Sharphead band facts for kids

The Sharphead band was a group of Indigenous people who lived in what is now central Alberta. They were part of the Stoney (Nakoda) family of nations. In 1876, they signed Treaty 6 with the Canadian government. Sadly, the Sharphead people faced great challenges like hunger and sickness. By 1897, they no longer existed as a separate group. Their special lands, called reserve lands, were taken by the government. The few people who survived went to live with other nearby First Nations.

A New Way of Life: The Sharphead Reserve

After signing the treaty, the Sharphead people continued their traditional way of life. They moved around a lot, following the seasons and animals. In 1885, a special area was set aside for them. This was called the Sharphead Indian Reserve No.141. It was located in what is now Alberta. This reserve was created under the Indian Act, a law that governed Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The reserve was measured in October 1885. It covered about 42.4 square miles. This land was located along the Battle River and Wolf Creek. There was also a Methodist mission on the reserve.

Hard Times and Disappearance

Between 1886 and 1893, the Sharphead band faced very difficult times. Many people became sick with smallpox. Their crops also failed, meaning they didn't have enough food. Hunting became harder too. It is believed that more than half of the Sharphead people died during these years.

The survivors had to leave their homes. They moved to other reserves to live with different First Nations. By 1897, the Canadian government decided the Sharphead band no longer existed. Their reserve land was then given to new settlers from Europe.

Some local Indigenous people have a different story. They believe the Sharphead people were intentionally harmed by government officials. This oral history suggests they were given infected blankets or bad meat. This idea points to a terrible act of "genocide". Kurt Buffalo, a Sharphead descendant and chief of the Samson Cree Nation, spoke about this in 2014. However, historical records do not support this specific theory. Records about the Sharphead people are very limited. It took until the 1970s for researchers to find Sharphead descendants. They found them living among 15 different nearby First Nations.

Important government officials were involved in taking the Sharphead land. One was Hayter Reed, who worked for Indigenous Affairs. Another was Frank Oliver, a powerful politician from Edmonton.

Remembering the Sharphead People

In 1965, workers found human remains at a cemetery on the old reserve land. These were the remains of 26 people. They were taken to the University of Alberta for study. Later, they were put into storage. The landowner at the time did not want them reburied on the site.

In 2007, more remains were found at the same place. This led the provincial government and 14 nearby First Nations to act. They began looking for a new, respectful place to rebury the remains. In 2013, land was bought near Ponoka, close to the Battle River.

There were some disagreements about the plan. However, a special re-interment ceremony was held in October 2014. This event honored the Sharphead ancestors. It was a way to finally lay them to rest in a proper place.