The North-West Mounted Police

​In 1873, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald called for the creation of a 300-member mounted force to police the North-West Territories. The lawlessness of the region resulted in all kinds of trouble. Alcohol sold to Native peoples by American whiskey traders was devastating their communities. In June, a tragic event occurred known as the Cypress Hills Massacre. The trouble began with a small group of American 'wolfers' who poisoned buffalo carcasses left by Indian hunters in order to harvest the fur from dead wolves and coyotes that ate the tainted meat. One day, when their horses went missing they mistakenly blamed a local Native settlement. Fuelled by alcohol, they murdered at least 23 men, women and children. Horrified by this event in particular, pressure was put on the Federal Government of Canada to act fast.

This resulted in a rather unique force which functioned as police but operated like a cavalry. In 1874, a long column of 300 Mounties, 200 carts and wagons, 93 cattle for slaughter, two field guns, mowing machines, portable forges and field kitchens left Manitoba. These were the North-West Mounted Police. Their epic March West and the successful expulsion of the American whisky traders legitimized Canada's claim to sovereignty over the region.

This is research for my upcoming historical novel on the life of Sam Steele.