Dakota and Lakota in Canada - Visual Images

[grahamew]

The 'Sioux' in Canada - in photographs, circa 1870 – 1915 – Part 1


This is a selection of photographs of Dakota/Lakota people in Canada, taken largely between 1870 and 1915. Most of them aren't in any sense rare - quite a few can be found at The Glenbow site ( digitalcollections.ucalgary.ca/asset-management/2R340826N9XM?WS=PackagePres&Flat=1&FR_=1&W=1280&H=569 ) - and it’s by no means complete; documentation is often poor, hence the use of the word, 'Sioux,' in inverted commas and sometimes even that might not be correct. Where subjects are named, I’ve simply used the spelling as given. On top of that, many of the people, more especially females, are, unfortunately, not named. Perhaps this is a result of 'Indians' being seen at least initially, as exotic subject matter for the photographers to sell. Canadian photographers Hall and Lowe, for example, advertised 'Indian photos (taken from life), Xmas cards, views of Winnipeg.'

To give an example of how little care was taken in terms of naming subjects correctly, this is The Evening Journal from May 1886, a year after Otto Buell had photographed the Crees, Big Bear and Poundmaker, and the Dakota, White Cap, at their trial - yet the image used to illustrate Poundmaker has been taken from a Goff or Haynes photograph of a Lakota (or possibly a Yanktonai)...



It's not even as if he looks anything like Poundmaker:

The Goff or Haynes photo


The real Poundmaker

The names of some of the photographers are unknown so it's not always possible to come up with even a rough date for some of the pictures.

Having said all that, however, here they are (along with the odd painting and drawing)...


Two 'Sioux' at Fort Garry, Winnipeg; painted by Paul Kane, 1846.

Although usually considered to be 'American,' the Dakota/Lakota wandered back and forth between the United States and Canada for many years before the exodus following Little Crow's war to hunt, trade and fight.

David McCrady's dissertation on which he based his book, Living with Strangers: The Nineteenth Century Sioux and the Canadian-American Borderlands, can be found in pdf form here: www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape17/PQDD_0027/NQ32884.pdf

Katie Pollock's dissertation that looks at the history of the Metis and their relationship with the tribes in the 'borderlands' of Canada and the USA: From Borderlands to Bordered Lands: The Plains Metis and  the 49th Parallel, 1869‐1885: www.academia.edu/11090653/_From_Borderlands_to_Bordered_Lands_the_Plains_Metis_and_the_49th_parallel_1869_1885_M_A_Thesis_History_and_Classics_University_of_Alberta_2009_

Delia Lee Hagen's dissertation, Northern Plains Borders and the People in Between, 1860-1940:
digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/etd/ucb/text/Hagen_berkeley_0028E_15256.pdf


Unidentified Dakota family. Photo by J.A. Brock and Company, Brandon, Manitoba, probably between 1883-1889. However, I’ve seen the same image credited to the Davidson Brothers, also of Brandon, but they didn’t start their business until 1892 so it could well be a later date.


Iron Buffalo, Wahpeton - taken at Prince Albert by Theodore Charmbury, circa 1905.


Iron Buffalo - as above.


"Sioux" chief, Prince Albert, early 1900s.


Dakota with pipe of peace, Prince Albert, early 1900s. I think this is Iron Buffalo again.



'Sioux' medicine man at Qu'Appelle.


Unidentified - Red River Dakota, Manitoba; taken by Simon Duffin of Winnipeg, between 1873-1888.


Antoine Hoke, 10 July 1909. I wonder if this is the same Antoine who was a member of White Eagle's band and vsited Lieutenant Governor Alexander Morris at Fort Garry to ask for a reserve on the Assiniboine River in 1874...


Antoine Hoke and Wanduta, 10 July 1909 - image originally posted by Mitchell BigHunter. amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3205/hoke-antoine-aka-old-james.


Oak River Dakota at Rapid City. Manitoba, 1901. The man at the left with the revolver is Antoine Hoke/Hoke Antoine/James Antoine.


This was posted by Mitchell BigHunter in his thread about Antoine. I can't see the 'great bludgeon' but that must be Whiteshirt wearing the goggles and carrying a Winchester.


Dakota tipi at Oak River.


Dakota men at the Brandon Fair, Manitoba, 1916; photo by Clark J. Smith.


Dakota (?) women at the 1916 Brandon Fair; photo by Smith.


Aviator Katherine Stinson at the Brandon Fair with Dakota people, 1916.

The Daly House Museum images immediately above come from dalyhousemuseum.ca/archival-collections/


Camp of Sioux - likely Dakota - in the Grand Valley, near Brandon, Manitoba. Photo by F.V. Bingham, who was working at Winnipeg between 1881 and 1886.


Bohpa, from the Birdtail Reserve - image taken from Mitchell bigHunter's thread: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3209/bohpa-shoots-hits-target


Wanduta or Red Arrow from the Oak Lake area - one of a series of portraits taken by Gould (maybe Harry W. Gauld) of Brandon, Manitoba in 1913. This, three other variants and the four images below are in The British Museum. www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG189310


Tsinawakanhdi (Lightning Blanket), a Dakota Sioux man, also photographed in 1913 by Gould/Gauld.


Half Body (Curwiyuksa), Dakota Sioux, by Gould/Gauld, 1913.


Pretty Voice Eagle (Wambdihowaste), Dakota Sioux, Gould/Gauld, 1913.


Sacred Hand Hawk (Cetannapewakan) , a Dakota Sioux; Gould/Gauld, 1913.



Eagle Star - I had this filed as an image from Canada, but I can't find the source; however, it's not Paul Eagle Star who worked with The Wild West Show as he died young, in Sheffield, England.


Mosawahoh, one of Iyanki's Wahpeton at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, 1885. The written inscription notes he was a 'loyal Sioux.'


Willie Tanyahdinazin, by Clifford Brothers of Prince Albert.


Tacankuwaste, Tanyahdinazin, Tatetankawi Winona, Owacinduta.


