The Whisky Traders and the North West Mounted Police

Who are these people?

The Great March

Control of Northwest passed from HBC to Canadian government during 1870s American fur traders were causing trouble in southern North-West Territories Weren’t concerned with the future of the trade industry or the future well being of the natives. Traded strong, cheap liquor called Whiskey to Native people for Buffalo robes and other furs. Natives referred to the liquor as “firewater”.

Main trading post was Fort Whoop-Up (near Lethbridge, Alberta) Alcohol devastated local Native groups: malnutrition, disease, death. Fear of Americans taking over territory

The Cypress Hills Massacre: June 1873 A small group of Assiniboine natives were camping near Cypress Hills after a long journey across the plains They traded their furs at the nearby trading post for whiskey and returned to camp American traders were angry that they had some horses stolen a few days earlier by a group of natives They had been drinking and wanted to get revenge against the first native group that they would come across. They grabbed their rifles and went to the nearest camp belonging to the Assiniboine natives.

The American traders swarmed the camp and attacked without warning. About 30 Assiniboine people were killed by American whiskey traders. Only 1 American died. News of the massacre reached Ottawa by mid summer 1873 and the government created the NWMP on August 30th. NWMP sent 300 officers to regain control of the region and protect the natives from the American whiskey traders.

Lieutenant Colonel George Arthur French First commissioner of the NWMP Led the police across the west to the Sweetgrass Hills, then led two divisions of men back across the prairies to NWMP headquarters at Swan River (northwest of Winnipeg)

Inspector William Jarvis One of the first officers of the NWMP Led one division to Edmonton Well liked by his men. “If Jarvis had asked us to follow him, even to the North Pole, not one of us would have refused, “

Lieutenant Colonel James Farquaharson Macleod Early officer of the NWMP Lieutenant Colonel French called Macleod “A capital fellow, my right hand.” Later became commissioner of the NWMP

Jerry Potts A Metis scout for the NWMP Hired in 1874 to guide and translate for the NWMP Led police to Fort Whoop-Up, then to site for fort on Oldman River. Travelled among Indians to explain that the police were there to protect them Worked with the NWMP for 25 years.

Homework: Read pages 179-182 – Old Edition Questions 4,5,6 on page 182. O/E Pages 174-180 – New Edition Questions 1,2,3 – P.180 New Edition Source: “North-West Mounted Police” by Rosemary Neering