MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
BLACKFOOT CREE BATTLE
Highway #3 at the river Bottom west of Lethbridge)
In the late fall of 1870 this valley was the scene
of the last great battle between the Blackfoot and
Cree. Led by "Big Bear,""Piapot" and "Little Pine,"
the Cree and their Assiniboine allies swept down upon
the Bloods whose numbers had been decimated by
smallpox. Word of the attack was sent to the South
Peigans, who along with the Blackfoot and Bloods
soon out-maneuvered the Cree attackers, riddled
them with fire from superior rifles and drove them into
the river. The following year a permanent peace was
concluded between the two groups.
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Mary Tollestrup