Thread by @QueDeCoup

The Buffalo, for many Indigenous peoples on Turtle Island in late 1800s were of high importance, due to a dependence on the herds for food stability.

The Canadian state actively disrupted this food source in an effort to assimilate, eradicate and remove them from the land.

🧵

During negotiations of Treaty 7, NWT lieutenant-governor, David Laird, opened Canada’s side of the negotiation by underlining high rates of decline in buffalo population, and proposed to help by introducing new laws to protect herds from the threat of hunters and white settlers.

Laird urged the Chiefs to move to agriculture and ranching and that the government would aid with support.

After two weeks of negotiation, Blackfoot Chief Crowfoot, and Kainai Nation Chief Red Crow agreed upon the Treaty, and it was signed by all leaders on September 22nd, 1877.

Strong evidence supports the fact that Chiefs Crowfoot and RedCrow were not made fully aware that they were surrendering their land to the government by making this deal.

Overall, the impact of the treaty was far worse than these First Nations people could have ever imagined.

After treaty 7, the Buffalo disappeared at a rapid rate, with traditional hunting territories being limited.

The arrival of settlers coming to the area increased exponentially in response to the treaty, putting further strain on what was an already heavily depleted food supply.

Meanwhile, the Canadian government’s claim to lend aid for a transition to agricultural lifestyle never occurred, and the reserves that the First Nations peoples were relocated to had unsuitable land that would not support the requirements of a sustainable Nation.

During this time, treaty violations were often used as a way to assert colonial domination.

In 1882, territory controlled by Blackfoot First Nations was handed over to the Canadian Pacific Railway through manipulative negotiations overseen by Catholic missionary Albert Lacombe.

Later that year, Cree Chief Big Bear, who had held out of negotiations of Treaty 6 for over five years, was forced to make concessions to the Canadian government, signing the treaty in exchange for food supplies to prevent his people from facing starvation.

Unbeknownst to Big Bear and his people, the food rations that the Nation were to receive were based solely on the condition that the historically nomadic Cree-Assiniboine people would agree to settle in one permanent location for their Nation’s reserve.

This was not only impractical for Big Bear’s people, but it was nearly impossible. The Indigenous peoples of the Western Plains were already struggling for a food source due to the dwindling Buffalo, which made deciding on a single permanent location, ultimately undoable.

That winter, Big Bear's people did not receive any of the rations outlined in their agreement based on their supposed failure to choose a permanent settlement.

Trust in a fair deal with the Canadian state began to wane, and the Cree Chief soon lost influence over his people.

The younger and more aggressive Cree War Chief Wandering Spirit gained more influence over the Plains Cree people, who were beginning to face an escalating conflict caused by ecological changes due to the expansion of westward colonization.

On March 24th, 1884, an emergency meeting in the Metis village of Batoche was held where representatives voted whether they would ask exiled Metis-leader, Louis Riel, to return to the colony of Saskatchewan to lead their cause against the oppressive actions of the Canadian state.

Following months of Metis and First Nations organizing, a delegation was sent to Montana, inviting Riel to lead their cause again.

In the summer of 1884, 14 years after fleeing, Riel returned to Canada, looking to influence and lead a new resistance in the Northwest Territories.

Riel alienated many of his Metis followers due to his newly found belief that God had chosen him to be a divine leader. Nevertheless, he managed to convince both Plains Cree Chief Poundmaker and Cree Chief Big Bear’s people to join his coalition of French and Anglo-Metis in 1885.

Riel declared the Provisional Gov. of Saskatchewan, largely Metis & French-speaking, except Secretary Jaxon & Dakota Chief White Cap.

The leadership, named Exovedate, based in Batoche, aimed to form an autonomous state, echoing Riel’s Manitoba provisional gov. 15 years earlier.

1885 brought new challenges for Riel's resistance. The westward expanding railway enabled easier troop deployment by the Canadian government.

The newly formed North-West Mounted Police, often brutally enforcing the colonial agenda, operated under PM John A. MacDonald's command.

Despite alienating his support, Riel amassed a force of Metis and Plains Cree in the spring of 1885.

After notable victories, including Duck Lake, Fish Creek, & Cut Knife, the Riel-led Metis and Cree–Assiniboine force faced growing reinforcements, with mounties arriving by rail.

On Apr 2, 1885, Cree War Chief Wandering Spirit led a band of warriors into Frog Lake, Sask, home of Indian Agent Thomas Quinn.

Quinn was deeply resented by the Cree for alleged ration denial, manipulation and starvation tactics by shepherding them onto a plotted land reserve.

Quinn, noted by historians as being "a mean-spirited, petty little man completely lacking in compassion," was openly hostile towards the Cree people, and is reported to have denied rations in an alleged April Fool's joke the day before the Frog Lake incident occurred.

Wandering Spirit and a band of warriors entered Frog Lake on April 2nd, and after taking Thomas Quinn hostage, they quickly took control of the town.

The Cree ordered settlers off their lands to an encampment nearby; when Quinn refused, Wandering Spirit shot him in the head.

This incident became known as the Frog Lake Massacre.

Once news of Quinn's killing became public, the Canadian government decided to hold Cree Chief Big Bear responsible as an active participant in the rebellion, even though, at this point, he had no control over his band.

On Nov 7, 1885, the final spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven, buoyed by political support due to the North West rebellion.

This completed Canada's National Dream, coming at a tremendous human cost.

A week later, Metis leader Louis Riel was hung for treason.

Along with Riel, Cree leaders Big Bear, Poundmaker, Wandering Spirit, and 13 other band members were captured and transported to Regina to stand trial on charges ranging from treason-felony to murder.

Wandering Spirit was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging.

Shortly after being released from prison, both Cree Chiefs Big Bear and Poundmaker died, as prison conditions had devastating health effects.

Wandering Sky, and 7 others were executed on Nov. 27th, 1885, in what is to this day the largest public execution in Canadian history.

So much more on this profoundly dark history of Canada can be found at and in the entire episode we did on Louis Riel and the Rise and Fall of Batoche.

🔗⏬

https://t.co/9cLxauteIjquedecoup.ca