Post by Dietmar on Apr 14, 2024 7:04:21 GMT -5
Since Grahame has posted the pictures of a group around Piapot in another thread, I've been wondering who is in these intriguing pictures.
Has there ever been any research put into this?
I have found at least one article in newspaper archives which describes this encounter between Piapot, Governor Dewdney and the Canadian Mounted Police.
A VISIT FROM OLD „PIE.“
Piapot Visits the Garrison Artillery at Regina.
(FROM THE STAR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT WITH THE GARRISON ARTILLERY.)
REGINA, N. W. T., June 5. – It is now nearly a week since writing my last. That was the occasion of a visit to Chief Pie-a-pot, to see his great Sun Dance.
This ceremony over, his roasted dog eaten in due course, and a reversion to the every day common-place of ordinary life, the great chief yesterday (Thursday) returned our visit. He had been in visiting the Lieut.-Governor, with four of his braves. The visit tour camp had to be postponed for two days on account on the wet weather, the first we experienced since we came to Regina. On Thursday the Brigade paraded on our Parade Ground just in front of the camp, at 10.30 a.m. At eleven Lt.-Governor Dewdney appeared escorted by Major Laurie, M. G. A., and was given a general salute. He was accompanied by Chief Pie-a-pot and five counsellors, the best looking of whom was Muskokappo, “Stand Steady.” One of the others was his half-brother, with a name as big as his face, meaning in English “Wolverine.” It appears that when an Indian child is to be christened, a day is appointed for the purpose. Any one seeing anything extraordinary, reports the fact and the child bears the name. Thus when the chief´s half-brother was christened a wolverine must have been the extraordinary thing upon that day. We identified in this worthy the buck who was undergoing torture on the occasion of our visit to the reserve last Saturday. He did not appear any the worse for for his sufferings, with the exception of a cough which troubled him. It did not in the least interfere with his appetits, as we saw a little later.
Under the command of Lt.-Col. Oswald the brigade marched past at column, quarter column, and at the double. It then formed an alignment to the right on the rear battery, after which two volleys with blank cartridge were fired. The Indian visitors did not feel at all comfortable. Being suspicious by nature, they are always on the alert in case of being led into a trap. We then formed column of double batteries, regimental square and other movements. Major and Adjutant Atkinson then took command for skirmishing. […]
Professor Buell, who has already taken several photographs of the Garrison, again photographed them, with Lieut.-Governor and the Indians in the foreground. The bugle sounding for the officer´s mess, proceedings were suspended till that meal had been partaken of. Lieut.-Governor Dewdney was the guest of the Lieut.-Colonel and officers. Lunch concluded, the Governor, officers and Indians again were photographed. Before this the great transformation scene was enacted. The old chief arose, and in a lengthy speech explained how great a veteran he was. Taking off his war hat (a large busby of yellow fur with the plume behind) he stated that from east to west, throughout the whole land, that busby had been through the din of battle. It was the pride of his allies, the terror of his foes. He then stepped across to where Lt.-Col. Oswald was sitting, and with all the solemnity of a priest at a sacrifice placed his war hat on the Lieut.-Colonel´s head. An icy shiver could be seen convulsing the Colonel´s frame, but, like a true soldier he is, he overcame it, and allowed the hat of the Great Chief Pie-a-pot, for 29 years the terror of his enemies, to remain on his head for some time. The spectators cheered when the Lieut.-Colonel, with equal gravity, arose and placed his forage cap on the old Chief´s head. The crowd cheered again, and the old Chief clapped his hands, a rare exhibition of joy to be displayed by a child of the forest.
OLD “PIE’S” DEEDS.
Old “Pie”, as the boys familiarly call him, then narrated how he had killed this chief and that, and the deeds of daring he had accomplished in his day. We thought, to use an eastern expression, that the old gentleman was drawing a long bow, but subsequent enquiry confirmed the stories. He was, when living in the Cypress Hills, one of the finest warriors of his time. […]
[The Montreal Star, June 13, 1885]
(I highlighted all names)
We learn that Piapot brought five other men to this meeting, one of whom was Muskokappo ("Stand Steady"). Muscowcappo was a headman in Muscowpetung's Salteaux/Plains Ojibwe band, which had a reserve right next to Piapot's. So the Indian men at the meeting were not all Cree.
One other man mentioned here was Piapot's half-brother Wolverine. In another article from 1885, Wolverine is referred to as a stepbrother. He participated in the sun dance, which was held a week before the meeting with the Garrison Artillery.
Unfortunately there are no indications, who is who in the Cree/Salteaux group. We can only guess. Since Wolverine during the sun dance hung on a pole and endured physical hardness, I think he would be a younger man. My hunch is that he could be the man with the big fur hat, who can be seen in several pictures next to Piapot. On the other hand Muskokappo is described as being the "best looking", so you choose...
Present at the sun dance of May 31 were also Salteaux/Plains Ojibwe chiefs Muscopetung and Pasqua (see: The Montreal Star, June 6, 1885). I haven´t found evidence that they were also present at the meeting a week later, but it is possible.
Also mentioned at the sun dance was an interpreter called Morin (he could be the man kneeling far left) and Indian agent McKinnon. I wouldn´t be surprised if he was the man sitting left of Lt.-Col. Oswald.
