Tango+Visits+the+Past+of+Saskatchewan

Tango Visits the Past of Saskatchwan

**Some believe that the first people to live in Saskatchewan arrived about 30,000 to 40,000 years ago across.They crossed the bering land bridge that connected Asia to Alaska.**
 * They hunted the bison, deer and antelope in southern Saskatchewan and moose, caribou, elk and deer in the forested regions of the northern part of the province.**


 * The people who lived in the central and southern regions hunted and followed the herds of animals.**


 * Bison (buffalo) became one of the main sources of food for the Indian nations who lived on the Great Plains.**


 * The bison also provided them with clothing, shelter and tools.**


 * To catch the bison, the hunters would attack the animals at water holes, trap them in gullies or surround them. Bison were also stampeded over cliffs.**

INDIAN NATIONS AND LANGUAGES
**The main First Nations tribes living in Saskatchewan were the Blackfoot, Chipewyan, Sioux, Assiniboine, Gros Ventre, Sarcee, Cree, Saulteaux, Shoshoni, and Nez Perce. The Indian nations were grouped into language families**

THE ARRIVAL OF FUR TRADERS AND SETTLERS **The culture of the Plains Indians changed after the arrival of the fur traders. The Indians exchanged their furs, hides and skins (of the fox, marten, weasel, moose, deer, buffalo, beaver) at trading posts and received kettles, pots, knives and axes.**

In Plains Indian tradition it was not unusual for a young person to be adopted by the chief of another band. The custom involved young adults as well as children and was often used to bolster an alliance between friendly bands. Heads turned, however, when famous Blackfoot Chief Crowfoot adopted a young Cree man named Poundmaker. The Blackfoot and Cree Nations were traditional enemies. Clearly Poundmaker, who was in his twenties, was someone to be watched.

With Cree Chief Big Bear (Mistahimaskwa), he was a central character in the momentous events surrounding the Northwest Rebellion/Resistance of 1885. According to oral histories collected by family members, Poundmaker's early life was challenging. He was born around 1842 in the Battleford region of what's now western Saskatchewan.

Poundmaker wasn't fighting against the treaty; he was fighting for a good treaty. He knew what happened to Indians south of the border who refused to take treaty, and he feared the same consequences for those living north of the "medicine line".

Poundmaker and the legendary Big Bear, who was forced by starvation of his people to finally take treaty in 1882, were leaders in the fight for fair treatment.

Wow! Here I am standing on the Saskatchewan plains. It is amazing! And there’s so much room to gallop. I can run anywhere I want. Or I can simply graze in the grass to eat lunch. But wait a minute! What is that over there! That looks like leather. Kind of like a cone shape or something. I’m going to go check it out. Wow! It’s amazing. And there’s somebody inside. Moments Later…… Wow, I just met Chief Big Bear and Chief Poundmaker. They gave me bison meat, elk meat, caribou, but I refused to have some of the meat. They told me that they are fighting for a treaty. They also told me about the Indians south of the border who refused to take treaty and were shot or slaughtered. They told me that they are a peaceful people. But unfortunately, their people are not as strong as their enemies. So they are forced to take treaty. After that, they told me about how their culture was changed after the fur traders and settlers arrived. They also told me how they traded their furs and skins for kettles, knives and axes. Then Chief Big Bear asked me to tell him something about me and my people. (I was asking myself why Chief Big Bear was asking me where I am from and who I am. First of all, I’m a mustang. Why would he talk to me? And second of all, how would he react if I told him I’m from the future?) Well, um chief Big Bear, I said, I’m also a peaceful people. I’m from the fu… f… fu…ture…. All of a sudden, I woke up.It had all been a dreamWhoa! where am I? oh ya,I forgot I fell asleep in my trailer on my way home. I’m almost home. I wish I could go back to the plains, but its always good to be home! Sincerely,Tango the mustang .