Historic “Battle of Cutknife Hill’ staged at Poundmaker

On a hill overlooking a valley on the Poundmaker Cree Nation, community members and visitors gathered on July 2 to watch the historical moment of the 1885 ‘Battle of Cutknife Hill’ come to life.

Blasts from a single cannon and various rifles were fired from the hands of Northwest Mounted Police who aimed at Indian warriors dressed in traditional garb, rifles in hand and riding atop horses.

Band members decided to do the re-enactment of the battle as part of a commemoration celebration from June 28-July 4, with funds provided by Saskatchewan West Central Tourism Region.

“We thought maybe we’d like to do a re-enactment and bring the people and the younger generation to understand the battle that took place in 1885,” said Vera Kasokeo, Director of Poundmaker Museum and one of the organizers. “There was the Nez Pearce from Oklahoma that was here. And than we had some Sarcee people that came from Calgary.”

Other participants in the re-enactment were personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Forces, Parks Canada Fort Battleford Historic Park, and representatives from the Poundmaker Cree Nation and surrounding First Nations.

The spectacle took place on the actual battle site where Northwest Mounted Police and members of Chief Poundmaker’s band fought exactly 125 years ago.
“We didn’t have a person acting as Poundmaker, there was just more like a battle,” Kasokeo said.

“We had a person that was dancing like a war dance … it all went well,” she added.

As the story goes, on May 2 in 1885, Cree and Assiniboine people from the region of present day Poundmaker reserve were led by War Chief, Fineday to fight against 300 soldiers commanded by Colonel- Lieutenant William Otter in a battle that lasted six hours.
The fight was instigated by an incident a few days earlier when Chief Poundmaker’s people travelled to Fort Battleford (present day North Battleford) to ask for food and supplies to sustain their starving state brought on by inadequate treaty provisions. Those at the fort heard of the approaching Indian band and rumours abounded that the Indians were coming to raid the town.

When the band arrived, Chief Poundmaker tried to speak to an Indian agent, who ignored the request for help, after which warriors began an actual looting of the fort with those residing at the fort going into hiding. Soon afterward, an army of Northwest Mounted police was sent after the band and a battle ensued. Chief Poundmaker interrupted the battle and convinced the warriors to withdraw from a planned attack, reasoning their job was simply to protect the women and children. Later he was taken by authorities and served time in prison.

Spectators at the re-enactment of the historic battle were band members themselves, and visitors from other First Nations and neighboring communities.

One of those watching the re-enactment was Poundmaker band member, Morningdawn Semaganis, Youth Ambassador for the event and a grade 12 student at the Chief Poundmaker School.

She said she knew a lot about the facts surrounding the battle because the subject is discussed a lot at her school. However, watching the actual battle was a bit scary, she said, to see firsthand what her ancestors experienced at the time. 

“It gave me more respect for them knowing that they went through all those hardships to have the rights that we do,” said Semaganis.

As the re-enactment concluded, dignitaries made some speeches and actors gathered for a group photo. Soon afterward, those in attendance quickly dispersed as a thundercloud neared and within a matter of minutes, heavy rain fell from the sky and onto the empty and abandoned hills and valleys of the historic battle.

The Poundmaker Cree Nation is located 40 kilometers west of North Battleford.