Conditions for Cree people did not improve once Treaty 6 was signed. In fact, they got much worse. Famine, disease, and conflicts with settlers increased. It was so bad, many Cree and Metis peoples fought back. Canada responded by sending thousands of troops from the East to the prairies. By the summer of 1885, battles between Cree and Metis and Canada happened at Duck Lake, Frog Lake, Batoche and Battleford.

Cree leaders including Big Bear, Cut Arm and Wandering Spirit led the resistance that summer. Then in June, the final battle occurred near us at Makwa Lake where Cut Arm was murdered. We call this area Peepeekoot (Ratfoot) Crossing.

Chief Thunderchild, 1896

Peepeekoot Crossing, 1947

Peepeekoot Crossing Today

It didn’t matter not all Cree peoples participated in the fighting. Following the last battle at Peepeekoot Crossing, Canada cracked down on most Cree and Metis people. 6 Cree warriors were hanged. Many communities were treated like traitors. Travel was restricted. Food was used to control us. Reserves became more and more like prisons.