The 1885 Northwest Rebellion

Below are links to pages about battles of this war. For some strange reason, whites have strongly encouraged their historians to claim that a group of supposedly mixed bloods were responsible for 1885's Northwest Rebellion which occurred in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. However, when we look back to historical events of those times, we must focus our attention on Treaty 6 between Indians of central Saskatchewan and central Alberta, and whites. Why? If you did research on Treaty 6, you will learn a white point of view of those events. In 1876-1877's War in Montana, prophecy driven Anishinabe People commenced an exodus up to Canada after losing that conflict. They would meet with white leaders and reach an agreement with them in which a huge area of land in Saskatchewan north of Saskatchewan River, was set aside for Anishinabe People and their allies. White leaders had no intentions of leaving Anishinabe People with a huge area of land in central Alberta and central Saskatchewan. Anishinabe ogimak knew it.

Chief Big Bear

He was living in Montana in 1876 and possibly highest ranking Ojibway military leader. According to his son chief Little Bear, his father was "Biggest Chief in Canada yet belonged in United States or was from Montana." We know he lived in southeast Idaho near Fort Hall Reservation. That's indicative of chief Big Bear not being born in Montana. He may have been born further east in either Michigan, Minnesota or Wisconsin. His parents followed prophecy and migrated west to probably Utah then to Montana. After those initial American assaults against Montana Ojibway's in 1876, chief Big Bear, chief Sitting Bull and chief Rocky Boy gathered 10,000's of Montana Ojibway's and fled to Alberta's and Saskatchewan's Cypress Hills. Chief Big Bear showed up in time for Treaty 6 signings. Actually Canadian whites showed up in time to await chief Big Bear's appearance at Fort Carlton. He was near Fort Walsh which is located in them Cypress Hills. After he reached Fort Carlton, he made it clear he wanted a promise he would not be hanged for what happened in Montana. Canada agreed. He told them he would have to return to his Ojibway subjects at them Cypress Hills to prepare them for relocating near Fort Carlton so he could sign treaty. That happened in 1877. Chief Big Bear led 1,000's of Montana Ojibway's north of Saskatchewan River where they settled down to live. Their primary location was near Fort Pitt. However, they settled throughout a vast area in Saskatchewan and adjacent Alberta, north of Saskatchewan River.

A very large Ojibway Reserve existed then in that region. Canadian leaders, as mentioned, had no intentions of keeping their promise about that vast Ojibway Reservation north of Saskatchewan River that extended northwards to Beaufort Sea's shores. Chief Big Bears Ojibway subjects convinced him to cede most of that Reserve. He did that in December of 1882. A much smaller Ojibway Reservation extending from west of Saddle Lake, Alberta to east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan was set aside. It extended from North Saskatchewan River where South Saskatchewan River's mouth is, north to Peter Pond Lake and Churchill Lake, which is situated at 56� north latitude. Nearly all was located in Saskatchewan. This new Ojibway Reserve is what caused 1885's Northwest Rebellion. Canada refused to honor treaty agreements. Chief Big Bear wanted to keep his new vast Reserve yet didn't want war. His military commanders and soldiers, told them they favored war which meant chief Big Bear had to lead them. Canada was going to eradicate chief Big Bears vast Reservation and set aside many much smaller Reserves. Chief Big Bear sent large numbers of Ojibway Soldiers to near where Duck Lake, Saskatchewan is. His soldiers were to try and halt any Canadian advances north of North Saskatchewan River, to defend their Reservation. This war extended from near Duck Lake to Lac la Biche, Alberta. And chief Little Bear was not involved in this conflict. He told whites in Lewistown, Montana in December 1913, that he was allied with American Soldiers during 1876-1877's War in Montana. It was chief Rocky Boy. In June 1885, chief Rocky Boy fled back to his native Montana.

Battle of Duck Lake

Battle of Battleford

Battle of Frog Lake

Battle of Fort Pitt

Battle of Fish Creek

Battle of Cut Knife

Battle of Batoche

Battle of Frenchman's Butte

Battle of Loon Lake