Maskepetoon facts for kids

Maskepetoon (born around 1807 – died 1869) was a famous Cree leader and a brave warrior. He was known as a great peacemaker. He helped make peace agreements between the Cree people and other First Nations. A writer named Grant MacEwan even called him the "Gandhi of the Plains," which means he was a very important leader who worked for peace.

Maskepetoon's Early Life

Hugh Dempsey, a historian, said that Maskepetoon was smart and showed leadership even when he was a child. After leaving his mother's care, Maskepetoon learned important skills like hunting and trapping.

In the early 1820s, his tribe faced tough times. They struggled to find enough food and were often in conflict with other groups. This meant Maskepetoon had to become like a soldier. He helped guard the camp and looked for any dangers.

Dempsey also wrote that Maskepetoon later chose peace instead of war. This happened after he visited a wise holy man. His father had often talked to him about choosing peace, but Maskepetoon didn't listen at first. However, his father's words stayed with him. When he spoke to the holy man, he was shown two paths: war or peace. After this talk, Maskepetoon decided that peace was the best choice for him. During his life, Maskepetoon married about four times.

Maskepetoon was born when there was a lot of fighting and peace-making happening for his tribe. The year before he was born, the Cree and Blackfoot people had a big disagreement. This led to conflicts between the Cree and other First Nations, including the Peigan, Siksika, Blood, and Blackfoot.

Games and Skills

Hugh Dempsey noted that people remembered Maskepetoon showing leadership even as a child. When Cree children were young, they played games that were fun but also taught them important skills for adulthood. These games helped them get ready for possible conflicts.

For example, one game was like "war." Two teams used sticks, mud, and even small stones. The goal was to throw mud at the other team until one team gave up. Another game was called itachikan. In this game, one boy would shoot an arrow as far as he could. The other players would then try to shoot their arrows as close to the first one as possible. The winner was the one whose arrow landed closest to the target. These games helped young Cree members practice combat skills and get better with bows and arrows.

Dempsey said that the Rocky Mountain Cree were usually peaceful. However, they would fight to protect their camps or if they felt insulted. Younger Cree people were also willing to raid enemies to gain respect as warriors. So, while mostly peaceful, the Cree did use violence when needed. Young people were also eager to get involved to earn recognition for helping their tribe.

As Maskepetoon grew older, he kept learning and improving his skills. Hugh Dempsey wrote that Maskepetoon learned to "walk silently in the woods." He could also "sense a change in the weather, particularly in winter," which was important for survival. This shows that even as a teenager, Maskepetoon was very skilled in what he needed for life and potential conflicts. Dempsey believed Maskepetoon went on his first important journey in 1821, when he was just 14 years old.

Maskepetoon's Adult Life

Maskepetoon had at least three brothers, according to Hugh Dempsey. There are not many written stories about Maskepetoon's fighting skills. However, some stories were passed down by word of mouth.

A missionary named George McDougall, who knew Maskepetoon, told a story about his fighting ability. He said, "Once attacked by three Blackfeet...he rushed upon them with his knife and despatched the whole." It's hard to know if this story is completely true, but if it is, it shows how incredibly skilled Maskepetoon was as a warrior.

Choosing Peace

Later in his life, Maskepetoon turned from war to working for peace. John McDougall said that his father's words influenced this change. His father told him that the glory from war would not last. He said that enjoying war and bloodshed was wrong. His father advised him: "If you want to be a great man, if you want to be remembered long, turn about and work for peace. This is the only thing that will give you true fame."

Dempsey said that Maskepetoon's father spoke to him six times about seeking peace. But it was only after Maskepetoon asked a holy man for advice that he truly understood how important peace was. However, Dempsey also thought this story might be more like fiction than reality. He believed Methodist Missionaries might have told it this way to make Maskepetoon seem like an "ideal Christian."

