Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-07-24

The story of the appearance Of the
Rocky Boy tribe in Montana and
their many years of wandering until
finally rescued and placed upon the
Rocky Boy reservation is one of the
little mentioned phrases of Montana
history.
Rocky Boy, the late chieftain of this
rowing band of Canadian Cree Indians.
who infested the dumps and garbage
cans Of our large cities for 30 years
or more, was, according to his story
and local tradition, Chippewa In
dian from one Of the northern Min
nesota tribes. Many years ago. while
he was young man, he left his ma
tive village, accompanied by his sister
and few Of his fellow braves and
followers. They migrated to Canada.
Residing in that country for period
OF years, his sister married an Indian
chief of one of the Cree tribes named
Big Bear. firing of life in Canada he
later moved back into Montana and
selected for his camping and hunting
grounds, the vicinity of Fort ASsinni-
boine.
Instruction of 1886
In 1886 the Canadian half-breeds
under the leadership of Louis Riel
undertook to redress what the many
breeds in the Canadian northwest
considered their wrongs and staged an
armed rebellion against the Canadian
government, the avowed purpose OF
which was to drive the white men out
Of that country and establish a gov
eminent and independent country for
the half-breed or Nets nation as they
styled themselves. This was one of the
early effort at determination.
In frenZied effort to defeat the
Canadian forces the breeds enlisted
the support of certain Of the Indian
tribes. Among them being a band OF
young braves led by a chieftain called
Little Bear, a son of Big Bear who
had married the sister of Rocky Boy
These young warriors, carried away
by the pleasing prospect of killing
white people and the greed for loot
committed many depredations among
the white settlers and their families
They also attacked some of the mis-
sions and it is alleged they killed one
or more of the sisters and priests in
charge.
The rebellion was put down by the
Canadian troops. The final victory was
at the battle of Batoche, where the
half-breeds and their Indian allies
were thoroughly defeated and routed
by the Canadian militia, but not with
out severe loss Of life among the
flower of Canadian youth. The Goth
battalion of Winnipeg infantry suf-
fered most severely by reason of Their
taking the bit between their teeth and
charging the rifle pits of the rebels
without orders from the commanding
officer.
Following the defeat of the rebek
and the suppression of the revolt
Louis Riel. the leader, was tried and
condemned He was later hanged al
Regina, the seat Of government of the
then northwest territories.
Little Bear and his followers. having
committed many crimes against the
settlers families, we're afraid to take
advantage of the pardon to all par
Elephants offered by the Canadian gov
eminent. Not that they feared the
officers of the law, but many mer
whose homes had been destroyed anc
wives and children outraged and tor.
tured, had sworn vengeance against
Little Bear and his warriors.
Such being the status o. their at
fairs we find that these Indians
afraid to return to their reservation.
in Canada, turned to the only succol
they knew and came across the lint
into Montana as fast as they coulc
sneak away They did not come In
body, but by twos and threes. What
was more natural than that Little
Bear would seek out his Uncle Rocky
Boy and join his camp?
Later, as opportunity presented, tht
wives and families of these refugee!
came across to join their husbands
BY the year 1888 there was a caml
Of nearly 100 lodges of these Indian!
in the vicinity of Fort Assinniboin'
and these people managed to make s
living by hunting, fishing and trap
ping. They also cut cordwood for thu
contractors who had the contracts tt
furnish the fort.
In June, 1888, the country east o
the Marias and north of the Missouri
rivers, which was part'of the Black
feet and Gros Ventres Indian reser
yations, was thrown open to settle
ment. The stockmen soon brought II
herds of cattle and flocks of sheep
the game was rapidly destroyed ane
exterminated by both the Indians ant
whites and it was not long until tn