It is #IndigenousHistoryMonth and this is the story of Mistahi-maskwa, also known as Big Bear.
Big Bear was born around 1825 near Jackfish Lake in present-day Saskatchewan. His father was a minor chief of 80 Cree-Saulteaux people & a large influence of Big Bear.
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As a young man, Big Bear was a great warrior & he became chief upon his father's death in 1864.
In 1870, he led the Cree into battle at the Battle of Belly River, in present-day Lethbridge, which is the last battle fought between First Nations in Canada.
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In 1876, all the major Plains Cree chiefs had signed Treaty 6 except Big Bear. He attempted to warn them against signing, believing the government would not fulfill its promises.
He was left with no choice but to sign in 1882 due to the starvation of his people.
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During the North-West Resistance, Big Bear had a relatively minor role, and attempted to stop the violence at Duck Lake on March 26, 1885. Nonetheless, he was held responsible by the government.
On July 2, 1885, he surrendered to the NWMP at Fort Carleton.
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Big Bear was sentenced to three years in Stony Mountain Penitentiary. He was released after less than two years due to ill health.
He died on Jan. 17, 1888 at Little Pine Reserve.
While Poundmaker was exonerated of treason in 2019, Big Bear, so far, has not been.
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It was one of the most psychedelic, bizarre and beloved Canadian children's shows ever made.
Structured like a sketch comedy show around the comedic genius of Billy Van, it is well remembered even to this day.
This is the story of The Hilarious House of Frightenstein!
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The story begins with Riff Markowitz, who was working for CHCH-TV in Hamilton in the late-1960s. He wanted to produce new shows for the station.
To come up with ideas, he held a brainstorming and spaghetti party at the Windsor Arms Hotel in Toronto.
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From that session, the idea of a children's show set in a vampire's castle emerged. The show would blend surreal humour and psychedelics.
The main character would be Count Frightenstein, the 13th son of Count Dracula who preferred pizza to blood.
Lorne Greene was many things through his life. He was an inventor, an acting teacher, a celebrated broadcaster, a singer and, of course, a great actor.
He may have been most famous as Ben Cartwright on Bonanza, but he was so much more than that.
This is his story.
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Lorne Greene was born Lyon Himan Green to Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire. His mother called him Chaim. It is unknown when he added the 'e' to his last name.
It was as a drama instructor at Camp Arowhon in Algonquin Park that he developed his love of acting.
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After attending Queen's University, Greene looked to become a radio broadcaster. He was hired by the CBC and became the principal newsreader for CBC National News. This earned him the nickname of The Voice of Canada and made him known across the country.
Barbara Frum was one of the most respected journalists in Canadian history.
So well-known, she was parodied on many shows including CODCO, The Raccoons and Canadian Sesame Street.
Three decades after her death, she is still revered by many.
This is her story.
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Barbara Frum was born in Niagara Falls on Sept. 8, 1937. In high school, she served on student council. She then went on to study history at the University of Toronto.
After she graduated, Frum started to do volunteer work and write for the Toronto Star as a freelancer.
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In 1971, she began to host As It Happens on CBC Radio. Her skills as an interviewer made her one of Canada's most popular journalists. She hosted the show until 1981. Frum also hosted the TV talk show, The Barbara Frum Show, on CBC TV from 1974 to 1975.
Happy Star Trek Day!
On Sept. 6, 1966, Star Trek debuted in Canada. Two days later on Sept. 8, the show aired in the rest of the world.
Here is a look at the times Canada appeared in various capacities in the fictional history of the Star Trek universe.
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Jean-Luc Picard and Canada:
Jacques Cartier landed in what became Canada in 1534. The second ship to land after Cartier's was captained by an ancestor of Jean-Luc Picard.
He mentioned this in a speech to Starfleet Academy in 2401.
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Quadrotriticale and Canada:
The Quadrotriticale, which was a genitcally-engineered hybrid of wheat and rye, was developed from the cereal crop hybrid Triticale in Canada in the 20th century.
Quadrotriticale was used on Sherman's Planet & absolutely loved by Tribbles.
When an engineer graduates in Canada, they are presented with an iron ring in a ceremony called The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer.
It is a century-old tradition that shares a connection to one of Canada's worst infrastructure disasters.
This is the story.
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In 1907, the Quebec Bridge collapsed while under construction, killing 75 people. It collapsed again in 1916, killing another 13.
The bridge was completed in 1917 but the collapses had a lasting impact on many in Canada.
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U of T Mining Engineering Professor H.E.T. Haultain was deeply impacted by the collapses. He wanted engineers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, competence and responsibility.
On Jan. 25, 1922, he proposed engineers take an ethical oath.
On Sept. 5, 1697, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville led an an attack against York Factory on the coast of Hudson Bay.
It remains the largest naval battle ever fought in the Canadian Arctic.
This is the story of the Battle of Hudson Bay.
🎨 Peter Rindlisbacher
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After the Hudson's Bay Company began to build forts along Hudson Bay following 1670, the French wanted to claim the territory and end the disruption of their fur trade business.
In 1686, New France sent an overland expedition that captured three of four HBC forts.
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Only York Factory remained in the possession of the HBC. In 1690, Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville attempted to take York Factory but was driven back. Four years later, he took the fort and renamed it Fort Bourbon. Less than a year later, the English took it back.