By Historical Society

Almighty Voice – Report from the Historical Society

Feb 28, 2011 | 12:16 PM

Prince Albert Tales

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          On May 28,  1897, in a thicket of poplar trees, just south of present day St. Louis Saskatchewan, six men were to die – ending one of the longest and deadliest manhunts conducted in the Canadian North West.                                                                

            Kisse Manitou Wayo, or Almighty Voice, was the centre of the manhunt. Almighty Voice was given his auspicious  sounding name  because his resonating, voice made others feel as if the Great Manitou, the Creator, was talking to them . The 22 year old was wanted for the fatal shooting, on October 29th 1895, of Sergeant Colebrook, a N.W.M.P. officer.

            Prior to that fateful October day, Almighty Voice had been arrested for the slaughtering of a Government cow. He had butchered the cow to feed his people. Arrested, the handsome young brave had been put in irons in the small Duck Lake jail, where a guard haughtily stated, “We’ll hang you for this, Indian.” During  the night the intended Chief of the nearby One Arrow Band, saw no choice but to escape.

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             Sergeant Colebrook, tracked the escapee to an area near present day Kinistino. Almighty Voice, determined not to be hanged, warned the Red Coat to leave. Colebrook, just as determined to carry out his duty, moved forward. A shot rang out – Colebrook died before he hit the ground. Almighty Voice, now, not just a fugitive, but also a killer, fled.

            For nineteen months, the Mounties relentlessly pursued the wanted young man.

            Finally sighted near present day Birch Hills, Almighty Voice and two of his relatives fled on foot westward some sixteen miles to the Minichinas Hills south of St.Louis. Taking refuge in a clump of trees, the three, answered with rifle fire when the posse of twelve advanced. Three more officers of the law quickly died.

            Cannons, and over one hundred reinforcements, were called out of Prince Albert and Regina. They bombarded the poplar trees. The shelling and firing lasted two days and one night. As members of the One Arrow Band watched the battle from a nearby hillside, Almighty Voice’s mother joined them, chanting her son’s death song.

            At the end of the second day of firing, the guns fell silent. A slow, cautious, sweep of the bluff revealed Almighty Voice and his two companions dead in their crudely dug gun pits. The voices of the people of One Arrow and the grieving mother fell silent.

              So, one cow and seven men died. However, the true legacy of the dead  rumbles on:

            ‘ How long will it be before the two races speak  with full understanding? How long will it be, before the Great Manitou’s message of peace and goodwill  replaces the roar of the guns of war?’