1. He Cantiduka, 2. Pteduatawin, 3. Aki Hotunwin, 4. Ojanjan Kuna, 5. Hante, 6. Tacanku Waste, 7. Mani Duzahanwin (Miss Annie Cameron).

Two of the three images above come from Documenting the Dakota www.saskarchives.com/dakota_Intro_Essay


Ne-raiph-ah-shaw, Sioux man; photographed by Davidson Brothers, Brandon, Manitoba, between 1892 and 1912.


Unidentified 'Sioux' woman; Davidson Brothers, Brandon.


Farming on the Oak River Dakota reserve in southwestern Manitoba.


Unidentified.




Georges Racette, 1821-1877.  'Chaumont' is a misspelling of 'Cheman' - 'canoe man' in Saulteaux. 'Chef des Sioux'? He was clearly affiliated with one band - or maybe an Assiniboine group; see the article below.
www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/07240.Georges%20Racette.pdf


Red Feather - note the Teton dialect. I first saw this on an auction site with the watermark obscuring some of the image. This version - as are a handful of the other images - is from here archive.org/details/bpsc_indigenous_photographs?&sort=-week&page=1



Dakota, Prince Albert district between, 1901 (photo by T.H.J. Charmbury) . L-R: Naji or Standing, Omani or Walking, Hanyetumani or Night Walking and Falling Water (Dakota name illegible).


Aa above.

#
Falling Water, by Charmbury, 1901.


'Minnienapsu' - Falling Water again? (Charmbury, 1901).


'Wadetaka' and unidentified - by Charmbury, 1901.


Wahpeton women and child, near Prince Albert (another Charmbury).


'Tommah Stoyemaza' and unidentified.


Another Charmbury, between 1900 and 1918.


Wahpeton group, Prince Albert area - possibly from the 1880s.


Prince Albert ‘Sioux’ - presumably Wahpeton.


Wahpeton, Prince Albert - a Charmbury photo, 1901.


Dakota dance near Prince Albert, 1901. Photo by Charmbury.


Boundary Survey photo from 1874, showing a Struck by the Ree and Two Dogs' Yanktonai village, 1874. The identification comes from here - www.academia.edu/39254881/The_Boundary_Commissions_Metis_Scouts_The_49_th_Rangers_British_Canadian_Boundary_Commission_1873_74_
However, if it is Struck by the Ree than it's a Yankton village.

Unfortunately, later in the same text, the same image is also identified as an Assiniboine village and it is clearly listed as ‘[Assiniboine] Indian Camp in [Manitoba], July 17, 1874’ here recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=3248510


In June 1874, one of the Boundary Commission, Lieutenant Valentine Francis Rowe from the Royal Engineers, fell from his horse and recuperated among the Yankton. During that time, he made some paintings of his hosts.


Struck by the Ree and Two Dogs at Short Creek, 1874.


Yankton(?) at Wood Mountain, 1874.


On the same expedition, Donald Roderick Cameron made this sketch of a ‘Portrait of a guardsman, and two portraits of Frape-le-ree or Padinapap, Chief of the Ihanktawanna Sioux’ – i.e. Struck by the Ree of the Yankton. Cameron had been appointed British Boundary Commissioner by the British Foreign Office and oversaw the International Boundary Survey from 1872 to 1876.

recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=3020957




Yanktonai – or Assiniboine - camp, Frenchman’s Creek, Boundary Survey, 1873. However, it is clearly listed as Assiniboine Indian Camp, Lac de Marons, Manitoba, July 17, 1874 here recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=3248508


Yanktonai or Assiniboine camp, July 7, 1873.


A similar image to the one above, from the Boundary Commission album.
Camp of Assiniboine Indians, Lac de Marons (Manitoba), 17 July, 1874 
recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=5110201




Dakota village, Turtle Mountain, 1873 Boundary Survey; Chief H'Damani is seen here third from the right. The man with the pipe has been named as Bogaga. His manner of dress compared to all the others is interesting, to say the least - unless this refers to the man with the pipe at the right of the image. The other members of the camp were away hunting. 

For some Turtle Mountain history see vantagepoints.ca/

For more on the survey see  www.academia.edu/39254881/The_Boundary_Commissions_Metis_Scouts_The_49_th_Rangers_British_Canadian_Boundary_Commission_1873_74_

Artist Henri Julien accompanied the NWMP on their journey west:


Henri Julien: Yanktonai (surely Yankton if it is Struck by the Ree) camp on Old Wives Creek, Saskatchewan


Henri Julien: Council with the 'Sioux'. This seems to be with the Yankton under Two Dogs and Struck by the Ree.


'Sioux' scouts at Prince Albert, 1885 – However, I've also seen them labelled as Cree.


Tasunke Hota or Grey Horse, Prince Albert, 1901 - a Charmbury photo.


Jim Sapa/Jim Black, Sisseton, post-1910.


‘Sioux’ at Moose Jaw, 1903. 


'Sioux' or Assiniboine women carrying polished buffalo horns for sale at Moose Jaw.


'Sioux' at Prince Albert, 1910 - 1920.


Dakota dance at Prince Albert; photo by Charmbury, 1901.


Dakota dance at Virden, Manitoba, 1887.


Dakota?


Image taken from Roy Meyer's The Canadian Sioux: collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/41/v41i01p013-028.pdf


Saskatchewan, early 1900s.




'Sioux,' 1896; photo by Truman Ward Ingersoll. 


Sitting Eagle (formerly “Chaske [Charles] Eagle” of Sioux Valley). See moncurgallery.org/council-stones-sitting-eagle/


Possibly the wife of Sitting Eagle, last Dakota Peace Chief of Turtle Mountain. The same man as above?


‘Big Jack’ and his two wives. As in several other cases throughout the West, White people seemed to have a paucity of nicknames for native people - like Captain Jack, Crazy Jack, Big Joe, Hooker Jim, Sioux Jim, Bob Brave Bear, Washington, Johnson - and so on... I wonder if this is the 'Sioux Jack' who lived on the Birdtail Reserve and whom Mitchell BigHunter refers to here: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3344/big-jack-sioux
On the other hand, when I first came across the photo, it was identified as being taken at Moose Jaw.


