When the Buffalo Disappeared

In 1879 the buffalo disappeared from the Canadian prairies. Our people went to the government for help, but they told us to go to the United States and look for buffalo there. Many people starved.

Winter Count
1879 – When the buffalo disappeared.

We Moved Onto Reserves

When the buffalo were gone we had no choice but to move onto the land the government had reserved for us. Our entire way of life changed.

Winter Count
1880 – When they built the first houses.

We Survived on Rations

The buffalo had disappeared by 1880. A drought and a worldwide depression made it hard for us to be successful farmers. We were forced to rely on government rations for survival. This increased our dependency on the kinnoona (Indian Agent). It was another blow to our morale.

How we had to Farm

Farming on the prairies during the nineteenth century was hard if you were using ploughs and horses. It became nearly impossible with the Canadian government's Peasant Farming Policy. Our men had to sow seed by hand and harvest their pitiful crops with hand tools. The government thought this would give our people a better understanding of the land.

Residential Schools

By 1890, more and more of our children were being sent to residential schools. Brothers and sisters were separated, and parents could not visit their children. These children began to lose their connection with their families. Too often, there was nothing to fill the void.