Battle of the Belly River
Encyclopedia
The Battle of the Belly River was the last major conflict between the Cree
and the Blackfoot
Confederacy, and the last major battle between First Nations
on Canadian soil.
The battle took place on the banks of the Belly River
within the present limits of the city of Lethbridge
. A devastating outbreak of smallpox
had reduced the strength of the Blackfoot, and a Cree war party had come south in late October, 1870 in order to take advantage of that weakness. An advance party of Crees had stumbled upon a Peigan
camp and decided to attack instead of informing the main Cree body of their find. Soon word passed to other Blackfoot, Blood
and Peigan camps in the immediate area, and warriors were sent to join battle. After several hours of trading shots, a Blackfoot party gained the high ground and made the Cree positions untenable. The retreat became a rout, and up to 300 Cree warriors were killed trying to make their escape.
Approximately a year after the battle, the Cree and Blackfoot made a formal peace. Treaty No.7
, between the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Crown, was signed in 1877. In 1890, the town of Lethbridge was founded near the battle site. The battle itself is commemorated in Indian Battle Park
.
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
Confederacy, and the last major battle between First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
on Canadian soil.
The battle took place on the banks of the Belly River
Belly River
Belly River is a river in northwest Montana, United States and southern Alberta, Canada. It is a tributary of the Oldman River, itself a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River....
within the present limits of the city of Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
. A devastating outbreak of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
had reduced the strength of the Blackfoot, and a Cree war party had come south in late October, 1870 in order to take advantage of that weakness. An advance party of Crees had stumbled upon a Peigan
Peigan
Peigan refers to two Native tribes in the Blackfoot Confederacy:* Northern Peigan, in Alberta, Canada* Piegan Blackfeet in Montana, USA...
camp and decided to attack instead of informing the main Cree body of their find. Soon word passed to other Blackfoot, Blood
Kainai Nation
The Kainai Nation is a First Nation in southern Alberta, Canada with a population of 7,437 members in 2005, and had a population of 9,035 members as of 9 February 2008...
and Peigan camps in the immediate area, and warriors were sent to join battle. After several hours of trading shots, a Blackfoot party gained the high ground and made the Cree positions untenable. The retreat became a rout, and up to 300 Cree warriors were killed trying to make their escape.
Approximately a year after the battle, the Cree and Blackfoot made a formal peace. Treaty No.7
Treaty 7
Treaty 7 was an agreement between Queen Victoria and several mainly Blackfoot First Nations tribes in what is today the southern portion of Alberta. It was concluded on September 22, 1877. The agreement was signed at the Blackfoot Crossing of the Bow River, at the present-day Siksika Nation...
, between the Blackfoot Confederacy and the Crown, was signed in 1877. In 1890, the town of Lethbridge was founded near the battle site. The battle itself is commemorated in Indian Battle Park
Indian Battle Park
Indian Battle Park is a park located in the Oldman River valley urban park system of Lethbridge, Alberta. The park was developed in 1960 and commemorates the Battle of the Belly River held in the area on 24 October 1870 between the Blackfoot and the Cree...
.