Tawasuota/Many Hailstones , Dakota. This is the man who allegedly fired the first shot in the Minnesota War. The image was posted by Mitchell BigHunter here: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3167/tawasuota-hailstones
As he says, he’s not 100% sure it is him and I have to admit that I've seen the image identified as an Anishinaabe man. According to texts he’d seen (by Robert Goodvoice), this man (here, called Tarasota) led his Dakota to the Prince Albert area after the Minnesota War, but not until around 1875. He died on Birdtail Creek in 1902.
The Goodvoice text: ourspace.uregina.ca/bitstream/handle/10294/2286/IH-111.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y


Two Sioux Dakota headmen, Akish'ya and George Kiyiwakan, outside Buckingham Palace in London to air their grievances against the Canadian Government. Image originally published in The Illustrated London News, 1907. The guardsman is supposedly stopping the men from getting in to see Edward VII...

Both men were freom the Oak River Reserve and had been politically active earlier. In 1893, Kiyiwakan (Kiyewakan, also known as George Kiyewakan) and others had travelled to Ottawa without an interpreter to lodge a complaint about the way the reserve was being run; in 1903 he, Akish'ya (Akisa), Pazaiyapa, Wasticaka and Hoksidaska had hired a lawyer to secure the release of Wanduta who had been imprisoned for continuing Dakota dances at various fairs when the government had passed legislation prohibiting them.
books.openedition.org/uop/470#tocfrom1n5

More later...

[grahamew]

The 'Sioux' in Canada - in photographs, circa 1870 – 1915 – Part 2

White Cap and Standing Buffalo

Following the Dakota uprising in Minnesota in 1862, Whitecap (Wapahaska) was one of several Santee leaders, including the elder Standing Buffalo, who took their people, largely Shooters at Trees Sisseton in this case, to Canada along the Souris River, initially living in the Fort Ellice and Fort Qu’Appelle areas, living (mostly) peacefully alongside those traditional enemies of the Sioux, the Assiniboine, then in the early 1870s, moving south of Moose Mountains in present day southeast Saskatchewan and mixing with the Yankton and Yanktonais who frequented that area and hunting both sides of the Canadian/US border.


This is the image often used to portray the Dakota Standing Buffalo in books. It's not him, but a Ho-Chunk of the same name, photographed by Byron H. Gurnsey, probably in the mid-1860s in Sioux City.


This is the Standing Buffalo who led his people to Canada after the war in Minnesota (photographed by Whitney in 1858) and was killed in 1871, riding unarmed against a joint Atsina/Assiniboine group.


This image (from circa 1860) is also sometimes used to represent Standing Buffalo; Kingsley Bray feels it is the father of the man above; in other words, The Orphan or Star Face, who died of smallpox in 1867. amertribes.proboards.com/thread/86/chief-white-cap


Artist Henri Julien accompanied the NWMP on their first trip West in 1874. This is his sketch of the 'Sioux' whom the NWMP met in April on their initial trip West in 1874. Judging by the wagons (Red River carts). I'm not sure whether these are meant to represent Dakota under Standing Buffalo or the Yantonai under Struck the Ree and Two Dogs. If it is Standing Buaaflo, it is the son of the man killed in 1871 and who was photographed by Whitney in 1858. I've yet to see a photograph of him. Julien accompanied the trip and made sketches along the way, which I imagine would have been worked back in his studio later. From his dreadfully ethnocentric diary, in which he pretty much dismisses the Dakota as human beings:

Aug. 17th-Our Sioux friends broke up camp and moved a few miles up the creek, having been joined by Rising [Standing] Bull and a few wigwams. Rising Bull is the son of Standing Bull who was, in 1864-5, sub chief under White Bonnet [White Cap].

www.ulethbridge.ca/lib/digitized_collections/ourheritage/julien_pages/Julien6.html


Standing Buffalo, a watercolour by Henri Julien: 'Tatankanangé (Boeuf-levé), chef sioux de Qu'Appelle (Assiniboia), avec sa femme et son enfant.'

This is a representation of the 'young' Standing Buffalo, son of the man in the Whitney photo. Several of Julien's works in the file linked below are taken from photographs and this looks like it is too - unfortunately, it's of a photo that has yet to emerge. 

It's only fair to point out that Julien's painting of the Metis Pascal Breland is based on a photo of Georges Racette, so it's feasible that it may not have been the only error when it came to his labelling of his own works.

It’s dated 1903 when Julien was illustrating various figures in the development of Manitoba. Although it was Standing Buffalo’s Sisseton Dakota who the NWMP met in 1874, there were no photographers present; I'm guessing this was taken from a photograph taken in the 1880s after he was given permission to farm north of the Qu'Appelle Lakes, and their reserve was created in 1881. I think if I stare at this long enough, I can make out the word, ‘Qu’Appelle,’ under the image. The clothing of the boy might seem to date the photo quite late but some of the Dakota bands in Canada were farming and doing waged work for neighbouring whites well before Sitting Bull crossed the border in 1877 - though the boy's short hair speaks of missionary zeal and formal education...

It's taken from here: shsb.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Henri_Julien_dans_Ouest_canadien.pdf


The younger Standing Buffalo again - son of the man killed by the Atsina and Assiniboine in 1871 - drawn from life by Sydney Prior Hall, Fort Qu'Appelle, 18 August, 1881. recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=2838944


Buffalo Dance of the 'Sioux' (Dakota) at Fort Qu'Appelle, August 1881, during the visit of the Marquis of Lorne - by Sydney Prior Hall. recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=2838941


Study for Pow-wow at Fort Qu’Appelle. August 18, 1881 recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=2838952

The Canadian government, fearing a united Sioux effort would halt settlement of the prairies, tried to induce White Cap and young Standing Buffalo to move to Manitoba; although they visited Winnipeg in July 1873, they were not persuaded and wanted to continue the hunting life with their Métis allies. However, they were concerned when the government began to negotiate Treaty Number Four with the Cree, Assiniboine and Ojibwa and wanted to know if they could continue to live under British protection. Eventually, they were allowed to select reserves, as long as they were not to near the border in case they were used as a refuge for ‘American’ Sioux.