According to the archives of the Gabriel Dumont Museum also in the picture are James Brown, William McGirr and Dido McKinnon.
Has there ever been any research put into this?
I have found at least one article in newspaper archives which describes this encounter between Piapot, Governor Dewdney and the Canadian Mounted Police.
A VISIT FROM OLD „PIE.“
Piapot Visits the Garrison Artillery at Regina.
(FROM THE STAR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT WITH THE GARRISON ARTILLERY.)
REGINA, N. W. T., June 5. – It is now nearly a week since writing my last. That was the occasion of a visit to Chief Pie-a-pot, to see his great Sun Dance.
This ceremony over, his roasted dog eaten in due course, and a reversion to the every day common-place of ordinary life, the great chief yesterday (Thursday) returned our visit. He had been in visiting the Lieut.-Governor, with four of his braves. The visit tour camp had to be postponed for two days on account on the wet weather, the first we experienced since we came to Regina. On Thursday the Brigade paraded on our Parade Ground just in front of the camp, at 10.30 a.m. At eleven Lt.-Governor Dewdney appeared escorted by Major Laurie, M. G. A., and was given a general salute. He was accompanied by Chief Pie-a-pot and five counsellors, the best looking of whom was Muskokappo, “Stand Steady.” One of the others was his half-brother, with a name as big as his face, meaning in English “Wolverine.” It appears that when an Indian child is to be christened, a day is appointed for the purpose. Any one seeing anything extraordinary, reports the fact and the child bears the name. Thus when the chief´s half-brother was christened a wolverine must have been the extraordinary thing upon that day. We identified in this worthy the buck who was undergoing torture on the occasion of our visit to the reserve last Saturday. He did not appear any the worse for for his sufferings, with the exception of a cough which troubled him. It did not in the least interfere with his appetits, as we saw a little later.
Under the command of Lt.-Col. Oswald the brigade marched past at column, quarter column, and at the double. It then formed an alignment to the right on the rear battery, after which two volleys with blank cartridge were fired. The Indian visitors did not feel at all comfortable. Being suspicious by nature, they are always on the alert in case of being led into a trap. We then formed column of double batteries, regimental square and other movements. Major and Adjutant Atkinson then took command for skirmishing. […]
Professor Buell, who has already taken several photographs of the Garrison, again photographed them, with Lieut.-Governor and the Indians in the foreground. The bugle sounding for the officer´s mess, proceedings were suspended till that meal had been partaken of. Lieut.-Governor Dewdney was the guest of the Lieut.-Colonel and officers. Lunch concluded, the Governor, officers and Indians again were photographed. Before this the great transformation scene was enacted. The old chief arose, and in a lengthy speech explained how great a veteran he was. Taking off his war hat (a large busby of yellow fur with the plume behind) he stated that from east to west, throughout the whole land, that busby had been through the din of battle. It was the pride of his allies, the terror of his foes. He then stepped across to where Lt.-Col. Oswald was sitting, and with all the solemnity of a priest at a sacrifice placed his war hat on the Lieut.-Colonel´s head. An icy shiver could be seen convulsing the Colonel´s frame, but, like a true soldier he is, he overcame it, and allowed the hat of the Great Chief Pie-a-pot, for 29 years the terror of his enemies, to remain on his head for some time. The spectators cheered when the Lieut.-Colonel, with equal gravity, arose and placed his forage cap on the old Chief´s head. The crowd cheered again, and the old Chief clapped his hands, a rare exhibition of joy to be displayed by a child of the forest.
OLD “PIE’S” DEEDS.
Old “Pie”, as the boys familiarly call him, then narrated how he had killed this chief and that, and the deeds of daring he had accomplished in his day. We thought, to use an eastern expression, that the old gentleman was drawing a long bow, but subsequent enquiry confirmed the stories. He was, when living in the Cypress Hills, one of the finest warriors of his time. […]
[The Montreal Star, June 13, 1885]
(I highlighted all names)
We learn that Piapot brought five other men to this meeting, one of whom was Muskokappo ("Stand Steady"). Muscowcappo was a headman in Muscowpetung's Salteaux/Plains Ojibwe band, which had a reserve right next to Piapot's. So the Indian men at the meeting were not all Cree.
One other man mentioned here was Piapot's half-brother Wolverine. In another article from 1885, Wolverine is referred to as a stepbrother. He participated in the sun dance, which was held a week before the meeting with the Garrison Artillery.
Unfortunately there are no indications, who is who in the Cree/Salteaux group. We can only guess. Since Wolverine during the sun dance hung on a pole and endured physical hardness, I think he would be a younger man. My hunch is that he could be the man with the big fur hat, who can be seen in several pictures next to Piapot. On the other hand Muskokappo is described as being the "best looking", so you choose...
Present at the sun dance of May 31 were also Salteaux/Plains Ojibwe chiefs Muscopetung and Pasqua (see: The Montreal Star, June 6, 1885). I haven´t found evidence that they were also present at the meeting a week later, but it is possible.
Also mentioned at the sun dance was an interpreter called Morin (he could be the man kneeling far left) and Indian agent McKinnon. I wouldn´t be surprised if he was the man sitting left of Lt.-Col. Oswald.
According to the archives of the Gabriel Dumont Museum also in the picture are James Brown, William McGirr and Dido McKinnon.
