The 1870s were years of grave crises in the Canadian West. American whiskey traders were victimizing the Indians. Chief Sitting Bull and his Sioux warriors, fresh from their victory over the US Cavalry, were camped near the Cypress Hills, and the stage was set for tragedy. In 1873, the North-West Mounted Police were established to maintain law and order in the newly acquired North-West Territories. The following summer a courageous expedition trekked 800 miles from Fort Dufferin, south of Winnipeg, to Fort Whoopup, near present-day Lethbridge. The force raised the flag and proclaimed the Queen’s law, ensuring that the Canadian West would not become a lawless American-style frontier. This film brings to life some of the legends of the men in the scarlet tunics.
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How to watch
Collection
In ACMI's collection
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
002692
Language
English
Subject categories
Agriculture, Business, Commerce & Industry → Whiskey
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Canada - Description and travel
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Indians of North America - Canada
Anthropology, Ethnology, Exploration & Travel → Indigenous peoples - Canada
Crime, Espionage, Justice, Police & Prisons → Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Food, Health, Lifestyle, Medicine, Psychology & Safety → Whiskey
Sound/audio
Sound
Colour
Black and White
Holdings
16mm film; Access Print (Section 1)
16mm film; Preservation Print (Section 5)
16mm film; Limited Access Print (Section 2)