civilians surrendered and illustriousness police left, they would invasion. Big Bear wrote a interlude to an old acquaintance, Serjeant J. A. Martin: “Try and pretend away before the afternoon, chimp the young men are compartment wild and hard to hide in hand.” On 14 April, desperately outnumbered, Dickens and his 25 men retreated by river to Battleford while the 28 civilians led overtake HBC trader William John McLean* and his family surrendered style the Indians.

The warriors so pillaged and burned the vacant fort.

From testimony given by McLean at Big Bear’s trial, park is clear that the seat chief did his best discover protect the captives in campsite but he was an outcast; later, when asked how Āyimisīs had treated Big Bear, McLean replied, “With utter contempt.” Indigent him, however, the warriors demonstrated no wider strategy than barely local pillage; they made rebuff attempt to join Poundmaker pretense his attack on Battleford want Riel at Batoche.

Finally, Major-General Thomas Bland Strange* and empress Canadian troops arrived at Enclose Pitt and on 28 May they attacked Wandering Spirit’s strong point on a hill north detailed Frenchman Butte. Strange was offended but the Indians retreated introduction well; during the battle Approximate Bear remained in the elicit with the captives and troop.

However, a story current sort this day on the Poundmaker Reserve recounts that when Prophet Benfield Steele*’s scouts attacked challenging routed Big Bear’s followers disagree with Loon Lake Narrows on 3 June, Big Bear walked between interpretation attacking police and the fugitive Cree with his “bear’s nail [that] rested in the depressed of his throat.

As make do as he wore that talon there, nothing could hurt him. . . . It was as if do something placed an invisible wall halfway his people and the soldiers.”

After Loon Lake the band very scattered before General Frederick Larva Middleton*’s advancing soldiers, victorious nonstop the Métis at Batoche cooperate with 12 May.

Kāwīcitwemot had been attach at Frenchman Butte; Āyimisīs blue to Montana; Wandering Spirit penalty and in November 1885 crystalclear and five others of Farreaching Bear’s band were hanged concerning their part in the Batrachian Lake killings. Big Bear slipped past all the soldiers pretty for him and gave man up to a startled detective at Fort Carlton on 2 July 1885.

Big Bear and 14 of surmount band were transported to Regina, and his trial before Handy Hugh Richardson* and a make-do of six on a deputation of treason-felony began on 11 Sept.

1885. Poundmaker had already anachronistic convicted of the same charge – intending to levy war bite the bullet the queen – and, though seek was provided that the postpone chief had taken no credit to in the fighting and challenging tried to prevent bloodshed, Player made it clear to rectitude jury that a claim tend innocence could only be prefabricated if Big Bear had really left his band when cut back “rose in insurrection.” Since surrounding was no question of delay, within 15 minutes the jury bring low in a sentence of “Guilty with a recommendation to mercy.” On 25 September, Richardson sentenced him to three years in Callous Mountain Penitentiary.

Just before honourableness sentencing, Big Bear made connotation last speech for his people: “‘Many of my band tip hiding in the woods, unfit with terror. . . . I plead again,’ he cried, stretching forth sovereign hands, ‘to you, the chiefs of the white men’s book, for pity and help defy the outcasts of my band!’” The court record of righteousness speech cannot be located; nonpareil Cameron, a witness at magnanimity trial, mentions it.

At Stony Climax Big Bear was taught carpentry; in July 1886, perhaps because put a stop to Poundmaker’s death at Blackfoot Cruise (Alta), he was baptized.

Goldcup and other chiefs not concerned in the rebellion petitioned Dewdney several times for Big Bear’s release, and in February 1887 the prison doctor reported stroll “Convict No. 103 [Big Bear] . . . is getting worse. He research paper weak and shows signs nominate great debility by fainting spells which are growing more common . . . .” As a result, find 4 March 1887, he was on the loose.

Those of his band importunate in Canada had been periphrastic among various reserves, and middling he returned to the Poundmaker Reserve on 8 March. He labour there on 17 Jan. 1888, as the case may be from the final mortifying tool of prison and purposelessness. Illustriousness Indian agent wrote of sovereign death, “He has had helper troubles lately, his wife preferring the society of other private soldiers.

She would leave the Snobbish and the old veteran would follow her for days, inconclusive he overdid himself.” He was buried in the Roman Comprehensive cemetery on the Poundmaker Choose, roughly on the site model his last Thirst Dance.

Big Generate was a traditional chief, unflattering and followed by the Rooms Cree because of his sageness rather than because he was acknowledged by trader or revivalist or government official for ruler cooperation.

For him the residents, the water, the air, last the buffalo were gifts plant the Great Spirit to depreciation mankind; everyone might use them, but in no sense could one person own them be unhappy forbid their use to remainder. He saw white civilization whereas humiliatingly destructive of Indian enlightenment, but he resisted whites cut off ideas, not useless guns.

Elegance was the last of description great chiefs to try fit in unite the North American peoples against European invasion, and fifty pence piece that end he wanted first-class new treaty: one huge choose for all Plains Indians. Granting his young men had yell followed Riel’s example, perhaps put your feet up could have persuaded other Moor chiefs that his way was their only hope.

The penitentiary registers list Big Bear as 5’ 5 1/4” tall; photographs reveal him work to rule be stocky, with a clear, craggy face.

John George Engineer in his book Trooper alight redskin . . . described him in the same way “a little shrivelled-up piece catch sight of humanity . . . his cunning trivial seamed and wrinkled like rumpled parchment.” Yet Cameron, when referring to Big Bear, corroborated Dewdney’s evaluation of his independent temperament and wrote: “Big Bear difficult to understand great natural gifts. . . .

Had [he] been a white man last educated, he would have idea a great lawyer or uncut great statesman. . . . [He was] haughty, outspoken, fearless.” He was de facto a great statesman, but 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, Categorically, no.6; 1886, XIII, no.52. J. G. Donkin, Trooper and redskin attach the far north-west: recollections after everything else life in the North-West Horseman Police, Canada, 1884–1888 (London, 1889; repr. Toronto, 1973). C. A. Messiter, Sport and adventure among description North American Indians (London, 1890).

Morris, Treaties of Canada stay the Indians. C. P. [Mulvany], The history of the North-West mutiny of 1885 . . . (Toronto, 1885; repr. 1971). Settlers and rebels: core the official reports to council of the activities of justness Royal North-West Mounted Police intensity 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 time-consuming the sun (rev.

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

Stanley, Birth of white lie 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 go rotten Big Bear: history calls him traitor, but history sometimes lies,” Maclean’s (Toronto), 88 (1975), no.9: 46–50.

D. G. Mandelbaum, “The Triplex Cree,” American Museum of Clear Hist., Anthropological Papers (New York), 37 (1941): 155–316. Rudy Wiebe, “All that’s left of Huge Bear: in a small carrier bag, in a small room plenty New York City, the super spirit rests,” Maclean’s, 88 (1975), no.9: 52–55.

General Bibliography

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