3-028-403 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Red River Expedition in North America: the Prairie Crees, 1870. Engraving of a sketch by William Hind, '...a brother of Professor Hind...The gradual extinction of Indian title in the vast region now possessed by the Canadian Government is of great importance to the peaceful settlement of the country, and on the faithful observance of treaties its prosperity for many years to come will be entirely dependent...the Prairie Crees...inhabit [an area extending] from Red River nearly to the base of the Rocky Mountains on the north Saskatchewan River. They are generally a mild and good-natured race, living in the great plains and prairies to the west of the new province of Manitobah. It is with these people that the European servants of the Hudson's Bay Company are largely connected by marriage, and from them the half-breeds of Red River are mainly descended by the mothers' side. Hence, in case of continued difficulties in Manitobah, the malcontents would retreat to their kindred in the prairies, where they could...adopt the strictly nomadic life of their relatives and allies, and for years set Canadian authority at defiance. Some bands of this tribe occupy the forests north of the main Saskatchewan, and are locally named the Thickwood Crees'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.