Summary
During the 1885 Resistance, the majority of the Dakota living north of Prince Albert fled south to avoid armed conflict. The Dakota community, which had previously consisted of approximately 400 families, was reduced to 35 or 40 families during the resistance. A group of Dakota was also led further north by Tarasota to the Candle Lake Region to avoid hostilities. Another Dakota leader, Tituwakanska, told members of the Dakota community not to follow Tarasota north, but to stay near Prince Albert.
Implications
Fear of government discipline and punishment for being associated with the Riel Resistance resulted in members of this band being forced to leave their territory, resulting in an undermining of social cohesion and support networks.The dispersal of families would have fractured the community, breaking support and family networks. During a time of stress, fear, and violence towards Indigenous peoples, this community fracturing would have been even more difficult to process without the social networks and connection to land that they had had before.
Sub Event
Reduction of the Prince Albert Dakota Community
Date
1885-00-00
Community