Frontier Farewell: The 1870s and the End of the Old West (Trade Books based in Scholorship

by Garrett Wilson

This book is an epic account of the 1870s, a decade that saw unprecedented changes come to the Great Plains of North famine, fire and pestilence--the disappearance of the buffalo--the last stand of the Sioux and the Metis--the Boundary Survey and the "March West" of the North-West Mounted Police--men like Dumont, Walsh, Macleod and Sitting Bull--all encompassed within a brief 10 years, which saw the disappearance of the Old West, and the birth of a new society.

Genres: History

525 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2007

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, this was a detailed and very educational read. The book presents an important part of Canada's history in a well researched study of the near extermination of the buffalo and the early years of European settlement in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The author explores this subject from a number of different angles, including: the policies and decisions of the governments of Great Britain, Canada and the United States; the roles of the U.S. Army and the North West Mounted Police; and the activities of trading companies, commercial entrepreneurs and railroads. In particular, the work examines the impacts of these dramatically changing times on the First Nation tribes and the Metis whose lives depended on the buffalo. The book also includes valuable information on: the Canadian government's approach to signing treaties; the Indian Act and its enforcement; the reservation system; and the overall treatment of First Nations and Metis peoples in Canada during the last 150 years. There is a lot of information in this book and much that invokes shame and regret. A debt of gratitude is owed to the author for bringing this part of Canada's history into a clearer light.

[Poetreehugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eminently readable and informative, but sobering and eye opening, description of the end of a world. The destruction of human cultures, species of wildlife and ecosystems of the lands now known as the Canadian and American west. So worth reading.
And the Cypress Hills area of Saskatchewan and Alberta is a place well worth visiting to steep in the ancient history of the land geologically, as well as the history of the peoples and wildlife that populated the area until the sad arrival of “progress” and “development”.

[Kazimierz Czaplinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply the best western Canada history book after 1870. if you know of anther one, let me know. Large portions of the book dedicated to indigenous resistance. in my opinion quite balanced approach. The author dispels many myths about the past: reasons behind disappearance of buffalo, spread of diseases, destroying in waves whole indigenous tribes, role of Metis, first survey of the west etc. Great pleasure to read what appears well researched tome.

[Kathleen McRae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! The story of the west and the demise of the buffalo herds spelled doom for the last remaining tribes. Some of these tribes on the run ended up in Canada seeking refuge from the US army. This book is well researched and readable

[Klanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good history of Canada's early prairie treaties.