John Wells Jr. (abt.1814-abt.1896) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

John "Atahkakoop" Wells Jr.

Born about 1814 in Fort Gibraltar, Red River Settlement, Rupert's Land

Son of John Wells Sr. and [mother unknown]

[sibling(s) unknown]

[spouse(s) unknown]

Father of Rebecca (Wells) Huskah

Died about 1896 at about age 82 in Carlton, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories

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Profile last modified 31 Oct 2021 | Created 30 Oct 2021

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Biography

Father John Wells b: 1789 in Ireland

Mother Josephte Grant b: 1785

Marriage 1: Mary McKay b: 21 Jul 1820 in Brandon House.

Marriage 2: 6 Sep 1842 in St Francois Xavier, Manitoba, Canada

(Children)

Emily Wills dit Wells b: Dec 1842 in Headingly, Manitoba, Canada

Harriet Wills dit Wells b: 1848

John "Johnny" Wells or Wills or Welsh Jr b: 1847 in St Francois Xavier, Manitoba, Canada

Eliza Wills dit Welsh dit Wells b: AFT 1848

Moses Wills dit Wells b: AFT 1848

Rosa Wills dit Wells b: 1853 in Red River

Sidonia Wills dit Wells b: AFT 1848

Soloman Wills dit Wells b: AFT 1848

Rebecca Wills dit Wells b: 2 Dec 1872 in Moose Mountain

Alexander Wills dit Wells b: Mar 1877 in Cypress Hills

Amelia "Emily" Wills dit Wells b: 1843 in Manitoba, Canada

Biographies of Metis Chief Who Petitioned to Enter In Treaty 4

John “Atahkakoop” Wills /Wells was the son of John Wills / Wells Sr. and Josephte Grant. He Married Mary Mckay, the daughter of John Richards McKay and Harriett Ballendine in 1842 at St Francois Xavier.

WOOD MOUNTAIN AGENCY - COPY OF AN AFFIDAVIT FROM JOHN WELLS AND A COVERING LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ALEXANDER MORRIS REGARDING THE MASSACRE OF TWENTY-SIX ASSINIBOINES BY AMERICAN TRADERS IN THE CYPRESS HILLS https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/CollectionSearch/Pages/record.aspx?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2059592&new=-8585927433190583438

Biography

Chief John “Atahkakoop” Wells, meaning Starblanket in Cree, rose to be a respected and tactical leader of the Cree Nation in the latter part of the 19th century. He was the son of British settler John Wells Sr.

At the onset of his leadership, the plains buffalo herds were more than abundant, providing the mainstay of social and economical balance so vital to the survival of its people.

The arrival of the European settlers would irrevocably alter this delicate balance, forcing Chief Ahtahkakoop to seek alternate means of survival for his own. In 1876, he and his best friend, Chief Mistawasis, were the two leading Chiefs to sign Treaty 6 at Fort Carlton, agreeing to relocate his members to 67 square miles of land, now known as Sandy Lake, near present day Prince Albert.

Despite the hardships and gruelling decisions faced by Chief John “Atahkakoop” Wells he remained revered by the Cree Nation, enough so for the reserve land that he Signed the treaty for still bears his name to this day.

” he is said to have been the last surviving real Cree chief-that is one appointed or elected by the Indians themselves under their old system, which is very different from modern appointments.

He was a man and a commanding appearance… intelligent, trustworthy…a thoroughly loyal Chief. When the rebellion broke out in 1885, he was strongly urged to join but said,”how can I fight against one of his metal I wear, and for whom I pray often? If I have to take up arms I take up arms up to help her and not against her”. He was one of those who were taken afterword to visit Eastern Canada, and he was greatly delighted with the trip and the many wonderful things he saw.

He was a young man of respect: respectful of the Creator and the beings in the spiritual world, the buffalo an other living things in the natural world. Thiswas recognized by the old men and others of the band, he was given special training, and learned about spiritual power and healing. He was raised to be a leader.

John “Ahtahkakoop” Wells along with his good friend William “Mistawassis” Pritchard was hired for at least two seasons to help man the York boats that made the annual trip to York Factory on the shores of Hudson's Bay.

Biography Article

Chief Ahtahkakoop (Starblanket) led his people through the difficult transition from hunter and warrior to farmer, and from traditional Indian spiritualism to Christianity during the last third of the 19th century. A Plains CREE, Ahtahkakoop was born in the SASKATCHEWAN RIVER country in 1816. He was raised during the era when millions of buffalo roamed the northern plains and parklands, and developed into a noted leader, warrior, and buffalo hunter. By the 1860s, the buffalo were rapidly disappearing and newcomers arrived in greater numbers each year.

In 1874 the chief invited Anglican missionary John Hines to settle with his people at Sandy Lake (Hines Lake), situated northwest of present-day PRINCE ALBERT. Two years later, Ahtahkakoop officially chose this land for his reserve.

John “Atahkakoop” Wells was the second chief to sign TREATY 6 at Fort Carlton in 1876. Supported by the chief and his headmen, Hines established a school for the children and taught their parents how to farm. The children did well in school.

Two of Hines’ first students, Ahtahkakoop’s nephews, became qualified teachers, and two great-nephews were ordained as Anglican priests.

Hines prepared the adults for baptism; gradually most families converted to Christianity.

Meanwhile, the families were increasing the number of acres cultivated and sown, raising herds of cattle, and building substantial homes. Unfortunately, the crops were often destroyed by frost, HAIL, and DROUGHT. Hunting was poor, and the people sometimes starved despite their hard work; additionally, restrictive government policies made life difficult. Ahtahkakoop and his people remained neutral during the uprising of 1885, determined to honour the treaty signed nine years earlier.