Big Bear

Big Bear (Mistahimaskwa)
Cree headman
Chief Mistahi-maskwa, 1885
Bornc. 1825
Jackfish Lake, Rupert’s Land
Died17 January 1888
Poundmaker Indian Reserve, Cut Knife, Saskatchewan District (Northwest Territories), Canada
FatherBlack Powder
MotherDelaney

Big Bear, also known as Mistahi-maskwa (Cree: ᒥᐢᑕᐦᐃᒪᐢᑿ; c. 1825 – 17 January 1888[1]), was a powerful and popular Cree chief who played many pivotal roles in Canadian history. He was appointed to chief of his band at the age of 40 upon the death of his father, Black Powder, under his father's harmonious and inclusive rule which directly impacted his own leadership. Big Bear is most notable for his involvement in Treaty 6 and the 1885 North-West Rebellion; he was one of the few chief leaders who objected to the signing of the treaty with the Canadian government.[2] He felt that signing the treaty would ultimately have devastating effects on his nation as well as other Indigenous nations. This included losing the free nomadic lifestyle that his nation and others were accustomed to. Big Bear also took part in one of the last major battles between the Cree and the Blackfoot nations. He was one of the leaders to lead his people in the last, largest battle on the Canadian Plains.[1]

  1. ^ a b Wiebe, Rudy (2003). "MISTAHIMASKWA (Big Bear)". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto.
  2. ^ Pannekoek, Frits (2016). "Mistahimaskwa (Big Bear)". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15 February 2021.