I am currently doing genealogical research on behalf of some of the
descendants of Big Bear's Band and need some help in locating a US statute.
Some background....
In 1876 the Crown signed Treaty #6 with members of various Plains and
Woodland Cree bands living in what is now Alberta and Saskatchewan. Big
Bear refused to sign, and held out until his band was starving in 1882, at
which time he signed in order to receive rations. In 1885 some of Big Bear's
band were involved in an altercation at Frog Lake. As a result of that, and
the Riel uprising, many members of his band fled to Montana. Big Bear
himself was tried and jailed. Official records of his band therefore exist
for only the years 1882 - 1885.
Those members who fled to Montana were most anxious to avoid discovery and
deportation, and their efforts to hide their Cree identity is making
research by people who believe themselves to be descendants of Big Bear's
band very difficult.
I have been told that there was a US Bill passed, maybe around 1896, titled
"An Act for the Deportation of the British (sic) Cree". I do not have easy
access to a major library that might have such an archive. I have tried
gophering at Library of Congress.. but their electronic files of statutes
only go back to 1973!
It is known that many Cree were deported by the US govt in cattle cars at
the Sweetgrass/Coutts crossing between Montana and Alberta, and that this
event eventually led to the setting up of the Rockyboy resevation near Havre
for the "landless Cree".
Not being a US person, I am not familiar with other possible sources... can
anyone help locate this statute?
If anyone has any interest in Big Bear, there is an excellent book by Hugh
Dempsey, "Big Bear", his story is also the subject of a movie currently in
production I believe.
Many thanks
Peter Hyde
Maskwachees Cultural College, HOBBEMA, Alberta, Canada