Red Cloud 'Makpiya-luta'. As a non-hereditary chief, Red Cloud became the most successful war leader of the Cheyenne and Sioux during the 1860's and the Indians' campaign to close the Bozeman Trail and keep the Powder River inviolate. The Sioux were victorious and with the signing of the Fort Laramic treaty in 1868 the army abandoned her forts within the Dakota's hunting grounds. Thus Red Cloud became one of the few Indians ever to win an armed conflict against the U.S. Army. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
American Horse 'Wasechum Taschunka' (1840-1908). 'Wasechum Taschunka' took on the name American Horse following the death of his uncle ate the Battle of Slim Buttes. During the reservation days, he was considered a notable progressive and became a head Oglala spokesman. As an orator and diplomat, he represented his people in numerous negotiations with the federal government. Following the tragedy of Wounded Knee he became the leader of a unified Sioux delegation which traveled to Washington seeking a more equitable treatment for the Sioux. In his later years he traveled with Buffalo Bill and the Wild West Show. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Only weeks after they had been ordered by Agent McLaughlin (center) to arrest Sitting Bull as an attempt to calm the growing unrest from the Messiah Craze (Ghost Dance), the Sioux police pose victoriously for Barry's camera. The arrest attempt was disastrous, resulting in the deaths of six Indian police, Sitting Bull, his son Crow Foot and eight of Crow's followers. The panic which followed culminated in the infamous Wounded Knee affair two weeks later. Red Tomahawk (front center) killed Sitting Bull. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Following the travesty at Wounded Knee and the killing of Sitting Bull, Bull's followers and family found themselves outcasts within their own tribe as others feared the possible repercussions for collaborating with those who had refused to submit to the white man. This photograph shows one of the few ways Bull's family could now find to support themselves, a form of degrading prostitution performed before the camera. Bull's two surviving widows have cut their hair short as an expression of sorrow and grief in his death. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
23 X 18.5 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
"Severe bowing back of both vertical edges away from mat. The tension holders on the back, which keep the back board snug, are coming loose."
Sitting Bull made only one tour with the Wild West Show, declining other invitations feeling his presence was needed by his followers at the Standing Rock Agency. This photograph was known to have been taken by David Notman, son of the premier Canadian photographer William Notman, during the summer of 1885. Barry likely obtained this copy of the negative from Notman himself. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Dimensions
15 X 10.5 cm
Size Overall
51 X 41 cm
Medium
Black and white photograph
Condition
Severe bowing back of both vertical edges away from mat.
The first photo of the famed Hunkpapa war chief, taken at Fort Buford, D.T. shortly after his surrender to major Guido Ilges, Fifth Infantry, following a short fight near the Poplar Camp Post, January 2, 1881. Four years earlier, in the valley of Little Bighorn, it was Gall, Sitting Bull's lieutenant and war chief, who rallied to meet Reno's initial charge and quickly turned it into a devastating retreat. Gall later crossed the Little Bighorn River and led the Sioux to triumph over Custer's contingent of the Seventh Cavalry. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Low Dog 'Xunka Kuciyedon' (b.1846) This respected warrior became a war chief at age 14. In January of 1876, Low Dog and his band joined a party of Northern Cheyenne at the Red Cloud Agency and planned to hunt in the Powder River County. In March of that year, Low Dog's people set up camp with a large non-agency band of Northern Cheyenne and a few Oglala Sioux near the union of the Little Powder and Powder River. On Saint Patrick's day this sleeping village was attacked and destroyed by Colonel J.J. Reynolds. During the night of March 17th the Indians managed to recapture their horses. Without provisions the mixed band traveled northward to join Crazy Horse and later Sitting Bull on the Little Bighorn, where Low Dog led his people against Custer and the 7th Cavalry. Low Dog's account of the battle was published many times. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Crow King 'Kangi Yatapi'. As a prisoner of war, Crow King posed for this picture in Barry's studio at Fort Buford, D.T., in the winter of 1881. During the battle of Little Bighorn, Crow King and his band of 80 warriors attacked Custer from the south, allowing Crazy Horse and Gall to encircle the doomed 7th Cavalry. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Gall 'Pizi' (ca. 1838-1895). A wise, fearless, and successful war chief, Gall was Sitting Bull's adopted brother and one of the few Indians for which the army offered a bounty. While visiting Fort Berthold, D.T., Gall was discovered and bayoneted by soldiers. Assumed to be dead, his body was abandoned by those in his camp, and in the bitter cold of a Dakota winter night Gall staggered some 20 miles in search of aid. Stabbed through his neck, belly and abdomen, it was nearly a year before he recovered completely. Gall poses, painted as if for battle, in Barry's Ford Buffalo studio shortly before he was sent to the Standing Rock Agency. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Chief Joseph 'Hanmaton Talatkit' (ca. 1832-1904). By the close of 1876 the Sioux had been pacified enough that Manifest Destiny could focus her attention and Gatling guns on the Nez Perce of Oregon and Washington where gold had been discovered. Although he had always advocated coexistence with the white man, Chief Joseph was forced from his native home into a three-month, 1300 mile flight through what are today four states and twice across the Rocky Mountains, defeating the U.S. Army in seven major battles. He came within forty miles of sanctuary, the Canadian border, where he envisioned joining Sitting Bull and his exiled people, when his sick and starving band was overtaken by General Miles and one-armed General O.O. Howard. Joseph surrendered October 5, 1877. General Miles agreed to return the Nez Perce to the west; instead, they were sent to Indian Territory. Joseph was so successful a military leader and so influential a tribal leader that he was never allowed to return to his homeland and people. It was said that upon Joseph's exiled death in September of 1904, the agency doctor identified the cause of death as 'broken heart'. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Rain-in-the-Face 'Iromagaja'. The first photograph of Rain-in-the-Face, taken shortly before his arrest and incarceration at Fort Lincoln in 1874. He was one of the leaders during the Fetterman disaster of 1866, the worst defeat the U.S. Army had suffered on the frontier up to that time. His prowess as a warrior continued throughout the Sioux Wars. Wounded and lamed during the fight, he led his band against Custer, and later followed Sitting Bull into exile in Canada. Rain-in-the-Face and his followers surrendered to General Miles at Fort Keogh, Montana, in September of 1880. (Harbaugh, P., 1982)
Archibald E. Wilson was the son of Reverend E.F. Wilson and the husband of St. Clair Vidal Wilson. Rev. E.F. Wilson was at one time in charge of the Shingwauk and Wawanosh Homes at Sault Ste. Marie. Rev. E.F. Wilson moved to Elkhorn, Manitoba in 1888, to establish an educational home for Indian children. He was joined by his son, Archibald E. Wilson who was, in 1890, appointed assistant to the superintendent. A.E. Wilson became Principal of the Indian Industrial School in 1892. His wife served as Matron of the girls departments. Togerher they had three daughters: E.F. Metita, Winifred St. Clair and Murial Grace, as well as two sons: Edward Vidal, and St. Clair Vidal Wilson.
