Winnipeg Free Press

Nominated by: jessica perry

Why Big Bear should be a Great Manitoban:

Claim to fame: Aboriginal leader, pioneer, negotiator

Manitoba dosage: 2

Fast Facts: Chief of the Plains Cree First Nation during the latter half of the 1800s...Also known as Chief Mistashimaskwa...Employed mostly non-violent means in pursuit of justice for aboriginals from the Canadian government...His conviction for the Frog Lake Massacre is widely regarded as a miscarriage of justice...He was released early from Stony Mountain Penitentiary due to failing health and died soon after.

9 Comments

• I too will nominate Big Bear (despite he originated from North West Territorys -which was otherwise Saskatchewan Battleford area -but what the heck)however he did unjustly serve three years 1885-8 at Stoney Mountain Penitentiary after the Rebellion for trying to avert his warriors from killing 9 Frog Lake settlers because the cowboys across the Medicine Line were killing off all the buffalo causing our First Nations in the North to seek peaceful resolution with the Big White Mother. He could be compared to present day Dali Lhama for our First Nation people. He was a bright leader whom the Canadian Government wanted out of the way in case he stirred up another North West Rebellion additionally because of his brilliant plan to unite other Chiefs to have their reserves close together. Big Bear was instrumental in negotiating food, land and education for our First Nation people through this new process to him called Treaty. What he failed to realize or grasp the big picture was this was all because the Iron Horse (present day CNR) and the plan to unite all the provinces of the so-called National Unity scheme of Sir John A. McDonald of coast-to-coast safe passage for future immigrants to this country. Big Bear wanted to stave off hunger and annihilation of his people and as a leader he thought it was best to give himself up. Due to misunderstanding of the language of the Big White Mother's representatives he did not recieve a fair trail. I believe the 3 years he served qualifies Misti Muskwa as one of the Great Manitobans posthumously.

  Posted by: Cyberonimo | 2008-06-06 22:18:30

• Would help if we knew more about him. Sounds like he was an amazing man but can't vote for someone I know little about. Need to do some research first. Any ideas on where to start (besides Google)?

  Posted by: adrian | 2008-07-05 08:27:03

• Start With "I've Lived Here Since the World Began" by Arthur Ray.

  Posted by: Cassie | 2008-07-06 21:11:11

• Who were his parents? His grand-Parents,his children,his complete family?Did they all live on reserves.Were they all pure blood? How did he learn how to speak English?

  Posted by: DM | 2008-07-14 09:04:04

• I've just started reading a biography called "Big Bear (Mistahimusqua)" by J.R. Miller. ISBN 1550222724 It was published in 1996, so I'm not sure if it is still available to buy, but the Wpg Public Library has a copies. Really good read, and I'm learning tons.

  Posted by: C Taylo | 2008-07-15 08:17:58

• I've just started reading a biography called "Big Bear (Mistahimusqua)" by J.R. Miller. ISBN 1550222724 It was published in 1996, so I'm not sure if it is still available to buy, but the Wpg Public Library has a copies. Really good read, and I'm learning tons.

  Posted by: C Taylo | 2008-07-15 08:18:11

• I've just started reading a biography called "Big Bear (Mistahimusqua)" by J.R. Miller. ISBN 1550222724 It was published in 1996, so I'm not sure if it is still available to buy, but the Wpg Public Library has a copies. Really good read, and I'm learning tons.

  Posted by: C Taylo | 2008-07-15 08:18:23

• Amazing father i love you

  Posted by: LittleBear | 2008-07-15 16:12:24

• Father? what ere his children and grandchildrens names,Were they all born on reserves. What was his wife name? Does he have any pure bred relatives living?

  Posted by: gh | 2008-07-16 05:24:05

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