Cypress Hills massacre (1873)

The Cypress Hills Massacre refers to the murder of several Assiniboin (also known as the Nakoda Oyadebi nation) in the Cypress Hills (Sask.) by a group of Canadian and American “wolfers.” In early spring 1873 the wolfers’ horses were stolen and they mistakenly suspected the Assiniboin of the thefts. The conflict escalated, and between 15 and 35 Assiniboins were wantonly slain. The Canadian government had already introduced legislation to provide for policing the territories, but news of this massacre hastened the organization of the North-West Mounted Police.