Almighty Voice (Cree) facts for kids

Almighty Voice (also known as Kitchi-Manito Waya, meaning “Voice of the Great Spirit”) was a member of the One Arrow Willow Cree people. He became well-known for avoiding the North-West Mounted Police for over a year and a half. His story ended in a large conflict in 1897, where he sadly died.

Early Life and Family

Almighty Voice was born in 1874 near Duck Lake in Saskatchewan. His home was on the One Arrow Willow Cree Reserve. His parents were named Sinookeeesick (Sounding Sky) and Natchookoneck (Spotted Calf). His grandfather was Chief Kapeyakwaskonam, also known as One Arrow, who led the Willow Cree.

A big event called the North-West Resistance happened in 1885. This event greatly affected Almighty Voice's childhood. His grandfather, Chief One Arrow, was found guilty of a crime and sent to prison. He died shortly after being released in 1886.

After the resistance, the Canadian government made life harder for the Willow Cree. They cut down the amount of food given to the community. The government also tried to make the Willow Cree move to a different reserve.

The Police Search for Almighty Voice

On October 22, 1895, a police officer named Sergeant Colin C. Colebrook arrested Almighty Voice. He was arrested for taking a steer (a type of cow) that Almighty Voice said belonged to his father. While Almighty Voice was in jail, a guard made a joke. The guard said that the punishment for his crime would be a public hanging.

Almighty Voice believed the guard and escaped from jail that very night. He crossed the South Saskatchewan River and walked about twenty miles back to his mother’s home. He stayed there for a few days while the police began their search. The police found his trail shortly after he left the Willow Cree Reserve.

The First Encounter

On October 29, 1895, Sergeant Colin C. Colebrook and a tracker found Almighty Voice. This happened near Kinistino, Saskatchewan. When Sergeant Colebrook tried to arrest him, Almighty Voice warned that he would shoot.

Despite the warning, Colebrook continued his attempt. Almighty Voice then fired his gun. Sergeant Colebrook was killed, and Almighty Voice quickly ran away.

The Long Chase and Reward

Because of what happened, the police took Almighty Voice’s father, Sounding Sky, into custody. They did this to stop him from helping his son. Almighty Voice managed to avoid being caught for another nineteen months.

The police became worried that other Indigenous groups might help Almighty Voice. They thought this might lead to more conflicts. So, they offered a reward for information about him. On April 20, 1896, a government official announced a $500 reward. This money would go to anyone who helped the police find Almighty Voice.

The announcement described Almighty Voice as being about 5 feet 10 inches tall. It said he was in his early twenties and had a scar on the left side of his face. Most of the time he was avoiding the police, Almighty Voice stayed on his own reserve.

The Final Standoff

On May 27, 1897, Almighty Voice, his cousin Little Saulteaux, and his brother-in-law Topean were involved in an incident. They shot and killed a scout near Duck Lake. A report about this event was given to the police. The police had received many false reports before. But they checked this one, found it was true, and immediately went to find them.

The police tracked Almighty Voice and his companions into the Mininchinas Hills. When they found the group, they were met with gunfire. The police then asked local people to help them. Together, they tried to capture Almighty Voice and his companions, but they were not successful.

The next day was filled with more gunfire. Still, the police could not capture the men. The following morning, May 30, the police and their helpers surrounded the hiding spot. They used cannons to attack the area. Soon after, they found the bodies of Almighty Voice, Little Saulteaux, and Topean.

It was found that Little Saulteaux and Topean had been dead for several days. However, Almighty Voice had only died a few hours before his body was found. He had suffered from being out in the cold, a broken leg, and a fatal gunshot wound to his head. In total, six people died in the conflict. These included Almighty Voice, his two companions, one civilian, and two police officers. Almighty Voice left behind four wives and one child, Almighty Voice Jr.

His Story Lives On

Many Indigenous groups see Almighty Voice as a hero. His story has inspired many important works of Indigenous art and writing.

In 1929, a magazine called Macleans published a detailed account of Almighty Voice’s story. This helped make his tale widely known.

The 1974 film Alien Thunder tells a fictional version of his story. In the movie, actor Donald Sutherland plays a police officer trying to capture Almighty Voice.

Daniel David Moses' 1991 play Almighty Voice and His Wife offers a different view of his story. It focuses on his wife, who was not named in official records. The play explores their imagined relationship and their identity as Indigenous people. It also looks at how they dealt with the society around them.