In 1876, Standing Buffalo chose land along the Qu’Appelle valley and the government, not recognising that there were two distinct bands, agreed that the Sioux could live there; it was 1879 before White Cap was granted a reserve along the South Saskatchewan River – and only after he lived in the region for a year after leading his people away from Qu’Appelle.

His band initially continued to live the traditional lifestyle and when the buffalo herds disappeared, they settled at Moose Woods in 1881, the present site of the Whitecap Indian Reserve, where they farmed and worked as wage labourers in Prince Albert and the surrounding area; indeed, their relations with the local whites were so good that White Cap is credited with helping John Lake set up his agricultural and temperance colony which eventually became Saskatoon. He is also recognised for protecting the young community by securing the Métis’ promise not to attack in return for his joining them at Batoche. To this day, he is remembered as the “father” of Saskatoon and White Cap Park is named after him.


White Cap at Wood Mountain by Lt. Valentine Francis Rowe of the Royal Engineers, while serving on the North American Boundary Commission in 1874 – note the peace medal. www.academia.edu/39254881/The_Boundary_Commissions_Metis_Scouts_The_49_th_Rangers_British_Canadian_Boundary_Commission_1873_74_


Little Crow (left) and White Cap, drawn from life by Sydney Prior Hall, 1881


By Prior Hall, 1881 recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/accueil/notice?app=FonAndCol&IdNumber=2838967

 
The Reverend John McLean, Anglican Bishop of Saskatchewan, 1881 by Sydney Prior Hall - that's White Cap sitting to the right; I guess he was either there or Prior Hall was drawing on the other images he had made of him. McLean may be talking to Standing Buffalo, the younger.


Another source suggests this was actually taken in 1885 and was reproduced as an engraving in the Illustrated War News and represents him pledging his friendship to his white neighbours:




White Cap at his trial in 1885 for his participation in the Resistance of 1885 (by some accounts, against his will); photo by Otto Buell


Probably another taken at his trial


White Cap's band and their captors, from the Illustrated War News, 1885


White Cap and his family at Original Humboldt where he was a prisoner of war. He is seated at the centre, front; his son, Black Bird, stands at the left; taken during the period of their captivity, 1885.


As above.


www.metismuseum.ca/


Both images posted immediately above were also taken after the 1885 Resistance when he was at the Original Humboldt.



White Cap's daughter.


White Cap - an image in a newspaper originally posted by Mitchell BigHunter.


White Cap's son, Black Bird (Zitkadansapa), sketched in the field by H. de H Haig of the Royal Engineers for the Illustrated London News, May 23, 1885.


Yellow Bird ('Mahvadehrie'), another of White Cap's sons sketched by Haig.


Enemy of the Great Spirit ('Toukwakahn') (or Takuwakan - Great Spirit), White Cap's brother-in-law, also sketched by Haig.


Supposedly White Cap and members of his band in 1889.


Day School students at Moose Woods reserve, early twentieth century.
digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/solr?query=ID:28401&start=0&rows=10&mode=results


Members of White Cap's band, circa 1908. Photo probably by Peter McKenzie


Young men from the Whitecap reserve (1910) - the man turning the crank is Charlie Eagle.


Harold Eagle and Lucy Little Crow, circa 1915.


Harold Eagle and Harry Little Crow. Harold is the brother of Charlie Eagle and son of Red Eagle.


Members of The White Cap band at Moose Woods, 1899.

iportal.usask.ca/index.php?t=display_solr_search&having=258737

There is, of course, a thread about White Cap here: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/86/chief-white-cap

And more here: lew-lockhart.blogspot.com/ - though many of the links on the page are dead.

There's a little on Standing Buffalo here: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3163/standing-buffalo

This is a downloadable pdf listing the Cree, Assiniboine, Lakota and Dakota who fought in the 1885 Resistance: www.academia.edu/39477083/Gabriel_Dumonts_Indian_Allies_in_the_1885_North_West_Resistance

This is the late Lawrence Barkwell's monograph on White Cap and the Resistance of 1885: www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/11967.White%20Cap.pdf

[grahamew]

The 'Sioux' in Canada - in photographs, circa 1870 – 1915 – Part 3

Sitting Bull's Lakota

Despite the fact there were two photographers floating around during the period the Lakota were living in Canada after Little Bighorn (see amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3463/george-anderton-hook ), there aren't many verified photographs of them.


This is definitely Long Dog, a member of Crow King's Hunkpapa, with George Wells/Wills of B Troop of the NWMP. I've seen this credited to W.J. Oliver, who had a studio in Calgary during the 1880s, but this was taken by either George Anderton or W.E. Hook at Fort Walsh, possibly as early as late 1876 when the first Lakota crossed the border after Little Bighorn, possibly to check the lay of the land.
era.library.ualberta.ca/items/eb967b32-0a53-4df4-9f30-0e399ea48dc3/view/5b59aa78-da3d-4bc0-ad5a-589aa544a24e/Caverhill_Heather_M_201409_MA..pdf


Tahnoncoach, 'Sioux' wife of George Pembridge of the NWMP and allegedly the niece of Sitting Bull


Wa-to-ga-la or Wild Elk, supposedly a nephew of Sitting Bull, but note the fine floral beadwork on his pouch and on his waistcoat. However, Wathogla does translate to wild or unbroken, so who knows...?

And that's it. Hook and/or Anderton took many photos during this period, some of which have been misidentified, possibly deliberately for sales purposes. For instance, there's a photo of White Bird, the Nez Perce leader, that can't possibly be him (as Charlie pointed out here amertribes.proboards.com/thread/508/old-photos-nez-perce ), though it's used in Jerome Greene's excellent book on the Nez Perce in Canada (and elsewhwere), because the actual White Bird was close to 40 years older than the subject in the photo.

