1
Gabriel Dumont with his Winchester repeating rifle he affectionately called 'Le petit'.1886
2
Gabriel Dumont was born the forth of eleven children in Assiniboia, 1838. He was raised as a nomadic hunter and never received any formal education. He was married to Madeleine Welkey in 1858 and later they adopted a daughter, Annie.Madeleine went down to Montana to be with her husband but passed away of consumption while Dumont was in Canada attempting to free Riel. Nothing is really mentioned as to what happened to Annie.
3
Gabriel Dumont's bridle and revolver.1870
Batoche National Historic Site
4
It was Dumont who led a group of men to Montana to find Riel and ask him to join their cause.Dumont was known for his military strategies which were adaptations from his time spent in the Buffalo Hunt and became the military leader for the Métis forces. The Battle of Duck Lake was their first engagement.
Having gone to Duck Lake to acquire the arms and ammunition available there, Dumont and his men ran into some North West Mounted Police officers doing the same thing. Sending the police on their way empty handed Dumont stayed in Duck Lake and soon heard that a larger group of police were on their way. This same report was brought to Riel in Batoche and a group of Métis were on their way.
Throughout the battle Dumont was right there encouraging his men. Even with a severe head wound he received during the fight he would not stop encouraging them. After the battle was over he was ready to follow the police and ambush their retreat to Prince Albert but was loyal to Riel, respecting Riel's wish not to follow.
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Gabriel Dumont with two friends in New York.1886
This photo was taken in New York
6
After the resistance, Dumont fled to the United States with the idea of coming back to Canada to rescue Riel. In 1886 Dumont joined the Buffalo Bill show but returned to Canada in 1888 after he had been granted amnisty.7
Gold watch given to Gabriel Dumont by the French Canadians in New York.15 August 1886
Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
8
Gabriel Dumont's gold watch.15 August 1886
Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
9
This is a rather rare photo of Gabriel Dumont.1885
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In 1893 he returned to settle in Batoche and in 1906 he died. He was buried in the Batoche cemetery which overlooks the South Saskatchewan River.11
This monument was placed here to commemorate Gabriel Dumont.1955
Batoche National Historic Site
12
Close up of the Gabriel Dumont monument.1955
Batoche National Historic Site
13
This article was written about the events of 1885 and the retributuion of Louis Riel.1985
This article is located in our museum files
14
This is the comemmorative stamp made in 1985 for the one hundred anniversary of the 1885 Uprising.1985
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