Frog Lake Massacre

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Frog Lake Massacre

Date	April 2, 1885
Location	Frog Lake, Alberta
Result	Cree victory

Belligerents

Cree

Dominion of Canada

Commanders

Wandering Spirit

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

None

9 dead
3 captured

North-West Rebellion

Duck Lake – Frog Lake – Fort Pitt – Fish Creek – Cut Knife – Batoche – Frenchman's Butte – Loon Lake –

The Frog Lake Massacre was a Cree uprising during the North-West Rebellion. Led by Wandering Spirit, young Cree warriors attacked the small town near Frog Lake, Alberta in April 2, 1885.

Angered by what seemed to be unfair treaties by the Canadian government and the dwindling buffalo population, their main source of food, the Cree decided to rebel after the successful Métis victory at Duck Lake, despite objections from their chief, Big Bear. They gathered all the white settlers in the area into the local church. Thomas Quinn, the town's Indian Agent, was killed after a disagreement broke out. The Cree then shot the inhabitants. Nine people were killed, among them two missionaries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Fathers Léon Fafard and Félix Marchand while administering the sacrament of Anointing, and three were taken as captives.

The massacre prompted the Canadian government to take notice of the growing unrest in Western Canada. The rebellion was eventually put down, and Wandering Spirit, the war chief responsible for the Frog Lake Massacre, was hanged.

[edit] See also

List of conflicts in Canada

[edit] References

Cameron, W. B. (1926). The war trail of Big Bear.
Account of eye witness W. B. Cameron (scan of original letter) at University of Alberta
wikisource: Saskatchewan Herald of April 23, 1885, containing mainly articles on the Frog Lake Massacre
Wandering Spirit Bio at Libraries and Archives Canada

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