Poundmaker vindicated

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More than a century has elapsed since Cree Chief Poundmaker was tried and convicted on charges of treason in connection with the Northwest Rebellion of 1885.

Yet time hasn't faded the feeling that the chief's conviction, and the subsequent treatment of his people, was unjust and unwarranted.

So the Poundmaker Band, located in west central Saskatchewan, petitioned the federal government to pardon Poundmaker and set the record straight on his participation in the rebellion. The band believes Poundmaker's support of Metis leader Louis Riel was overstated at the time of his trial.

Minister of Justice Allan Rock has assigned a department lawyer to review the trial, and a decision on the pardon is expected within the year, said Poundmaker Chief Blaine Favel.

"Why now? Because it's been long enough," he said.

According to accounts by Poundmaker Elders, what brought the historic chief

into the fray at Battleford was legitimate concern over Canada's neglect in fulfilling treaty obligations, said Favel. Poundmaker led his people to Battleford to seek food and supplies. "His people were starving," he said.

There they waited outside the village for two days for someone to hear their concerns, but when no one came to negotiate, Poundmaker's people helped themselves.

Canada sent Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter to Battleford to hold the fort, but instead, the military attacked the Indians at Cutknife Hill. The military met with resistance and suffered heavy losses. The soldiers were beaten back to Battleford.

For this effort Poundmaker was made a scapegoat of the rebellion, Favel said, serving one year of a three-year sentence and dying of tuberculosis shortly after his release from prison.

If the pardon is granted, Canada will have to revisit the trials of other Native leaders convicted of similar crimes, such as Chiefs One Arrow and Big Bear who prevented senseless bloodshed during the Riel uprising, said Favel.