Frog Lake Massacre

Jerry McDonnell was a teacher and librarian the F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, Ontario.

This slim but very interesting book contains a present-day version of the Frog Lake massacre as well as the accounts of some of the participants and survivors. When Louis Riel and his compatriots began the Northwest Rebellion of 1885 at Batoche, a side action was undertaken by Woods and Plains Crees at Frog Lake in what is now Alberta. Two priests and several other men were murdered in cold blood and the women and children taken prisoner. These prisoners were forced to move with their captors as they attempted to escape the police and the expeditionary force sent to put down the rebellion.

The first section of the book is a historical account of the incident told with the benefit of a hundred years’ research. It seems to discuss the events fairly and without prejudice.

Another perspective is given by the tale of Mrs. Delaney, who saw her husband killed and who was then held captive until her rescue by the armed forces. This is a straightforward account of events from her point of view. Because she was purchased from her captor by a Metis, she might have escaped worse suffering during the two months of her captivity. In any case, the story is well told. Dr. John P. Pennefather recounts his experiences and hardships as a member of the expeditionary force, and Duncan McLean, who was the last living hostage at the time, told his story in 1891. This book is well illustrated with both contemporary and modern photos, drawings, and maps, all of which add a good deal to the presentation. The different points of view make this a good examination of the Frog Lake massacre.