BATTLEFORD - Grant Beaudry hopes by commemorating the Indigenous warriors in the Last Mass Hanging it will help dispel the perception they were rebels, and give them the honour they deserve.
Mosquito, Grizzly Bear's Head, Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) Economic Development plans to hold a ceremony to honour them on Aug. 23 at The Ridge at the start of a powwow.
Beaudry, the organization's CEO, said the Last Mass Hanging that occurred at Fort Battleford on Nov. 27, 1885, included eight Indigenous men, two from Mosquito First Nation and two from Frog Lake First Nation.
History holds that the men were executed for murders they were said to have committed in the North West Rebellion. However, Beaudry notes they did not receive proper trials for an opportunity to defend themselves, and vindicate themselves.
Bill Waiser, a Canadian historian, author, and retired University of Saskatchewan professor, from Saskatoon, will be the keynote speaker at the commemoration event.
Beaudry hopes more people will learn about the truth behind the Last Mass Hanging.
"My father used to take me when I was just a boy out to the site of the Last Mass Hanging cemetery," said Beaudry. "He related to me that, because my father was a veteran and a former Prisoner of War, that these warriors should be honoured and commemorated. He asked me to look into doing something to have them remembered because he said these were our very first Indigenous veterans."
Beaudry said he addressed the Saskatchewan First Nation Veterans' Association about inducting them into the veterans' association, saying they were "our very first Indigenous veterans."
MGBHLM held a pipe ceremony for the victims at the site of the Last Mass Hanging warriors' grave site in Battleford on Aug. 15.
"I think it's important to commemorate them, and remember them because they're forgotten warriors," Beaudry said.
He said the Last Mass Hanging is a historical event that needs to be commemorated every year.
Beaudry noted the Last Mass Hanging grave site needs to be designated as a historical site. MGBHLM Economic Development is working on this initiative.
Beaudry wants people to know the Indigenous history about the Mass Hangings.
"If you look back at history, and the judge that sentenced them to hanging, he was also a merchant. So when they came into Battleford, the ancestors, then Poundmaker came with his band, and a couple of other bands, they were not involved with Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont. The merchants went to the Fort. They [the First Nation people] were there to tell them we are not participating in the rebellion," he said. "Then, they got tired and hungry, and I guess they started breaking into some of the stores."
He said one merchant's store was owned by a judge who demanded justice.
"He [the judge] wasn't happy that his store was broken into," Beaudry said.
The judge was going to sentence whomever came before him to be hanged.
"That's what Bill Waiser will be talking about, the injustice, without a fair trial," Beaudry said.
Beaudry noted two of the warriors who were hanged that were from his First Nation committed their acts due to oppression and injustices on their people.
One of the warriors from his First Nation was hanged because he shot an Indian agent.
The man was in grief because his daughter died. She was sick, so he asked for medicine and food from the Indian agent. But he was denied each time.
"Finally, his daughter succumbed to death," Beaudry said. "He was so overcome with grief that he went and shot the Indian agent."
For the other warrior, also from his nation, Beaudry said, he was working for a farmer and when he went to get paid, the farmer wouldn't pay him.
"He just laughed at him. Then, he [the warrior] shot the farmer."
Beaudry hopes with the commemoration to provide people with the correct history, that the eight men shouldn't have been executed, and didn't deserve to die.
He said Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie wrote him a letter of support to designate the warriors' grave site as a historical site.
Beaudry noted the mayor said, in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation, it was time to "commemorate and learn about the forgotten history."
Also during the upcoming commemoration at The Ridge, acclaimed Indigenous artist, Chris Chipak, from Red Pheasant Cree Nation, has created a painting of these warriors, in his own style, that will be presented during the ceremony.
"Chris is getting to be well known," Beaudry said.
