MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
BULL HEAD--Stamikso--Toosan
J. W. Grant MacEwan, 1971)
Bull Head was a Sarcee Warrior who had many
scars from fighting Crees and Black Foot. The
Sarcees were noted as warfare specialists and
were very bold. They were originally from a
northern tribe, part of which came southward
into buffalo country and became the Sarcees.
This small group could have become significant
in number but instead was decimated by disease
such as smallpox and scarlet fever, and by warfare
and famine.
The Sarcees numbered about 250 when they came
to Blackfoot Crossing to negotiate Treaty #7 in 1877
under the direction of Chief Bull Head who was huge
in stature and vocally loud.
He reluctantly marked his "x" on the treaty on
September 28, 1877 as he could see no alternative.
Due to the small number of the Sarcee tribe they
were not placed westward on the Bow River as
Bull Head and his tribe wished but were put on
the south side of Blackfoot Crossing by government
officials.
In 1879 hunting of buffalo ended, and government
rations were insufficient. The Sarcees were facing
starvation and became very discontent. In November
1880 the entire Sarcee band with all their belongings
travelled to the Elbow River just outside of Fort
Calgary and set-up camp. Chief Bull Head demanded
rations from the four Mounted Police who were
occupying Fort Calgary or he and his Indians would
raid the nearby Hudson's Bay Company and the R.I.G.
Baker store.
Farmers rode to Fort Macleod for help and 32
soldiers responded. Indian Agent Norman Macleod
demanded that the Chief and his followers accept
a temporary camp close to Fort Macleod if they
wanted winter rations.
The Chief and followers didn't want to go south
for fear they would not be able to return to the Elbow
River District which was their camp preference.
When a showdown came Chief Bull Head ordered his
unhappy tribe to load up carts and wagons and travel
south instead of opening up fire on the Mounted Police.
They were assured of enough beef for the winter if
they complied.
In the spring of 1881 Bull Head and his Sarcees
moved to a new reservation southwest of Fort
Calgary as promised by government officials.
Bull Head was frequently listed in the Calgary Herald
for his misconduct, his physical strength, his
individuality and his strong convictions of
Indian rights.
He died in 1911 age unknown.
Return to Native History
Mary Tollestrup