Relations with First Nations
The NWFP's early activities included containing the whisky trade and enforcing agreements with the First Nations peoples; to that end, the commanding officer of the force arranged to be sworn in as a justice of the peace, which allowed for magisterial authority within the Mounties' jurisdiction. In the early years, the force's dedication to enforcing the law on behalf of the First Nations peoples impressed the latter enough to encourage good relations between them and the Crown. In the summer of 1876, Sitting Bull and thousands of Sioux fled from the US Army towards what is now southern Saskatchewan, and James Morrow Walsh of the NWMP was charged with maintaining control in the large Sioux settlement at Wood Mountain. Walsh and Sitting Bull became good friends, and the peace at Wood Mountain was maintained. By 1879, bands of Sioux began to return to the United States, but Sitting Bull and others remained. The government believed that Walsh's relationship with Sitting Bull was encouraging him to remain in Canada. Walsh was replaced by Superintendent L.N.F. (Paddy) Crozier, who warned Sitting Bull that the government would no longer supply them with food. Facing the prospect of starvation, Spotted Eagle and 65 lodges returned to the United States. Sitting Bull finally surrendered to the U.S. Army at Fort Buford in July, 1881 after a winter of starvation. In 1885, the NWMP helped to quell the North-West Rebellion led by Louis Riel. They suffered particularly heavy losses during the Battle of Duck Lake, but saw little other active combat.