prophetIn 1885, pressure began to rise among the Indian tribes as they faced hunger and disease. The Indian did not have the resources necessary to cure their diseases. In 1885, the Indians realized that their situation was similar to that of the Mtis. That it was altogether natural that they turned to Riel. On March 19, Riel established a provisional government and took over the local church as his headquarters. Pierre Parenteau was chosen president and Gabriel Dumont was chosen general. However, Riel found himself only supported by the French-speaking Mtis and the Indians. He decided to capture Fort Carlton . He wanted to take it over without violence, but the Police toughened its fort. So Riel could only negotiate or attack. Hoping for negotiation, Riel sent Charles Nolin and Ambroise Lpine to demand that Major Crozier surrender the fort to him. In return he would let Crozier and his men go free. Major Crozier had left Fort Carlton with 56 Mounted Policemen and 41 volunteers to stop Riel. Led by Gabriel Dumont, the Mtis met them at Duck Lake. Dumont accomplished something by drawing the troops into a valley where Crozier was forced to come to a stop. Two horsemen, Isidore Dumont and Falling Sand went forward to meet them. They believed that they wished to negotiate, Crozier also went, with the y a guide named Mckay. All four men stopped in the middle of the valley and Crozier took out his hand as a sign of friendship. Thinking they had been let down, Falling Sand made a grab for Mckay's rifle. The guide fired and Isidore Dumont fell dead from his horse. The battle of Duck Lake had begun. After forty minutes, with his force destroyed, Crozier gave the order to retreat. Seventeen members of the government had been killed and several were wounded in the battle. This battle made the Indians and Mtis realize that the Canadians were not unbeatable. Soon cries of revenge came out of every Indian tribes. Two hundred Indians attacked Ba...
