125-137 120820 11/1/04 2:49 PM Page 125 Chapter 9 The North-West Mounted Police Massacre! 1 June 1873 Cypress Hills, N.W.T. American wolf hunters today attacked a band of Assiniboine in the Cypress Hills. An American wolfer falsely accused Chief Little Soldier’s WANTED people of stealing a horse in Montana. The Americans came north looking Men to Join the Newly-Formed for revenge. The drunken wolfers burst into the Assiniboine camp, NORTH-WEST killing 36 men, women, and children. It turned out that the missing horse MOUNTED POLICE had just wandered away. Even before this incident, Must be active men of sound health between Aboriginal peoples resented the the ages of 18 and 40, at least 183 cm in height, American hunters. These wolfers use and of fine character. Should be able to read strychnine to poison their prey. This and write in either French or English and be poisoned bait is often eaten by good riders. Aboriginal people’s dogs. The dogs TERM: 3 YEARS then die agonizing deaths. The American traders are also despised by PAY: Constables $1.00 a day many here because they bring Sub-constables .75 a day another kind of poison. They sell With free room and meals, clothing, cheap liquor known as “firewater” to boots, kit, fuel, lighting. Aboriginal peoples. Sixty-four hectares of land after Because of incidents like the Cypress Hills Massacre, the Canadian 3 years good service government will be forced to act. All transportation for those in service paid Sooner or later, Macdonald will have for by the Government. to find a way to bring law and order to the North-West! Reflecting/Predicting 1. Why do you think it was difficult to keep law and order in the North-West of the 1870s? 2. What was John A. Macdonald’s solution? List what you think the main duties of the North-West Mounted Police would be. 3. If you were there at the time, would you be willing to join the Mounted Police? Why or why not? 125 125-137 120820 11/1/04 2:49 PM Page 126 126 Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada The Need for Police Some people took advantage of this situation to For years, people in the North-West had com- sell whisky to Aboriginal people at outrageous plained about the number of outlaws and illegal prices. whisky traders in the area. It was against the A place nicknamed Fort Whoop-Up was law to sell whisky. However, there was no the centre of this outlaw activity. It stood near police force in the region to enforce the law. the present-day city of Lethbridge, Alberta. The people who lived there were mostly American smugglers and traders. They flew the American flag over the fort, even though it was Canadian territory. The situation in the West was becoming desperate. Parliament decided to form the North-West Mounted Police. The duties of the force were to keep peace, prevent crime, and catch criminals. It would be a mounted force. A chain of posts would be built from Manitoba to the Rocky Mountains. The troops would wear bright scar- let jackets. Recruiting began at once. There was no shortage of recruits. Young people seeking adventure flocked to join the force. By the summer of 1874, 300 men were gathered in Manitoba to be sworn in as Mounties. The first uniform of the North- West Mounted Police.The Mounties were recognized espe- cially for their red coats.The story goes that the governor general, Lord Dufferin, wanted the force to wear the imperial red colour of the British empire.The red would also distinguish the NWMP from the US Cavalry, which wore the more traditional police blue.Today, the Mounties wear the red coats only for special ceremonial events. 125-137 120820 11/1/04 2:49 PM Page 127 Chapter 9: The North-West Mounted Police 127 Skill Building: Recognizing Bias Some of your friends tell you about a movie they Try It! saw last night.They say,“The movie was fantastic. 