Anderton is supposed to have taken the first photograph of Sitting Bull (though in the Glenbow archives, it's credited to Hook), but when you look closer, it doesn't look like him and at least some of the men in the background certainly don't appear to be Lakota (and some would appear to be Metis or white):




Sitting Bull is supposed to be sitting to the right (our right) of the post. It has been suggested that it is Crowfoot to the left - but you can see it's not. Look at the non-Lakota hairstyle and the buckskin shirt of the mounted man to the left of the pole.


Perhaps Anderton/Hook did take Sitting Bull's photograph, but if so, it has yet to emerge.
The only other image I've seen of 'Indians' in the Fort Walsh parade ground, with the camera placed at pretty much the same sopt it for this photo, is of a group of dancers indentified as Cree - then I came across exactly the same image where they are identified - this time on the image itself - as Assiniboine. Neither image, however, is of the quality of the one above:



I recall first seeing this image at Fort Walsh; it allegedly shows the last meeting between Jean Louis Légaré and Sitting Bull before the latter crossed back into the United States. I have to admit, I struggle to see any Lakota at all here.


This is Sitting Bull meeting the Terry Commission at Fort Walsh in October 1877. Unfortunately, far from being drawn from life, the artist has taken the images from several photographs, including Gardner's image of Old Man Afraid of his Horses smoking the pipe at the Laramie Peace Conference in 1868 and Charles Bell's photos of the Lakota delegation to Washington the previous month.

New York Herald correspondent Jerome Stillson and Dr. Richard Barrington Nevitt (who had arrived in the west with the NWMP in 1874) are also credited with images of Sitting Bull.




White Eagle, the Dakota (Sisseton or Wahpeton) chief who initially acted as an intermediary between the NWMP and Lakota


Sitting Bull's travelling outfit


Illustration of Sitting Bull in Canada based on a sketch by Jerome Stillson, October 1877, during the meeting with General Terry's Commission at Fort Walsh. It was used on the cover of the December 8 issue of Harper's Weekly. The other man is a Dakota leader White Eagle, of either the Wahpeton or Sisseton. However, Gregor Lutz  here -  amertribes.proboards.com/thread/2245/black-moon-photograph - quotes a letter from Dr. Nevitt that the image is indeed by Stillson, but that his drawing of "Sitting Bull's travelling outfit" was actually a Metis lodge near Fort Walsh. He also noted that the only part of the Stillson drawing that resembled Sitting Bull was the fur cap.

Stillson's interview: www.astonisher.com/archives/museum/sitting_bull_little_big_horn.html

This is about another interview with Sitting Bull in Canada in 1879 - Stanley Huntley's: www.jstor.org/stable/4518650




Sitting Bull meets with Lieutenant Colonel Irvine and other NWMP officers. Sorry for the poor quality - this was the best I could find on the net.

Dr. Nevitt is credited with the crude portrait and the illustration showing Sitting Bull speaking to Irvine on June 2nd, 1877. As Gregor points out, Nevitt was recovering from an illness and couldn't be there, so the assumption is that he based the drawing of the council on what he was told; according to Robert Utley in The Lance and the Shield, that (very) rough portrait was supposed to be on the back of the field sketch for the drawing immediately above; however, the portrait is pretty crude - even for a sketch - by someone of Nevitt's ability.


One of Sitting Bull's band of Sioux Indians at Fort Ellice, 1881 by artist GWC www.watercolourworld.org/painting/portrait-member-sitting-bulls-band-hunkpapa-lakota-original-title-one-sitting-bulls-band-sioux-tww015656

It is clear;y labelled, but is he just a 'Sioux' in the broadest term? Was Sioux just synonymous with Sitting Bull for some people? I did wonder if this is meant to be Steps. The mysterious GWC painted a Cree and an Assiniboine at Fort Ellice and neither seem to have a truncated figure like this one - not that it looks anything like Steps facially, of course.

Steps: amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3397/steps-seeskoomkee-bannock-shoshone-perce?page=1&scrollTo=27452

[gregor]

Hi Grahamew, some very nice and interesting photos! Thanks! Your photo "Red Feather - note the Teton dialect" indeed reminds me of the Oglala Red Feather, Crazy Horse's brother-in-law (see pic). The photo "Lakota (?) girl, Saskatchewan, circa 1900" of course shows Kate Blue Thunder, taken by Anderson around 1900.



This is Red Feather about 1928

[grahamew]

Ah, I didn't know that about the Anderson photo - but I should have. I'll remove it - I saw it in the Silversides' book on people in Canada. I'd never seen this photo of Red Feather either. What I find interesting about the one I posted is that he's smoking that small pipe that you would associate with the Metis, but maybe it wasn't taken in Canada at all...

[grahamew]

I was going to continue systematically with the Moose Jaw Lakota, but here's a little diversion.

Sydney Prior Hall's sketches for the 'Sioux' buffalo dance at Fort Qu'Appelle on 18 August 1881:





A group of 'Indian Chiefs Assembled to Met his Excellency Lord Lorne at Fort Qu'Applelle

recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/fra/Accueil/Recherche?q=buffalo%20dance&DataSource=Images&

It's only right to note that not all the people present at Qu'Appelle were 'Sioux.' He also drew Big Bear's daughter and Louis O'Soup (Osoop - Back Fat), the Salteaux headman on the 18th too.

[grahamew]

Another digression. At some point, I ought to re-organise this, with a separate section on Oak River, perhaps. Here's a better version of the picture of Wanduta posted above:


... and a photo of the Dakota arriving at Brandon Fair, 1907:


This is a link to "Savages adorned with mottled feathers”: the criminalization of Aboriginal dances – the Wanduta trial in Manitoba in 1903, a chapter from Constance Blackhouse's book, Of The Colour of Laws, published by the University of Ottawa Press.

books.openedition.org/uop/470#tocfrom1n5

As the title suggests, the chapter tells of the Canadian government's attempts to ban traditional dancing and focuses on the efforts of Wanduta, a heyoka, to bypass the law - and his resultant imprisonment. He was not only up against the government, but also what might be termed a 'progressive' element of his own tribe, led by the government-annointed chief, Tunkan Cekiyana, who saw himself as a leader who 'tried to follow the model of the white men as much as possible,' possibly just doing the bidding of the government but also, perhaps, feeling "in light of the Dakotas' undeniable progress in housing, agriculture and cattle ranching, that the community of Oak River had every interest in conforming more to Euro-Canadian ways and way of life." Wanduta was his rival and his refusal to obey the government was also a threat to his position.

