Almighty Voice
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| Database ID | 26237 | |
| Institution | University of Saskatchewan Libraries Special Collections | |
| Fonds/Collection | Morton Manuscripts Collection | |
| Series | MSS-C550 | |
| File/Item Reference | MSS-C550-1-27-1p (Box 37) | |
| Date of creation | [192-?] | |
| Physical description/extent | 1 article; 7 pages of textual records | |
| Number of images | 6 | |
| Historical note | Reginald Beatty (b. 1854) was not only a clerk of the Hudson's Bay Company, but also the first settler in the Melfort district. The current city of Melfort was preceded by a small community known as the Stoney Creek Settlement, started by founding settler Beatty, a Hudson Bay Company employee who settled with his family in the new Northwest. He was employed with the HBC from 1872-1883. Beatty served at Shoal River, Fairford, Cumberland House, The Pas (several terms), Grand Rapids, Sturgeon River and Norway House. Almighty Voice (b. 1875 - d. 1897) was born near Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. He grew up on the One Arrow Reserve, where he heard stories of his grandfather One Arrow, who had resisted taking up his reserve until 1879. On October 22, 1895, Almighty Voice was arrested by the NWMP after being accused of slaughtering a government cow. While he was transferred to the jail at Duck Lake, one of the arresting officers is said to have joked that the penalty for killing a government cow was hanging. Almighty Voice seemed to have taken the joke seriously: he escaped from jail that night,and fled to his mother's home on the reserve. Initial attempts to capture him were not successful. On 29 October 1895, NWMP officer Colebrook caught up with him near Kinistino, and in the attempted arrest was shot and killed by Almighty Voice. By April 1896 there was a $500 bounty on Almighty Voice; however, he avoided the authorities until May 1897. On 27 May 1897, it was reported that Almighty Voice and two companions had shot and wounded a local Métis scout near Duck Lake. The NWMP under Inspector Allan came across Almighty Voice at the Minichnas Hills, a few miles from the One Arrow Reserve. There was an exchange of gunfire, and Allan and another officer were seriously wounded. Another force made up of both civilians and NWMP officers attempted to rush the three men, but again they were turned away by gunfire. On 30 May, after heavy gunfire including rounds from a nine-pound field gun, Almighty Voice, his brother-in-law Topean and his cousin Little Saulteaux were all found dead. | |
| Scope and content | An article written by Reginald Beatty describing the events leading to the death of Almighty Voice, a member in One Arrow's Band at the Duck Lake agency. Item found within folder 'Reginald Bird Beatty Papers.' | |
| Contributer | Reginald Bird Beatty (author) | |
| Copyright holder | Public domain | |
| Copyright expiry date | Public domain | |
| Other terms governing use and reproduction | Responsibility regarding questions of copyright that may arise in the use of any images is assumed by the researcher. | |
| Type | Archival | |
| Primary Media | Textual documents | |
| Specific document types | Articles | |
| Provenance Access Point | Morton, A.S. | |
| Other numbers/identification | Special Collections call no. MSS C550/1/27.1. | |
| Treaty boundaries | Treaty 6 | |
| Cultural region | Plains | |
| Names | Almighty Voice ** [kâ-kisçyo-manitowçw / kâ-kisîwçt Beatty, Reginald Bird, 1854-1928 (HBC clerk) | |
| Subject | Law Enforcement -- NWMP Metis | |
| Date Range(s) | 1880-1889 | |
| Permanent Link | https://digital.scaa.sk.ca/ourlegacy/permalink/26237
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