1. Each of the following statements contains There were some amazing special effects.” words that are negative or emotionally charged. However, you know that they really like movies Identify the biased word.Then replace the word that have lots of action and dazzling effects. Can with a similar but more neutral word or phrase. you trust their opinion? It is important to recog- For example: nize that they have a bias.A bias is a preference The traders were hunted down ruthlessly for or particular point of view that makes it hard for their crimes. them to judge the movie fairly or with an open The traders were caught for their crimes. mind. Bias can be dangerous. Newspaper and tele- a) The crooked traders sold whisky to vision reports can influence many people. If, for Aboriginal people. example, certain newspapers or journalists have b) Sir John A. Macdonald sent troops to a bias against a particular politician, they can forcibly squash the rebellion. write and broadcast negative stories about her c) The Mounties set off on a heroic march or him. If the media slant stories about a politi- west. cian in a negative way, the public won’t be able to d) The rebellious Métis at Red River formed judge this person’s performance fairly.The politi- an illegal provisional government. cian may not be re-elected for this reason. e) The jury voted to have Thomas Scott Sometimes it is the choice of words that murdered. gives us the “wrong” impression. For example, f) Louis Riel betrayed Canada. when Aboriginal people “attacked” settlers, it was often recorded as a “massacre.” But when Explain how the meaning of the sentence settlers “attacked” Aboriginal people, it might changes when the biased word is replaced. simply have been called a “fight” or “battle.” How can you be aware of bias in what you read or 2. Which word,“massacre” or “battle,” sounds hear? Here are some helpful tips and exercises. worse? Why? Look up the word “massacre” in a dictionary. Should the incident with the American wolfers in the Cypress Hills be described as a massacre? Why or why not? 3. Examine the newspaper report entitled “Massacre!” at the beginning of this chapter. Find examples of bias in language in this article.Which side does this article seem to support—that of the Assiniboine or that of the wolfers? 4. Look through your local newspaper and see if you can find examples of bias in language. 125-137 120820 11/1/04 2:49 PM Page 128 128 Unit 2: The Development of Western Canada The Great March word would spread: “The Law has arrived in The new police force was faced with an almost the West!” impossible task. It had to look after 6 million Plans were made for the Great March km2 and thousands of people with only 300 West. Many members of the North-West police. Mounted Police kept diaries as they travelled. Colonel French, the first commissioner or From these we can get a good picture of what commanding officer, wanted to let the people the country was like and the problems they of the Territories know that the Mounties had faced. The diary below is based on facts from arrived! He decided to make a long patrol. One actual accounts. group would march from Manitoba to Fort N. Sa Ft. skatc N Whoop-Up. There hew Lake Edmonton an Winnipeg they would build R. a police post. Another group would head north Calgary to Fort Edmonton . R S an and set up a post Ft. w Macleod Saskatche Regina Ft. Ellice there. Then some R. A ne ssiniboi Ft. Garry would return to Ft. Whoop-up CYPRESS DIRT HILLS Manitoba and HILLS Dufferin SWEET GRASS HILLS Roche Percée R e establish head- d R iv THE ROUTE OF THE MARCH WEST e quarters. He r hoped that the French's Route to Sweet Grass Hills Macleod's Route to Ft. Macleod Jarvis's Route to Ft. Edmonton UNITED STATES 0 100 200 300 km OF AMERICA A Mountie’s Diary 8 July 1874 9 July 10 July 13 July 16 July 21 July The Great March West Weather is hot. We are Already some have Heat is becoming Started to march at 4 Many horses are tiring has begun. What a tortured by mosquitoes. deserted! They ran unbearable. The supply a.m. and travelled 19 and sick. Had to leave sight! There are 300 The column is 3 km in away in the night. This wagons and oxen can- km before breakfast. some horses to be officers and men, 142 length. Col. French has journey is going to be not keep up and have brought along in carts. oxen pulling Red River arranged us in six harder than we fallen behind. So no Not much grass for carts and wagons, 93 divisions riding differ- thought! food for us tonight. them to eat because head of cattle, 310 ent coloured horses. At grasshoppers have horses, 2 field guns, a the rear are the slower eaten everything in hay-mowing machine, ox carts, wagons, cat- sight. and portable kitchens. tle, and machines. 2 September 10 September 14 September 16 September 18 September 5 October Buffalo were sighted Weather has turned We saw vast herds of Cannot go much far- Sighted the Sweet Grass Col. Macleod has hired and a few killed. This cold and wet. Each buffalo as far as the ther! Hills and found good an experienced Métis lessens the food short- person gave up a blan- eye could see.