Among Wanduta's supporters were Akisa, Pazaiyapa, Wasticaka, (George) Kiyewakan and Hoksidaska, who hired a lawyer in Brandon. Akisa and Kiyewakan are the same men in the illustration below, trying to get into Buckingham Palace to complain to Edward VII about conditions on the reservet in 1907.




Dakota people at Brandon Fair, 1916

Another excellent work to explore this is Katherine Anne Pettipas' dissertation, later turned into a book, Severing the ties that bind : the Canadian Indian Act and the repression of indigenous religious systems in the prairie region, 1896-1951, which you can download here: 

mspace.lib.umanitoba.ca/xmlui/handle/1993/3617

[grahamew]

Another digression. Came across these two images in my files, both labelled, "Prince Albert":





The man wearing the traditonal-style clothing in the foreground of both looks to me like Iron Buffalo:


He may not have the beads, but the headband, feather, short and arm-bands seem to be the same. Presmably they're more Charmbury photos. I wonder if he's in those other photos of dances near/at Prince Albert.

And to round this off for today, another Charmbury photo of a dance at Prince Albert, this time dated 1907:


Source:  spldatabase.saskatoonlibrary.ca/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=SEE_ALSO&QF0=SUBJECT&QI0==%22DAKOTA%22&XC=/ics-wpd/exec/IcsWPPro.dll&BU=&GI=&TN=LHR_RAD&SN=AUTO34&SE=751&RN=0&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=www_Default+Canned&EF=&DF=&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=4&ID=&MF=&DT=&ST=0&IR=0&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=

[grahamew]

Yet another digression...

This photo posted above...


... can also be found here spldatabase.saskatoonlibrary.ca/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=NEXT_BLOCK&XC=/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fcs.saskatoonlibrary.ca%2Finternet%2FLHR_RADQuery.htm&GI=&TN=LHR_RAD&SN=AUTO24384&SE=105&RN=0&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=www_Default+Display&EF=&DF=&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=4&ID=&MF=&DT=&ST=0&IR=0&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=LHR_RADQuery

The notes say, "Negatives are copied from print. Album from which image was copied contained hand-written list (photocopy attached) of Cree names. Inscribed on photo are: "Good Crow Reven Kangiwaste", and "Brave Wapitaka." They clearly aren't Cree names, so we have two names on the photo above. I've also seen the photographer given as Charmbury.


There's something else written on it, but I can't read it unfortunately, no matter how much I try to manipulate the image.

From the same site - though I've seen it elsewhere:


This image is in Brock Silversides' The Face Pullers: Photographing Native Canadians 1871 - 1939:

The subjects are identified as "Gentlemen" Joe McKay and the Cree leader (and uncle of Poundmaker) Mistawasis/Big Child. The photographer is William J. James and he took it in Prince Albert, circa 1895. McKay is the man Gabriel Dumont blamed for firing the first shot in the 1885 Resitance, shotting his brother, Isidore, and the Cree, Assiyiwin, one of Beardy's headmen. McKay, however, said he didn't shoot until Superintendent Crozier of the NWMP gave the order ( www.geni.com/people/Joseph-Gentleman-Joe-McKay/6000000050773395821 ).

Here - www.geni.com/people/Chief-Mistawsis-Big-Child-Belanger/6000000074726305652 - he's identified as Mistawasis/Big Child but also as Pierre Belanger and 'Pierre Big Child Piwaspiskomostos "Iron Buffalo"', the son of Bernard Belanger and Kakakewachin "Nakoda Woman" Belanger...

However... elsewhere, I've seen him identified as 'Sioux' and given the nickname Lord Beaconsfied, due to his resemblance to Benjamin Disraeli, the then recent Prime Minister of Britain.

The site listed above has this photo:


Wabadil Doota (A. Charles Lazier) and two women. The woman on his right is his wife Dora Hall.
Wabadil Doota being close enough to Red Eagle in the Dakota dialect. It's credited to Charmbury, made between 1900 and 1920 so can we presume Red Eagle was a Wahpeton from Prince Albert, amiong whom he took several images?

Identification was made by his great, great grand-daughter.


This from the same site, though I've seen it elsewhere. The date written on the mount is 1902: 'Enscribed is "Wabadil Doota alias (Baconsfield) (Teton), Loyal [during the Resistance?] Sioux Chief"; "Eagle Red".'

The two photos immediately above are from here:
cs.saskatoonlibrary.ca/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=NEXT_BLOCK&XC=/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fcs.saskatoonlibrary.ca%2Finternet%2FLHR_RADQuery.htm&GI=&TN=LHR_RAD&SN=AUTO29299&SE=151&RN=20&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=www_Default+Display&EF=&DF=&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=4&ID=&MF=&DT=&ST=0&IR=0&NR=0&NB=1&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=LHR_RADQuery

Here he is again:

digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/solr?query=beaconsfield&mode=results - another photo by W.J. James.
'WJ James came to Prince Albert, Northwest Territories ca.1890. His family followed around 1893. Both James and his father were employed by the James Sanderson sawmill as labourers. WJ James became a barber while also establishing a photograph business briefly with WJ Jackson in 1894. James continued in barbering while also working as an itinerant photographer in the 1890s. He hired Theodore Charmbury as a photographer in his studio between 1901 and 1903, and operated a branch studio at Indian Head in 1904-1906. James operated the City Art Studio (1909-1919) and WJ James & Co. (est.1927) in Prince Albert until his retirement in the mid-1930s.'
search.saskarchives.com/w-j-james-fonds;rad?sf_culture=fr


And again. The man in the middle in the straw hat is the photographer, Charmbury, as can be seen from the photo of him (taken by his wife) with two Wahpeton men holding their bicycles below. The Red Eagle/Mistawasis photo (perhaps also taken by his wife...) is  from here: treaty6education.lskysd.ca/book/export/html/24.html


And another...

