Request for Information - Treaty Medals taken from ‘rebel bands’ by General Middleton, 1885

Kevin Seesequasis (c-c-kway-sis), an elected Councillor for the government of the Beardy’s &

Okemasis’ Cree Nation in central Saskatchewan, Canada, is hoping to locate 1876 Treaty Medals.

The government presented Treaty Medals to many First Nations leaders if they signed up to Treaty 6 with the colonial government, in 1876. 

In 1885, Major-General Middleton, the commander of the expeditionary force that fought against the Metis in the Northwest Rebellion, seized the Treaty Medals of the so called ‘rebel bands’ of First Nations, believing that they aided the Metis in their uprising against the Canadian government.

These medals have never been returned to their rightful owners, the Cree leaders of the First Nations the ‘rebels’ led. There is an effort underway in Canada among First Nations leadership to repatriate these Treaty 6 medals.

Specifically they are looking for the medals presented to Chiefs Beardy and Saswaypew at the signing of adhesion to Treaty 6 on August 28, 1876.

The confiscated Treaty Medals have not been traced in Canadian museums. When Major- General (later Lieutenant -General) Middleton returned to Britain in 1890 it is believed that he brought the medals with him.  He was appointed Keeper of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London in 1896 and died in 1898.

Any information on their current whereabouts gratefully received.

Please contact Kevin Seesequasis  via communications@beardysband.com