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Next week, the members of my First Nation will participate in a historic vote to confirm a settlement for our abuse at the hands of the federal government following the events of 1885.

Those events are also known as the Riel Rebellion or the Northwest Rebellion; both are considered pejorative because our people never rebelled — we fought for the recognition of our treaty rights and our right to exist.

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The so-called siege of Battleford was a fear-based reaction of the settlers and government officials in the town of Battleford. In late March 1885, our people from Little Pine, Poundmaker and other First Nations travelled to Battleford to meet with the Indian Agent, a man named Rae. He refused to meet with the chiefs, fearing them. In fact, the chiefs had come to pledge their allegiance to the Crown and request assistance for their people following a hard winter.

They waited all day for a meeting, but as the day wore on the reaction from the young men and warriors became increasingly frustrated. They looted the stores in the town of Battleford and returned to Poundmaker’s camp.