14

The Blackfoot Confederacy

15

Peaceful Relations Crowfoot
1887
South of Calgary, Alberta

16

The Blackfoot people were a warlike confederacy south of Calgary.

'It was believed and probably was true that they numbered six thousand fighting men, armed with repeating rifles'.

During the Riel Rebellion, the Blackfoot were ready for war and had organized a campaign in the summer of 1885. The event did not see reality as Crow Foot, Chief of the Blackfoot Tribe, intervened and warned the Confederacy that the white men were strong in numbers and the possible dangers to the Blackfoot people.

He saw that the whiskey traders were killing off his people and if had not been for the police protecting them, they would sure have perished. He agreed to sign the Treaty for he felt that the 'hearts of white and red men would continue to increase in goodness'.

17

Local Crees

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Peaceful Relations Cree Indians
1870
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta

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Cree Indians, 1870-1910

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Peaceful Indian Relations Local Crees
1870

21

The prominent native bands near Fort Saskatchewan were the Plains Cree.

"The Plains Crees, on the other hand, lived south of the wood-line and between that and the Blackfoot country. They held their own with the Blackfoot and were a fairly bold and fearless lot of people."

These tribes were not friendly with the Blackfoot, but during the time of the Riel Rebellion, attempted to include them in the first Indian uprising in Canada.