A Time of Change

During a serious illness called the smallpox epidemic, the Rocky Mountain Cree were not affected until it was almost over. The illness reached them in the winter of 1837-1838. But at that time, most of the Cree were away trapping. Maskepetoon and others who were outside the camp heard about deaths among the Rocky Mountain Cree and on the plains. But they stayed safe by living and working in the woods. Because of this, Maskepetoon and his fellow Cree were not harmed by the illness.

After the smallpox epidemic of 1837, the Blackfoot people moved to a different area. Their tribe had lost many people to the illness. This move gave the Rocky Mountain Cree more freedom to explore the plains. This time also gave Maskepetoon a chance to show he was a strong and wise leader. He aimed to help those who had no leader to guide or protect them.

Maskepetoon became known as a respected leader of the Rocky Mountain Cree in the late 1840s and early 1850s. As the leader of his Cree group, his jobs included finding places to hunt and travel. He also told the Cree how to protect their camp. Maskepetoon earned respect from his people because he was a skilled hunter, and also for his kindness and wisdom. Hugh Dempsey said of Maskepetoon, "He welcomed visitors to his lodge, honoured them and presented them with gifts on their departure."

Maskepetoon also helped the Palliser expedition, a group exploring the land. In 1857, he guided John Palliser's expedition from the Qu’Appelle lakes to the elbow of the South Saskatchewan River. The expedition members called him Nichiwa, which is the Cree word for "friend."

Maskepetoon's Death

There had been several fights between the Cree and Siksika, and people from both sides had died. It was widely reported that the Siksika wanted peace. However, a Cree historian named David Ahenakew said, "There were many who did not want a truce." Hugh Dempsey added that some wanted "revenge for the recent killings." But Maskepetoon and his group were determined to find a peaceful solution.

The Siksika camp they entered was led by a Supreme Chief named Many Swans. Many Swans was known for being a harsh and unforgiving leader. This made it seem unlikely that Maskepetoon's efforts for peace would work. Even though Many Swans was not kind to traders and showed little mercy, his people still followed his orders.

Maskepetoon's group dressed in their best clothes for their meeting with the Siksika. They laid out a flag. Beneath it, they sat with a Bible, a pipe, and tobacco. This was a traditional way to start peace talks.

As Many Swans approached, he showed the sign for peace by clasping his hands together in front of him. He then told the Cree that there would be a truce. The Cree believed this was a sincere act of peace. When asked to put down their weapons, they did so. However, in an act of betrayal, Many Swans gathered all the weapons and rode off. He shouted to his warriors, "Go ahead! Shoot and kill them!" Dempsey wrote that within minutes, all of the Cree peace-making party were dead, including Maskepetoon. A young member of Many Swans' group, named Running Calf, was said to have killed Maskepetoon. Maskepetoon, the respected warrior and peacemaker, was 62 years old when he died.

The Impact of His Death

News of Maskepetoon's death deeply affected his followers and the Methodists he had met. When John McDougall learned of his death, he wrote about his great sadness and the loss for the nations. He said, "The death of our old Chief is regarded by both Whites and Indians as a national loss." He described Maskepetoon as a strong Protestant and a friend to white people. He also said Maskepetoon had more influence than any other Chief east of the Mountains. McDougall had planned to meet Maskepetoon and his people for a camp-meeting soon. He wrote, "Many of our people from White Fish Lake, Woodville and Victoria, have already started for the appointed place; but he who would have sat as Chief in our Council is gone. I cannot tell you how deeply my own mind is afflicted. The poor Crees are paralysed."

Thomas Woolsey, who had been a mentor to Maskepetoon, also expressed deep sadness when he heard the news. He wrote, "I can assure you that the mournful intelligence we have received regarding my old friend, the Cree Chief (Maskepetoon) and his family, has been persued with feeling of unutterable grief." He added that he knew the old chief very well during his time in the Saskatchewan Valley.

These words show how much Maskepetoon's death impacted his own people and others who were not Cree. They felt it was one of the greatest losses possible. These kind words show not only the sadness of his passing but also the great respect Maskepetoon commanded.