Archibald Wilson and his family lived in Elkhorn, Manitoba during the years 1892 to 1918 while he was principal. At the beginning of his term as Principal there were 12 students enrolled; enrollment reached as high as 95 students, representing eight different nations. In February of 1918, the government withdrew funding and the school closed. In September of 1918, Wilson left Elkhorn to take up his new position as a clerk at an Indian Reserve near Gleichen, Alberta.
During its years of operation, the Elkhorn Industrial School included an Athletic department, a curling team and a boys' football team. Students studied carpentry, shoemaking, harness making, tailoring, knitting and sewing. In 1893, the school was presented with a large Canadian flag for being the best Industrial School in Manitoba and the Territories. In November of 1893, a brass band was established, which provided music for the local Anglican Chruch. After a fire demolished most of the school in 1895, Wilson convinced the Federal Department of Indian Affairs to rebuild the school. In 1899, the Elkhorn Industrial School was reopened.
Custodial History
Most of this fonds was at one time in the possession of Principal A.E. Wilson. After Wilson passed away the pieces of the fonds were kept by one of his daughters, Winifred St. Clair Wilson, now deceased. Winifred married Mr. Frank Clark, M.D. and kept the fonds when she moved to Vancouver B.C. and then to Calgary, Alberta. Winifred Clark eventually donated the fonds to the McKee Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds includes four journals, one testimonial and one newspaper article. The journals include: the ‘7th Annual Report of the Washakada Indian Homet 1895-1896,' written by Principal A.E. Wilson; ‘The Greater Britain Messenger’ September and October 1899, which includes the article ‘The Elkhorn Home, Manitoba;’ ‘The National Monthly of Canada’ September 1902, which includes the article ‘Indian Children at Home;’ and the Centeneray Number (March-April 1932) issue of ‘The Algoma Missionary News,’ which includes an article giving information about Rev. E.F. Wilson and his missionary work.
Fonds also includes an article from the November 19, 1971 edition of The Vancouver Sun, entitled "Leisure's Book Reviews," which discusses Indigenous publications in Canada. The testimonial that is included in the fonds, was given to Archibald Wilson upon his departure from Elkhorn. There are 28 subscribers to the testimonial and it is dated September 19, 1918.
Notes
The Wilsons are discussed in J.R. Miller's "Skyscrapers Hide the Heavens: A History of Indian-White Relations in Canada," Miller's "Shingwauk's vision :a history of native residential schools" and John S. Milloy's "A National Crime: The Canadian Government and the Residential School System 1879-1986." Description by Christy Henry.
View is east northeast from the sidewalk on the southeast corner of the George T. Richardson Centre (John R. Robbins Library). Photographs shows the campus during winter, including the Physical Plant and Development H-Huts, as well as the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall after the majority of the renovations were completed.
View is southwest from 18th Street, just north of the Brandon University sign. Tken during the summer, the photograph shows the front lawn, a portion of the flower bed, the Citizens' Science Building, the Knowles Douglas Students' Union Centre, the John R. Brodie Science Centre and McMaster Hall.
View is northeast. Photograph shows the green space before the Library extension in 1993. Brandon College Building and the Development H-Hut in the background.
View is northwest from the roof of the John R. Brodie Science Centre. Photograph shows part of McMaster Hall, the H-Huts, the Citzens' Science Building, the Brandon College Building and Clark Hall, the driveway, the J.R.C. Evans Lecture Theatre, the A.E. McKenzie Building and the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building.
View is northwest from the sidewalk on the west side of 18th Street. Photograph shows the John R. Brodie Science Centre sign, McMaster Hall and its entrance, the lawn in from of McMaster Hall, a portion of the Knowles Douglas Students' Union Centre and the Citizens' Science Building.
View is southwest from the corner of Clark Hall and the Clark Hall extension. Photograph shows students entering and exiting the George T. Richardson Centre and walking through the courtyard.
View is south from appromately the skywalk. Photograph shows the walkway that runs in front of the A.E. McKenzie Building south to the George T. Richardson Centre staircase and entrance. McMaster Hall in the background.
