Gambler First Nation

This Ojibway community is located in southwestern Manitoba. Below are links to google earth photos of one of this Reserves communities and below them what may be a correct map of their Reserve. However, indications hint at the Riding Mountains being their correct Reserve. Chief Gambler was their leader during Treaty 4 negotiations and was possibly put in power by Canada or not a real Ojibway leader. Real Ojibway leaders of those times, came from their military and police totem. His name of Gambler, suggests he was a man who had money or could be bribed. It also indicates risk which means he was possibly a legitimate Ojibway leader. A land surrender dating back to 1881 (probably their promised Riding Mountains Reserve), has caused friction between Gambler First Nation and Waywayseecappo. Both were a same Reserve until that illegal 1881 land surrender. A map i drew of this Reserve created in 1874 or 1877, is below. Treaty 4 possibly established this Ojibway Reserve we will name Fort Ellice Ojibway Reserve or Riding Mountains Reserve. Ojibway leaders considered 1 mile to be 1 league or 3 miles. Canada agreed to allot each family (probably each individual) 640 acres or 1 sq. mi. Gambler had a population of 140. That's 28 families which comes to 17,920 acres or 28.0 sq. mi. or 72.5 sq. km. Waywayseecappo had a population of 220. That's 44 families which comes to 28,160 acres or 44.0 sq. mi. or 114.0 sq. km. Sakimay (Birdtail Sioux) had a population of 130. That's 26 families which comes to 16,640 acres or 26.0 sq. mi. or 67.3 sq. km. Total area of FEOR is 98.0 sq. mi. or 253.8 sq. km. However, Ojibway leaders considered 1 mile to be 1 league or 3 miles. Correct land area of Fort Ellice Ojibway Reserve is 294.0 sq. mi. or 761.5 sq. km. For some reason Canada had to coerce Ojibway's from Riding Mountains to this Reserve. That's the "Hint" that Riding Mountains is their real Reserve! Why did Canada violate this Reserve? Probably because chief The Gambler was grandson of John Tanner. In 1789 or during 1774-1795's Revolutionary War, John Tanners Ojibway mother instructed her husband Manito Gishig, to kidnap 9 year Tanner from her ex husband John Tanner Sr. who was living near Cincinatti, Ohio. He definitely didn't want to yet did. It was a child war! John Tanners older brother chief Peguis (John Tanner wrote his name Bag-wais), was with Manito Gishig and another Ojibway man when he was abducted. In fact, chief Peguis saved his younger brothers life. Not long after he helped to abduct his younger brother, chief Peguis became a leader of Ojibway People and migrated west to southern Manitoba.

Manito Gishig was brutal to young Tanner. He nearly killed him with his axe. His mother nursed him back to health. She then hired an Ojibway to kill her husband. Afterwards, she fled the war zone to a location that was safer for her mixed blood son. John Tanner was ashamed of his Ojibway Blood! She was a high ranking Odawah Ojibway or trader. They moved to northwest Ontario then Manitoba. She raised her son to be a trader. He was taught how to hunt and trap. He eventually returned to live with whites. In 1846, his house was destroyed in a fire. Around that same time, highly respected Henry Rowe Schoolcrafts brother was murdered. They suspected Tanner of killing him. Tanner was probably killed shortly afterwards. They found his body in a bog a few years later. After white settlers invaded this Reserves region and learned about chief The Gambler, they protested like children. Gambler is located in it's etreme north and northwest, while Birdtail Sioux is located in it's extreme south. Waywayseecappo District is it's central portion. Anyway, a land dispute happened in 1881. They reported that Gambler, Mosquito or Sakimay, Rolling River and Waywayseecappo were in some way affiliated. More Waywayseecappo, Sakimay and Gambler than Rolling River. They also reported that Sakimay or Mosquito, had a population of 130, with 55 at Fort Walsh, Saskatchewan or Alberta's and Saskatchewan's Cypress Hills which means Montana Ojibway's are involved. Of course, they be Birdtail Sioux. This is one of chief Rocky Boy's many Reservations and Reserves. Chief Rocky Boy fled to Alberta's and Saskatchewan's Cypress Hills, in 1876. His Montana Ojibway's were with Sakimay's population.

Satellite Image of Gambler

Birdtail Sioux Road View

Birdtail Sioux Road View

Birdtail Sioux Road View

Birdtail Sioux Road View

Birdtail Sioux Road View

Birdtail Sioux Road View