The North-West Uprising of 1885 was a five-month rebellion against the federal government of Canada. It took place in present-day Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces territory. The indigenous Cree and Métis fought on the side of the American Indians. The uprising was suppressed due to the numerical advantage of government troops and the rebels’ lack of supplies. Natural environmental conditions such as the weather affected the outcome of the uprising.
By the end of the 1870s, the indigenous population of the Canadian plains was forced to lead a half-starved existence. The bison population was almost destroyed, which forced the Métis to give up hunting. Moreover, Canadian authorities did not seek to comply with the terms of Indian tribes’ treaties. On March 26, 1885, about 150 Métis and Indians under the command of Gabriel Dumont clashed with a detachment of Canadian Mounted Police.
On March 30, 1885, a starving Cree group approached the settlement of Battleford; it was a supply point. As noted on page 6 of the Week 4 lecture notes, when the Cree arrived, the locals abandoned the city, and the starving Cree looted their abandoned shops. The first militias from the Canadian government had to make their way through the cold winter weather, which slowed their progress westward.
However, the Indians had no better because they had to engage in often fruitless searches for supplies and fight the cold. Ultimately, the Métis were defeated in the four-day Battle of Batoche, as noted on page 7 of the Week 4 lecture notes. Severe weather conditions and a lack of sufficient resources to fight determined the outcome of the rebellion. These factors, however, were not the only ones, but they were crucial. The uncontrolled mass bison hunt deprived the indigenous population of a food source.
Chief Poundmaker and Reduction of Violence
Chief Poundmaker is known as the peacemaker and protector of his people. He prevented the deaths of hundreds of soldiers when he forced his group to stop attacking the retreating Canadian forces. This momentous event for the history of Canada happened near Cut Knife. Chief Poundmaker was wrongly convicted of treason felony and sentenced to three years in prison at the Stony Mountain Institution. As noted on page 2 of the Week 5 lecture notes, on May 19, 2019, Canada issued an official apology and absolved Chief Poundmaker. The state’s economic development should occur through the use of the country’s internal resources and not by the hyper-military method of conquest. The conquest and exploitation of peoples, economically less developed countries can no longer be considered acceptable in the modern world.
If Poundmaker had not told his group to stop, bloodshed would have been unavoidable. Perhaps this would have exacerbated the conflict and prolonged it, but this was avoided due to the Poundmaker’s prudence. After a while, as is often the case, there was a rethinking of history. Poundmaker is no longer considered a breaker of the law or an enemy leader who should have been charged with a felony. Even though colonialism contributed to the spread of languages and literature, and cultural exchange, wars aimed at conquering indigenous peoples’ lands are unacceptable. Territorial and resource disputes that arise should be dealt with through treaties. Revisiting the topic of insurrection rebellion, Poundmaker gained prominence during the 1876 Treaty negotiations. He did everything possible to minimize the violence that occurred during the North-West Resistance.
The Mystery of Bill Miner
Bill Miner was an American mobster who committed the first train robbery in the Canadian West, as noted on page 4 of the Week 6 lecture notes. Many people called him the Grey Fox or Gentleman Robber; he was known for his extreme politeness when committing crimes. As noted on page 4 of the Week 6 lecture notes, Bill Miner committed the first train robbery in western Canada on September 13, 1904. Under the pseudonym George Edwards, he allegedly carried out the first-ever train robbery in British Columbia. His numerous successful train robberies and prison escapes have led to the creation of several fantastic legends about him. Bill Miner himself told tales about his adventures in interviews, which further strengthened his mythic reputation.
Mysteries and myths have surrounded Miner’s life throughout his life. Many believed that he owned the phrase “hands up,” which has not been historically confirmed. There is a legend about the money buried by the Miner in the Silverdale forest; it is believed that they are still there. After his most famous robbery, many people started to perceive him as a defender of the interests of the offended. The Canadian railroad company was highly unpopular back then.
CPR rates were steadily increasing, and many people agreed that they finally got what they deserved due to the robbery. When Miner was caught in 1906, crowds of his enthusiastic admirers gathered outside the courthouse. He gained even more fans when, in 1907, instead of serving a 25-year sentence, he escaped from prison and returned to the United States. Thus, Miner’s mythical reputation was formed mainly due to his own actions and not because of some historical circumstances. He lied in the interviews, attempted to escape from prison, and continued to engage in banditry until his death.
References
John Michael Bumsted and Michael Christopher Bumsted. A History of the Canadian Peoples. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2016.
CBC News: The National, “Chief Poundmaker to Be Exonerated By Federal Government.” Filmed 2018, video, 4:08. Web.