T.T. Selby at the Surrender of Poundmaker to Major-General Middleton at Battleford, Saskatchewan, on May 26, 1885
The Surrender of Poundmaker to Major-General Middleton at Battleford, Saskatchewan, on May 26, 1885 painted by R.W. Rutherford, 1887, oil on canvas.
The painting titled The Surrender of Poundmaker to Major-General Middleton at Battleford, Saskatchewan, on May 26, 1885 is an oil painting on canvas painted by R.W. Rutherford in 1887.
The RM of Ellice Centennial Book also includes a copy of this image and identifies my great-great-grandfather T.T. Selby as the man seated on horseback in the background. The RM history further identifies others in the image although some appear to be incorrect given the image key held by Library & Archives Canada.
The Library & Archives Canada website provides the following additional information about Poundmaker:
Poundmaker (Pihtokahanapiwiyin) was born around 1842 in the Battleford area. His mother was a mixed-blood Cree, sister of Chief Mistawasis. He was adopted by Chief Crowfoot, a Blackfoot, thereby creating family ties between two nations. He and his people settled on a reserve about forty miles west of Battleford soon after signing Treaty 6. In 1885, Poundmaker, with members of his band, traveled to Battleford to ask for rations. When they arrived, they found the community deserted and helped themselves to supplies. In response, Lieutenant-Colonel William Otter and 325 troops were sent to Cut Knife Creek, where Poundmaker and his followers were encamped. On May 2, 1885, the Battle of Cut Knife Hill took place. At one point, Otter's men were forced to withdraw. When Poundmaker heard of Louis Riel's defeat at Batoche, he surrendered and was imprisoned. Poundmaker was tried and convicted of treason in Regina, and sentenced to serve three years at Stony Mountain Penitentiary (Man.). He died in 1886 from poor health.
The North-West Rebellion (or North-West Resistance) was a five-month insurgency against the Canadian government, fought mainly by the Métis and their First Nations allies.
