Walking Buffalo, Tatânga Mânî, or George McLean, Stoney leader, Indian statesman, philosopher (b in Bow R Valley near Morley, Alta 20 Mar 1871; d at Banff, Alta 26 Dec 1967). Walking Buffalo was present at the signing of Treaty No 7 (1877) and became the most famous protégé of the Methodist missionaries John MCDOUGALL and John McLean. He witnessed the disappearance of the BISON, the building of the CPR and the evolution of tribal lands into provinces. Educated at the McDougall Orphanage at Morley and in Red Deer and Winnipeg, he worked briefly as a blacksmith and as a scout for the NWMP, then as an interpreter. He was councillor for the Bearspaw band of the Stoney Indians 1907-12 and chief 1912-16. Active in the Banff Indian Days and the CALGARY STAMPEDE, Walking Buffalo was a leader in the Morley United Church. Attracted to the moral rearmament movement in 1934, he was an ambassador for world peace until his death.
Author IAN A.L. GETTY
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