Here he is indentified as Mistawasis again:

With McKay and in James' studio
digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/essays/OurLegacy_Essays.pdf

This image is also found here: search.saskarchives.com/mistawasis-with-gentleman-joe-mckay

... and the fact the identity of Mistawasis is disputed is noted as he died in '1895,' and Lawrence Barkwell (see below) gives a date of 21 June 21 1895 in Snake Plain, Saskatchewan. If that's the case and those photos of 'Wabdil Doota' are by Charmbury, it probably dates them to post 1902 as he had worked for W.J. James and another photographer, Samuel Gray, but didn't establish his own studio in Prince Albert until 1902. However, the Wkkipedia entry for Mistawasis gives THREE possible dates of death: 1886, 1896 and 1903 and The Office of the Treaty Commissioner gives it as August 1895! www.otc.ca/pages/historical_biographies.html

A date of death in the mid 1890s would make it less likely that James or Charmbury took any photographs of him and would make it more likely this is Red Eagle of the Dakota.

Finally, the photo of Mistawasis that I'm familiar with is this one:

He's at the right in the front row - clearly not the man above, whoever he may be - or is this misidentification too?
digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/solr?query=ID:30143&start=0&rows=10&mode=results
www.creenationsheritagecentre.ca/chief-mistawasis.html

Interestingly, Metis historian Lawrence Barkwell uses images of BOTH men to illustrate his short article on Miswatasis/Belanger:
www.metismuseum.ca/media/document.php/13514.Pierre%20Belanger%20Mistawasis2.pdf

[grahamew]

The 'Sioux' in Canada - in photographs, circa 1870 – 1915 – Part 4

The Moose Jaw Lakota

After Sitting Bull crossed back into the USA, remnants of the Lakota under Black Moon (Miniconjou, not the Hunkpapa man of the same name) and Black Bull (Sicangu) remained in Canada. In 1883, Black Bull took his group to live near Moose Jaw, while Black Moon and No Neck stayed at Willow Bunch. The following photos show the Moose Jaw Lakota under Black Bull (also known as Lame Brule) - not to be confused with the Sicangu Black Bull who was photographed by Alexander Gardner in 1872. Black Moon and 11 lodges headed back to the USA in 1889, but Black Bull remained at Moose Jaw, where his people had built up a good relationship with the neighbouring white community, until they were given a reserve at Wood Mountain in 1910, though some continued to live at or visit Moose Jaw.

There's some information on Black Moon here:  amertribes.proboards.com/thread/1024/black-moon

and Ephriam Dickson produced this monograph on him:
www.american-tribes.com/messageboards/dietmar/BlackMoonEphriamDickson.pdf


This image comes from Ron Papandrea's excellent Facebook site on the Wood Mountain Lakota www.facebook.com/groups/2759808450783554
It was taken in what is now the Kingsway Eco Zone near Moose Jaw during a visit from the Halifax Battalion who had recruited members of the band as scouts to fight the Metis in the Resistance of 1885.


This was the first photo I saw of the Moose Jaw Lakota, labelled - at the time - to suggest it showed the Halifax Battalion feeding women, though it's clear that the people to the left of the image are men. www.metismuseum.ca/collections.php 


I first saw this image, not well-documented, on a visit to Wood Mountain Post many years back. When I first came across it on the internet, it was labelled as Spotted Eagle's band, based, I suspect, only on the fact that he was photographed a couple of times with a three-bladed club. Aspects of the clothing looked incorrect for the time period he was in Canada and on seeing a clearer image, it became obvious it wasn't him. Ron Papandrea has since identified the group as Back Bull and the Lakota at Moose Jaw. Initially, I thought the man with the club might be the head warrior and the man in the vest (who I'd assumed was holding a pipe, not an axe) was the headman. I'll quote Ron Papandrea in full here:

LAKOTA LEADERSHIP AT MOOSE JAW 1885

This photograph shows Lakota leadership at Moose Jaw in 1885. Chief Black Bull is in front, holding a three blade war club. Brave Heart (Thigh), who became chief after Black Bull died in 1897, is closest to Black Bull, holding a lever action rifle. Okute Sica is next holding a long rifle. Okute Sica was the father of John LeCaine. Tom Aspdin is in the back, visible between Brave Heart and Okute Sica. He is wearing a round hat and has a bushy moustache. Aspdin was married to Mary Black Moon, daughter of the Mnicoujou Chief Black Moon. Also shown is Big Joe Ferguson, wearing a vest and holding an ax. Black Bull provided five mounted scouts for the North-West Mounted Police in the 1885 war. Okute Sica was probably one of them. He was only 17 years old, but that is old enough to fight and he is standing there with a rifle. The warrior standing next to a horse and holding a rifle is also probably one of the scouts. Uniformed soldiers are from the Halifax Battalion on their way home from the 1885 war. Whenever Lakota surrendered to the United States, their guns and horses were taken. The Moose Jaw Lakota, allies of the Canadian government in 1885, still had their guns and still had their horses.

www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10216311108444354&set=a.10216311108644359
This is also in his book, They Never Surrendered: The Lakota Sioux Band that Stayed in Canada - well worth your money!






