Statecraft & Independence
Landmark
Big Bear
c. 1825 – 1888
The Cree chief who refused to sign Treaty 6
Landmark is level 2 of 4 in the Canada Hall of Fame: a first that opened a door, or the pre-eminent figure of their generation in this country. See how the levels work.
Why they are here
One of the very few chiefs who read what Treaty 6 actually offered and refused to sign it — and was imprisoned after 1885 regardless.
Mistahimaskwa, known as Big Bear, was a powerful and widely followed Cree chief.
He is remembered above all for his role around Treaty 6 and the 1885 North-West Resistance, and was among the few chiefs to object to signing the treaty with the Canadian government.
He is remembered above all for his role around Treaty 6 and the 1885 North-West Resistance, and was among the few chiefs to object to signing the treaty with the Canadian government.
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