The river press., 1883-05-09
The Ugly Canadian Redskins.

A company Of Indians approached the
workmen at the end of the c. P. track
says dispatch OF the Goth, and threa t.
ened violence. They said they were
hungry, and demanded food A de-
tachment of mounted police were sent
to the end of the track in anticipate on
Of further trouble with the Indians.
No overt act has been committed. Pie
a-Pot and Big Bear, two Indian chiefs,
have nothing against the railroad, but
say the company should not invade their
territory, embracing the region running
from Cypress Hills north and west Of
Medicine Hat, until they have been pro-
vided for according to treaty. Pie-a-Pot
speaks bitterly Of bis treatment by In
dian officials. A report from Medicine
Hat says the Indians at Cypress Hills
put IN dreadful winter, and are now
in lamentable condition. One of their
head men says they have threatened the
track layers merely for the purpose of
calling public attention to their griev-
ances. No serious trouble is looked for.
All the Indians want is fair treatment.
are to the effect that serious trouble is
continue to menace six Pacific road
workmen The following are the facts
of the case. In April last year an at
tempt was made to induce Pie-a-Pot and
followers, Crees and Assinaboines, to
leave their ranges at Cypress Hills and
go on Northern reservation. Pie-a-Pot
after some parleying consented to this,
and on June % left Fort Walsh for
Q'Appelle with band of 500, the ASSN
aboine chiefs Jack and Long Lodge,
with struggling Crees belonging to the
bands ofLittle Child and Sparrow Hawk
having gone before him. Pie-a'Pot and
men arrived at Q'Appello on July %.
A reservation had been set apart for
him north Of Q'Appelle, while the other
Indians who went there were to be on
the reserve at Indian Head. Meanwhile
Big Bear, Cree non-treaty chief, who
has also made the Cypress Hills his
headquarters, had gone south after buff
falo, refusing point blank to go on a
Northern reservation. He had about
200 lodges with him, but was unable to
follow the buffalo south of the American
line, troops having been massed at the
head of Milk river bend to bar his pro-
gress southwark. Being out of food Big
Bear and people began to return to Cy-
press Hills in August. They were in
wretched condition and the arrival of
the starving stragglers from other hunt
ing parties did not mend matters. Com
missioner Irvine did, all in bis power to
relieve the wants of these Indians, but
government supplies were scarce. At
this critical juneture a report reached
the Cypress Hills that Plea. Pot and fol-
lowers were on their way back from
Q'Appelle and this was fully borne out
by the arrival of Pie-a-Pet at the Hills
on Sept. l. Pie-a-Pot while approving
of the reservations, set apart for him at
Q,AppeIIe, declared that Indian Com
missioner DeWdry had broken faith
with him. The united bands were thus
gathered at Cypress Hills on the eve Of
winter without food. Big Bear resolute-
ly refused, by Pie-a-Pot's advice, to go
on q northern reservation that had been
set apart for him, and Pie-a-PoG declar-
ing that ais he had been driAen off and
ill-treated by Indian officials at O. APP.
pelle reservation, he would remain at
the Hills regardless Of consequences.
Winter set id and the suffering of the
Indians became more general and in
tense, and although the Indian agent
Mcdonald of Q'Appelle visited Fort
Walsh and paid the bounties there, the.
conditions of the Indians became more
and more deplorable. Pie-a-pot and
BIG Bear have threatened the track lay
ers, saying that the G. P. railroad has
no right to push the road through that
section Of the country until they have
been provided for elsewhere, and the
promises made.to Pie-a-Pot fulfilled.