The following are four pages from An Account of the Advance of the 7th Fusiliers of London to aid in the suppression of the North West Rebellion by Alexander Campbell, a sergeant with the 7th Fusiliers during the Northwest Riel Rebellion. The pages I've posted are those relevant to the Moose Jaw Lakota, whose village the Fusiliers visited on their way out West and on their way back:








The complete account can be found here: digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/solr?query=An%20Account%20of%20the%20Advance%20of%20the%207th%20Fusiliers%20of%20London%20to%20aid%20in%20the%20suppression%20of%20the%20North%20West%20Rebellion%27%20by%20Alexander%20Campbell&mode=results

The account is dated 1885 and illustrated with Campbell's sketches so when I first saw this, I assumed the man in the bonnet was Black Bull; however, it's clear now that he worked some sketches up into paintings later and in some cases, just added other paintings he'd made, so – although he erroneously claims Black Bull and Sitting Bull are related - it is a first-hand account of a meeting with the Moose Jaw Lakota, but the 'book' version online must date later - later than 1905 in fact, because the man in the bonnet is based on this photo of Iron Owl, a Yanktonai, photographed in 1905 - and quite possibly not so much the photograph as the Raphael Tuck postcard image that I've posted next to it, albeit with some modifications:




Long Dog - given the nickname of Crazy Jack among the whites of the area. I'm sure I have a date of mid-1890s for this photo. Definitely not to be confused with the Long Dog who was photographed at Fort Walsh and who had returned to the USA by this point


From www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3290480437628887&set=g.2759808450783554


Long Dog at a later date. I'm not entirely convinced this is the same man as the one above and I've seen this person identified as Siyaka or Boog.


Again, Long Dog at a later date.


Big Joe Ferguson/He Killed Two (Nupakikte?) of the Moose Jaw Lakota, 1900.


Siyaka, or Teal Duck; his sister (and Long Dog's wife?), Tasunke Skawin (Her White Horse); his nephew, Tasunke Opi or Alexander Wounded Horse.
Early 1900s?


Emma Loves War and her husband John Okute/Okute Sica, Big Joe Ferguson/He Killed Two and his wife Katrine Loves War (Emma's sister) - the LeCaine family at the left and the Ferguson family at the right.


Big Jim/White Rabbit.


Fred J. Gilmour, as child, seen with three Native women, identified as Agnes, Big Joe's wife with his daughter, circa 1902.

Some of these 'later' images come from memorysask.ca/sioux?sort=referenceCode&sortDir=asc&listLimit=15


Molly, a Lakota from Moose Jaw.




The two women above are both identified as being from Wood Mountain, where the Moose Jaw relocated.

[grahamew]

The 'Sioux' in Canada - in photographs, circa 1870 – 1915 – Part 5

Buffalo Robe/Ledger-Style Art


This image of Black Bull’s signature was in Donovin Sprague’s book Standing Rock Sioux (p.55); but it was accompanied by a photograph of the Hunkpapa Black Bull who had served as a scout during the Ghost Dance troubles.

There are – as far as I’m aware – two ledger books specifically related to the Lakota’s time Canada. One is in the Simcoe County Museum in Ontario:
museum.simcoe.ca/collections/collections

See amertribes.proboards.com/thread/3270/simcoe-county-museum-ledger-lakota for a long and winding discussion






According to Darryl Wines of the museum: "The ledger drawings in question are attributed to Iron Cloud (Mahpiyamaza), Oglala Lakota, c. 1851-?? We have a total of 14 drawings, many depicting fights with Crow warriors. It is believed they were completed prior to his temporary relocation to Canada in 1877."

The other is The Goodwyn Ledger, one of those online at the Plains Ledger Art site: plainsledgerart.org/plates/index/99







Written comments in the ledger itself make reference to the Métis, including Jean-Louis Légaré, here written as 'John Louis Le Garre,' Joe Lapointe, Sergeant Major Francis of the NWMP, who was stationed at Fort Walsh, and on another page, a list of items presumably sold to the NWMP. As the drawings were made over the comments, this must have been done during the sojourn in Canada.

'Sitting Bull’s' Buffalo Robe


'The legendary Hunkpapa Lakota chief and artist painted the robe between 1877 and 1881. At that time, Sitting Bull was seeking asylum from the United States government in the territory now known as Saskatchewan. While in Canada, he traded with local Gus Hedderich, and later gave Hedderich the robe. After Hedderich and his wife passed away, the robe was donated to the State Historical Society of North Dakota... The image on the robe is presumed to be a “self-portrait of Sitting Bull wearing his strong heart bonnet below a feathered sun that is flanked by two pipes on either side.'

canadianart.ca/news/extremely-rare-buffalo-robe-painted-by-sitting-bull-returns-to-saskatchewan/

[nicolas (carlo)]

Great work compiling this, Grahame.

[grahamew]

This is from The Moose Jaw News, (23 May 1884) concerning an attempt to photograph the Lakota who lived nearby.

[grahamew]

Something of an appendix, this one...





Here are another two photos taken from that dance featruring Iron Buffalo and the Wahpeton at/near Prince Albert. In the first shot, you can see his arm at the left edge of the image. The photographer is usually given as Charmbury, but I've also see it cedited to the Reverend Louis Cochin.


Another Charmbury. One of the women and the two tipis feature in one of the above posts.








Four more by Charmbury; the woman is 'Tancowin' or 'Tamcowin'


Another by Charmbury showing two boys, possibly Dakota


Dakota on the Moose Woods/Whitecap Reserve

Some of the above taken from: cs.saskatoonlibrary.ca/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=PREV_BLOCK&XC=/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fcs.saskatoonlibrary.ca%2Finternet%2FLHR_RADQuery.htm&GI=&TN=LHR_RAD&SN=AUTO7942&SE=1726&RN=20&MR=20&TR=0&TX=1000&ES=0&XP=&RF=www_Default+Display&EF=&DF=&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=4&ID=&MF=&DT=&ST=0&IR=0&NR=0&NB=1&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=LHR_RADQuery


A 'Sioux' buffalo skin lodge near the Berens River, 1890 - though I think the area is more associated with the Saulteaux

[grahamew]

Here are a few images I wasn't sure about.


Note the heavy presence of NWMP - and are there soldiers too?


Does that fellow in the middle wearing the bustle hold a club? Is it a bladed club? It's hard to tell and it may just be wishful thinking on my part!

There are many photos of Canadian Plains tribes dancing - several are posted above - but this is the first I've seen with so many NWMP in attendance. On top of that they're usually identified - like the Dakota dances above and the various images of dances among Beardy's Crees, but this one wasn't. Anyone have any idea?

Here's another:

This is said to be Joya or Jack Joyea, a 'Sioux' from US in borrowed costume...

Another...


And one final image: