The Battle of Frenchman’s Butte: A Moment of Defiance in the Northwest Rebellion
The Battle of Frenchman’s Butte, fought on May 28, 1885, was one of the final engagements of the Northwest Rebellion. In this battle, Cree warriors under Chief Big Bear successfully repelled an attack by the Canadian militia near Frenchman’s Butte, located in present-day Alberta. While the battle demonstrated the tactical resilience and determination of Big Bear’s forces, it proved strategically inconsequential in the broader conflict. The eventual collapse of the rebellion left Big Bear’s people scattered and subjugated under an increasingly oppressive government system.
The Political Situation at the Beginning
The Northwest Rebellion of 1885 arose out of decades of growing tensions between the Métis, Indigenous peoples, and the Canadian government. The Métis, led by Louis Riel, sought recognition of their land rights and political autonomy as settlers encroached on their traditional territories. For Indigenous peoples like the Cree and the Assiniboine, the stakes were even higher. The disappearance of the bison, their primary food source, left many communities facing starvation. At the same time, the government’s failure to uphold treaty obligations exacerbated these hardships, as promised food supplies and resources were often withheld or delayed by Indian agents.
Chief Big Bear, a prominent Cree leader, had long resisted signing treaties, fearing the loss of his people’s independence and way of life. However, by 1882, the dire conditions forced him to sign Treaty 6, although he continued to advocate for better terms and greater autonomy for the Cree. His efforts were met with suspicion by government officials, who viewed his advocacy as a potential threat.
By the time the Northwest Rebellion began in March 1885, Big Bear’s band was one of the last remaining symbols of Cree resistance. Although he did not initially align himself with Louis Riel’s rebellion, the broader unrest on the prairies and the growing desperation of his people drew Big Bear into the conflict. His followers, led by more militant figures like Wandering Spirit, sought to assert their grievances through armed resistance.
The Cause of the Outbreak of Hostilities
The specific circumstances leading to the Battle of Frenchman’s Butte were rooted in the Canadian government’s determination to suppress the rebellion and pacify the prairies. Following the Métis defeat at Batoche in mid-May 1885, the government turned its attention to the Cree, whom it viewed as a significant threat due to their involvement in earlier incidents such as the Frog Lake Massacre.
The federal response to the rebellion included the deployment of thousands of soldiers, police, and militia to the Northwest. One of these columns, led by General Thomas Bland Strange, was tasked with pursuing Big Bear’s band in northern Alberta. Strange, a veteran British officer, commanded a force that included the Alberta Field Force, a mix of militia, regular soldiers, and North-West Mounted Police.
Big Bear’s followers, numbering around 250 warriors, were determined to defend their community and avoid capture. They chose to make a stand at Frenchman’s Butte, a strategic position that provided natural defensive advantages, including high ground and dense forest cover. The battle would be a test of Indigenous tactics against the superior numbers and firepower of the Canadian militia.
The Military Aspects and the Battle
The Battle of Frenchman’s Butte began on the morning of May 28, 1885, as Strange’s forces advanced on Big Bear’s defensive positions. The Cree had dug a series of rifle pits along a ridge, which provided them with excellent cover and a commanding view of the surrounding terrain. These fortifications, combined with the warriors’ intimate knowledge of the land, gave them a significant advantage.
Strange’s column, numbering approximately 500 men, included mounted infantry and artillery. The battle commenced with an exchange of gunfire, as the militia attempted to dislodge the Cree from their positions. However, the heavily entrenched Cree warriors used the rifle pits effectively, inflicting casualties on the advancing militia while minimising their own losses. The dense forest surrounding the battlefield made it difficult for the militia to maintain cohesion and coordinate their attacks.
Despite their numerical advantage and superior weaponry, the militia was unable to breach the Cree defences. After several hours of fighting, Strange realised that further assaults would be futile and ordered a withdrawal. The Cree had successfully repelled the attack, forcing the government forces to retreat.
