Wandering Spirit (Aboriginal)
Encyclopedia
Wandering Spirit was a Cree
war chief of a band of Plains Cree.
The Frog Lake Massacre was a Cree uprising during the North-West Rebellion
. Led by Wandering Spirit, young Cree warriors attacked the small town near Frog Lake, Alberta
on April 2, 1885.
Angered by what seemed to be unfair treaties by the Canadian government and the dwindling buffalo
population, their main source of food, Big Bear
and his Cree decided to rebel after the successful Métis
victory at Duck Lake
. They gathered all the white settlers in the area into the local church. Thomas Quinn, the town's Indian Agent, was killed after a disagreement broke out. The Cree then shot at the settlers. Nine people were killed and three were taken as captives.
The massacre prompted the Canadian government to take notice of the growing unrest in Western Canada. The rebellion was eventually put down, and Wandering Spirit, the war chief responsible for the Frog Lake Massacre, was hanged.
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
war chief of a band of Plains Cree.
Frog Lake Massacre
The Frog Lake Massacre was a Cree uprising during the North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
. Led by Wandering Spirit, young Cree warriors attacked the small town near Frog Lake, Alberta
Frog Lake, Alberta
Frog Lake is a small Cree community about a two and half hour drive east of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Frog Lake has 2,454 band members as of August, 2007...
on April 2, 1885.
Angered by what seemed to be unfair treaties by the Canadian government and the dwindling buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
population, their main source of food, Big Bear
Big Bear
Big Bear or Mistahi-maskwa was a Cree leader notable for his involvement in the North-West Rebellion and his subsequent imprisonment.-Early life and leadership:...
and his Cree decided to rebel after the successful Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
victory at Duck Lake
Battle of Duck Lake
The Battle of Duck Lake was a skirmish between Métis soldiers of the Provisional Government of Saskatchewan and Canadian government forces that signalled the beginning of the North-West Rebellion.-Prelude:...
. They gathered all the white settlers in the area into the local church. Thomas Quinn, the town's Indian Agent, was killed after a disagreement broke out. The Cree then shot at the settlers. Nine people were killed and three were taken as captives.
The massacre prompted the Canadian government to take notice of the growing unrest in Western Canada. The rebellion was eventually put down, and Wandering Spirit, the war chief responsible for the Frog Lake Massacre, was hanged.