Saturday, July 11, 2020

The Re-Release of Into the Mountans


It has been available before, but now a few things have been added. Such as a new cover.


Into the Mountains Background

        In 1885 after years of unfulfilled promises from Canada’s Federal Government the Métis of the North Battleford and Frog Lake areas of the North West Territories (in today’s province of Saskatchewan) rebelled over their treatment. It was known as the Northwest Rebellion or the Second Riel Rebellion since it was led by Louis Riel who had led a rebellion in 1870 in the Fort Gary/Red River area (today’s Winnipeg).
       Riel was indeed the leader but the military leader or Métis General was Gabriel Dumont and he was joined by some Assiniboine and Cree people. Despite being ill equipped in relation to the Canadian Militia and North West Mounted Police and vastly outnumbered, the rebellion lasted for several months and resulted in the deaths of 91 people. Had Dumont been allowed to operate without political interference it probably would have lasted much longer resulting in more death.
A portrait of Gabriel Dumont
      When it was all over several of the leaders escaped (Dumont into the US) and some, including Riel were tried, convicted and executed. At least one and perhaps more of those where not involved in the rebellion and tried to keep their people (Cree and Assiniboine) out of the fracas and either died in Stoney Mountain Penitentiary or shortly after release.
(There is a “Heritage Minute” for Louis Riel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=61&v=FVVFjfyvgMg )

The militia commandeered livestock (mounts and food) through-out the west to conduct the campaign which did not endear them to the general populace. They also demonstrated remarkable ineptitude in both planning and military tactics. They then called in re-enforcements from the North West Mounted Police, who didn’t have men to spare nor where they allowed time to fully understand their situation and lack of support. In the end the NWMP, farmers, ranches, Métis, Cree and Blackfoot were mistrustful of the Federal Government and their militia.
A .45 caliber Gatling Gun. They were also manufactured in .50 cal.

An interesting side-note is the US Army assistance. Two Gatling guns a Lieutenant and a few troopers (three perhaps) where sent to assist the Canadian militia. Not so much because anyone in Washington cared about Canada’s troubles but because they wanted to see how some new ordinance introduced at the end of the US Civil War would work under combat conditions. As was usually the case with early use of the Gatling they jammed. If the operator cranked too fast the loading mechanism would pile up and require clearing.
As with many wars, no one won.
Louis Riel's children. Jean-Louis and Angelique


        True, the Métis where forced into a corner by the government and the treatment by those surrounding their communities but their actions where definitely rebellious and therefor constituted treason. On the other side the Métis had tried several peaceful methods to elicit attention and change but had been ignored. Therefor the government was guilty of incompetence and negligence but, as is and always has been the case, no one was charged publically for that ineptitude. The leaders of the losing side became public figures due to imprisonment and execution while the leaders of the winning side (who caused it all in the first place) where shuffled off to some innocuous position where their names would quietly disappear from history.
      The population of Métis suddenly decrease dramatically. They suddenly “disappeared.” Admittedly, some like Dumont went south of the 49th parallel into the US. What happened to the rest?
     Almost a century later Métis suddenly appeared as individuals and communities throughout the West. Perhaps “Into the Mountains”, fiction though it is, supplies some explanation.
      You can find out more by clicking on the cover to the right or go to

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