Historian John Tobias notes that the battle demonstrated “the tactical ingenuity and resilience of Big Bear’s warriors, who turned the natural landscape into a fortress against a better-armed foe.”
Results of the Battle
The Battle of Frenchman’s Butte was a tactical victory for Big Bear’s forces, but its significance was limited. While the Cree successfully defended their position, they lacked the resources and support needed to sustain a prolonged campaign. The rebellion was already in its final stages, with Riel captured and the Métis resistance crushed at Batoche. For the Cree, the victory at Frenchman’s Butte was a fleeting moment of defiance in a conflict that was rapidly slipping out of their control.
The battle’s immediate aftermath saw Big Bear and his followers retreat further into the wilderness, pursued relentlessly by government forces. By July 1885, Big Bear was captured, bringing an end to the last vestiges of organised resistance in the Northwest Rebellion. He was later tried and sentenced to prison, though he was released in 1887 due to poor health.
For the Canadian government, the battle underscored the need for a more systematic approach to controlling Indigenous populations. The government used the rebellion as a pretext to tighten its grip on reserves, enforce the Indian Act more strictly, and reduce Indigenous autonomy. The Cree and other Indigenous peoples were left further marginalised, their political and economic freedoms curtailed in the name of national unity and westward expansion.
The Resultant Outcome of the Conflict
The defeat of the Métis and Cree in the Northwest Rebellion had profound consequences for the prairies. The rebellion’s suppression reinforced the Canadian government’s authority over the West and paved the way for increased settlement and development. However, it came at a significant cost to the Métis and Indigenous peoples, who saw their land, culture, and autonomy systematically eroded.
The Cree, in particular, bore the brunt of the government’s punitive measures. Their participation in the rebellion, whether active or perceived, was used to justify stricter reserve policies, reductions in rations, and greater surveillance by Indian agents. The rebellion’s failure also marked the end of armed resistance on the prairies, as Indigenous leaders recognised the futility of opposing the government’s overwhelming military and economic power.
Despite the rebellion’s failure, the Battle of Frenchman’s Butte remains a symbol of Indigenous resilience and courage. Big Bear’s efforts to defend his people and secure a better future, though ultimately unsuccessful, reflect the broader struggles of Indigenous communities to assert their rights and preserve their way of life in the face of colonial expansion.
Military Units and Commanders
- Cree Forces:
- Commander: Chief Big Bear (overall leader), Wandering Spirit (military leader)
- Composition: Cree warriors and followers
- Strength: Approximately 250 warriors
- Canadian Government Forces:
- Commander: General Thomas Bland Strange
- Composition: Alberta Field Force, militia, North-West Mounted Police
- Strength: Approximately 500 men
The battle showcased the tactical skill of the Cree and the limitations of the militia’s ability to engage an entrenched and determined foe in challenging terrain.
Conclusion
The Battle of Frenchman’s Butte was a poignant moment in the Northwest Rebellion, symbolising both the determination and the desperation of Indigenous resistance. While the Cree achieved a tactical victory, the broader conflict was already lost, and the rebellion’s suppression marked the end of an era of Indigenous autonomy on the prairies. The battle stands as a testament to the courage and resilience of Big Bear and his followers, who fought to defend their rights and way of life against overwhelming odds.
John Tobias aptly summarises the battle’s legacy: “Frenchman’s Butte was more than a skirmish; it was a moment of defiance in a conflict where the outcome was already decided, a final stand by a people fighting to hold onto their dignity and their future.”
References
- Tobias, John L. Canada’s Subjugation of the Plains Cree, 1879-1885. Canadian Historical Review, 1976.
- Morton, Desmond. A Military History of Canada. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1999.
- Stanley, George F. G. The Birth of Western Canada: A History of the Riel Rebellions. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1960.
- Stenson, Fred. The Northwest Rebellion: A New Perspective. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1980.
- Payment, Diane P. The Free People: Otipemisiwak – Batoche, Saskatchewan 1870-1930. Ottawa: National Historic Parks and Sites Branch, 1990.