6

Finally, on August 30th 1873, orders were given to organize the troops. One group gathered at Fort Garry in Manitoba and headed for Fort Dufferin where they join a second group of recruits.

This gathering is the only time in history that the original recruits of the North-West Mounted Police force were together at one place.

After wintering at Fort Dufferin, the group proceeded westward with the goal of establishing the presence of a mounted force at Fort Whoop-Up and then head north to Fort Edmonton.

7

The March North Roche Percee
1874
Roche Percee

8

When the group reached Roche Percee, Colonel French noticed definite signs of deterioration within the group, its horses and supplies. It was at this point that he reassessed the situation and ordered the split of the original group.

Sergeant-Major Sam Steele accompanied Lieutenant Inspector D. W. Jarvis and they took a small group of men, horses, and wagons and traveled north through Fort Ellice to establish headquarters at Fort Edmonton.

9

Sir John A. Macdonald's reign

10

The Lawless West Sir John A. Macdonald
1867
Ottawa, Ontario

11

In 1867, Sir John A. Macdonald became the first Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada. He was a man of vision with ambitious goals to unite the vast regions of Upper Canada and the North-West Territories.

12

Sir John A. Macdonald C 002090
1877

Credits:
Notman and Son
Nat'l Archives of Canada

13

Sir John A. Macdonald envisioned settlement and expansion through peaceful and law-abiding relations, and was influential in the founding of the North-West Mounted Police force.

In 1873, Parliament passed an act to provide a policing service to the Dominion of Canada, but the act was not prompted until after the Cypress Hills Massacre.

14

The Lawless West Parliament Drawings
1840

15

Canada's Parliament buildings are located in Ottawa, Ontario. The Province of Canada was first formed in 1841 and in 1857 Queen Victoria selected Ottawa as our Country's capital. The act to create a mounted police force was passed in the House of Commons, located at the west end of the Center Block.

16

The Lawless West Parliament Buildings
1875
Ottawa, Ontario

17

From an act, a mounted troop was organized and officers appointed for the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP).
Legal Authority: Act of Parliament (36Vic,ch25), May 23, 1873; Order in Council 1134, August 30, 1873.

18

In the North-West Territories, during the summer of 1873, hostilities erupted between the natives, whiskey traders and visiting American wolfers. The result was the massacre of an entire Assiniboine village.

19

The Lawless West Cypress Hills
1873
Cypress Hills