The Battle of Loon Lake: The Last Skirmish of the Northwest Rebellion
The Battle of Loon Lake, fought on June 3, 1885, was the final engagement of the Northwest Rebellion. Taking place in the rugged wilderness of present-day Alberta, this skirmish marked the effective end of organized Indigenous resistance to Canadian government forces during the conflict. While relatively minor in terms of scale, the battle was significant as it symbolized the conclusion of a dramatic and tumultuous chapter in Canada’s history. The capture of Chief Big Bear’s remaining followers not only ended the rebellion but also ushered in a period of intensified government control over Indigenous peoples and their lands.
The Political Situation at the Beginning
The Northwest Rebellion was born of long-standing grievances among the Métis and Indigenous peoples in the Canadian prairies. The Métis, led by Louis Riel, sought recognition of their land claims and the preservation of their way of life, which was being eroded by the Dominion Land Survey and the influx of settlers. For the Indigenous peoples, the rebellion was deeply rooted in the systemic failures of the Canadian government to honour treaty promises. The near-total disappearance of the bison, coupled with the government’s neglect and the withholding of rations, left many communities facing starvation and destitution.
Chief Big Bear, one of the most prominent Cree leaders, had long resisted signing treaties, fearing the loss of his people’s sovereignty. However, worsening conditions eventually forced him to sign Treaty 6 in 1882. Even then, Big Bear continued to advocate for better terms and worked to unite Cree bands in a collective effort to address their grievances. By 1885, however, growing desperation among his followers and the outbreak of the Northwest Rebellion placed Big Bear in an increasingly precarious position.
Although Big Bear did not actively align himself with Louis Riel’s Métis rebellion, elements of his band, led by militant figures such as Wandering Spirit, engaged in violent actions, including the Frog Lake Massacre. These events drew the full attention of the Canadian government, which mobilized military forces to suppress both the Métis and the Cree. The rebellion’s defeat at the Battle of Batoche in May 1885 left Big Bear and his followers isolated, making their eventual capture a matter of time.
The Cause of the Outbreak of Hostilities
The pursuit of Big Bear’s band following the Battle of Batoche was driven by the Canadian government’s determination to quell all remaining resistance in the Northwest. The Frog Lake Massacre, where nine settlers were killed, had shocked the nation and reinforced the government’s resolve to punish those involved. Big Bear’s band, though increasingly fragmented and demoralized, remained a target for the government’s forces, which viewed their capture as essential to restoring order in the region.
After the defeat of the Métis at Batoche, Major General Frederick Middleton and other commanders shifted their focus to tracking down Indigenous leaders such as Big Bear and Poundmaker. Colonel Sam Steele of the North-West Mounted Police was among those tasked with pursuing Big Bear’s band as it retreated into the wilderness of northern Alberta. The Cree, weakened by starvation and exhaustion, struggled to evade the advancing militia and police.
The Military Aspects and the Battle
The Battle of Loon Lake, while technically a skirmish, demonstrated the relentless pursuit of Big Bear’s band by government forces. By early June, Big Bear’s followers had splintered into smaller groups, attempting to find refuge in the dense forests and remote lakes of northern Alberta. Colonel Steele, commanding a force of mounted police and militia, tracked one of these groups to Loon Lake, where they had paused to rest.
On June 3, 1885, Steele’s force, numbering approximately 75 men, encountered a small group of Cree warriors and their families near the lake. The Cree, numbering fewer than 50 fighters, were poorly armed and exhausted after weeks of evading their pursuers. Despite their weakened state, they attempted to mount a defence, using the natural cover of the terrain to resist the advancing militia.
The skirmish was brief but intense, with both sides exchanging gunfire. The government forces quickly overpowered the outnumbered Cree, who were forced to retreat further into the wilderness. Casualties were minimal on both sides, but the encounter demonstrated the futility of continued resistance. The Cree’s lack of resources and the relentless pressure from government forces made their capture inevitable.
Results of the Battle
The Battle of Loon Lake effectively ended the Northwest Rebellion. Although Big Bear himself was not captured during the skirmish, the dispersal and capture of his followers marked the collapse of organized Indigenous resistance. Big Bear surrendered to government forces on July 2, 1885, bringing the final chapter of the rebellion to a close.
For the Cree, the defeat at Loon Lake and the broader suppression of the rebellion had devastating consequences. Many of Big Bear’s followers were arrested, with several leaders, including Wandering Spirit, tried and executed for their roles in the uprising. Big Bear himself was sentenced to prison, although he was released in 1887 due to ill health. The rebellion’s failure also resulted in the government tightening its control over Indigenous communities, with increased restrictions on movement, rations, and governance.
The Canadian government viewed the rebellion’s suppression as a reaffirmation of its authority over the prairies. The military campaign, while costly and logistically challenging, demonstrated the government’s ability to assert control over its western territories. However, the rebellion also exposed deep fractures within the Canadian state, as the Métis and Indigenous peoples’ grievances were largely ignored in the aftermath.
The Resultant Outcome of the Conflict
The Northwest Rebellion’s conclusion at Loon Lake marked the end of armed resistance in the Canadian prairies. The government’s response to the rebellion reinforced its authority over the West, paving the way for increased settlement and economic development. However, this came at a significant cost to the Métis and Indigenous peoples, whose rights and way of life were systematically eroded in the years following the conflict.
For the Métis, the rebellion’s failure resulted in the further marginalization of their communities. Their land claims were ignored, and many were forced to disperse and assimilate into settler society. For Indigenous peoples, the rebellion’s suppression led to harsher government policies, including the increased enforcement of the Indian Act, reductions in rations, and greater surveillance by Indian agents. The rebellion also marked the end of collective Indigenous resistance, as leaders like Big Bear and Poundmaker were discredited and their communities subjected to even greater control.
Military Units and Commanders
- Cree Forces:
- Commander: Chief Big Bear (overall leader, though not present at the skirmish)
- Composition: Dispersed Cree warriors and families
- Strength: Approximately 50 fighters
- Canadian Government Forces:
- Commander: Colonel Sam Steele
- Composition: North-West Mounted Police and militia
- Strength: Approximately 75 men
The disparity in numbers and resources reflected the broader imbalance of power between Indigenous communities and the Canadian government, which relied on superior firepower and relentless pursuit to achieve its objectives.
Conclusion
The Battle of Loon Lake was a quiet but significant end to the Northwest Rebellion. While it was a minor skirmish in military terms, its symbolic importance lay in its role as the final engagement of a conflict that had shaped the trajectory of Canada’s westward expansion. The rebellion’s suppression marked the beginning of a new era of government control and Indigenous marginalization, as the hopes and resistance of the Métis and Cree were overwhelmed by the forces of colonialism.
Historian John Tobias reflects that “Loon Lake was not a decisive battle, but it was a decisive moment—the last flicker of resistance before the heavy hand of government control extinguished the hopes of a people struggling to preserve their way of life.”
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.