In 1887, disputes which arose
between white settlers and local Ktunaxa people over land ownership in
the Kootenay region caused alarm among the white residents of the region.
The settlers had always been highly outnumbered by Ktunaxa in the Kootenays,
but a particularly serious dispute with Colonel James Baker inflamed the
Ktunaxa in the late 1880's. The disagreement between Baker and the Ktunaxa
regarded ownership of Joesph's Prairie, which was a very important Ktunaxa
gathering place and the site of present-day Cranbrook. The quarrel
over ownership of Joseph's Prairie, however, was simply one of many long-standing
grievances regarding the injustice of pre-emptions and other dealings between
whites and the Ktunaxa.
Nervous settlers, believing the threat of an Indian uprising to be
quite real, made petitions to the federal and provincial governments for
protection. This action resulted in 'D' Division of the North-West
Mounted Police being assigned to the Kootenay region. In the late summer
of 1887, Superintendent Samuel Benfield Steele
with three officers and 75 men marched into
British Columbia to establish the NWMP's first post
west of the Rocky Mountains.
Superintendent Steele stated:
I then learned the reason for my being in the Kootenays. It
was this: the
[Provincial] Constable at Wildhorse Creek had, the previous winter
...
on hearsay evidence of a rather slim description, arrested two young
Indians of Chief Isidore's band ... for the murder of two white miners
at Dead Man's Creek in 1884 ... whereupon Chief
Isidore, infuriated at
what he believed to be an injustice, proceeded at once with his warriors,
broke open the gaol, liberated the prisoners and turned all the Government
Officers, except the Collector of Customs, out of the District.
After resolving the criminal charges and mediating the land problems between
whites and Ktunaxa bands, the North-West Mounted Police departed Kootenay
Post in 1888. The residents of the area, in recognition of the services
rendered them, petitioned the Dominion Government to change the postal
address from Galbraith's Ferry to Fort Steele in honour of the Superintendent
of 'D' Division.
For more information on the North-West
Mounted Police see the following...
|
| Guide to Site Exhibits: North-West Mounted Police Post |
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| Biographies of four 'D' Division Officers |
|
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|
A Roster listing of 'D' Division |
| The Officers' Quarters' Display |
|
Officers' Quarters Display Contributors
|
| Dudson Corporation Contributor's
Page
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|
Mounted Police Fund
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RCMP Veterans Associations |
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Fort Steele Heritage Town would especially like
to recognize the support of the Mounted Police Fund, whose generous support
was instrumental in making the Kootenay Post Officers' Quarters possible.
The Mounted Police Fund's financial contribution of $7500.00 was crucial
in offseting the costs of this, our major project for 1998. Special
thanks to Deputy Commissioner Larry Proke - Pacific Region for his support
and advice regarding our submission to the fund.
