Historical Society

Did You Know? Our Betrayed Wards

This book was written by R.N. Wilson, former Indian Agent of the Blood Reserve.

Wilson highlighted how deliberate work was done to destroy farming and ranching on the reserve to the benefit of everyone but the Indigenous people. Sabotage of the ranching industry was done because the ration system was profitable for local ranchers who didn’t want to lose the income. Similar difficulties were placed in front of those who tried to develop farms on the reserve. All of this resulted in decades of economic decline and deliberately caused destitution on the reserve. It was noted that in 1894 the Kainai and Piikani were on their way to becoming great ranchers, while in 1916, 65,150 bushels of wheat and 26.980 bushels of oats, as well as hay and other crops, were produced on the Blood Reserve. Future success, though, was deliberately blocked and Blood reserve members who resisted were black-listed and systematically persecuted. The book was signed by 200 men from the reserves who gave their support to Wilson bringing forward their concerns.

Lethbridge Historical Society

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