The Battle of Loon Lake ended the North-West Rebellion and was the last armed battle fought on Canadian soil.
Key Facts
- Date
- June 3, 1885
- Location
- Steele Narrows, Makwa Lake, Saskatchewan
- Cree casualties
- 4 dead, dozens wounded
- Canadian force commander
- Major Sam Steele
- Cree war chief
- Wandering Spirit (surrendered at Fort Pitt)
- Cree chief captured
- Big Bear, eluded capture until July 2, 1885
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 arose from Métis and First Nations grievances over land rights and government policy in the North-West Territories. A band of Plains Cree under war chief Wandering Spirit and peacetime chief Big Bear had been conducting a military campaign and holding white and Métis hostages, prompting Canadian forces to pursue them across the territory.
On June 3, 1885, Major Sam Steele led a combined force of North-West Mounted Police, Alberta Mounted Rifles, and Steele's Scouts to Steele Narrows, where they caught up with the retreating Cree column. Cree scouts mounted a rearguard action with their remaining ammunition, but the main Cree body, recognizing their position as untenable, released their hostages and dispersed into the surrounding territory.
With the dispersal of the Cree at Loon Lake, the North-West Rebellion effectively ended. Wandering Spirit surrendered to authorities at Fort Pitt, while Big Bear evaded capture until July 2, 1885. The battle marked the conclusion of organized armed resistance in the rebellion and remains the last battle fought on Canadian soil.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Major Sam Steele.
Side B
1 belligerent
Wandering Spirit, Big Bear.