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Guardians of the Frontier

An academic exploration of the North-West Mounted Police, Canada's iconic paramilitary force, detailing its history, operations, organization, and evolution.

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The North-West Mounted Police

A Force for Order

The North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) was a Canadian paramilitary police force established on May 23, 1873. Its primary mandate was to maintain order in the newly acquired Canadian North-West Territories (NWT), a vast region transferred from the Hudson's Bay Company to Canada in 1870.[a][2]

Multifaceted Role

The NWMP combined military, police, and judicial functions, modeled after the Royal Irish Constabulary. This structure allowed them to enforce law, administer justice, and project Canadian sovereignty in remote areas, often acting as the sole government presence.[a]

Legacy

The NWMP played a crucial role in the development of Western Canada, fostering relations with First Nations and establishing law and order. It evolved into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1920, continuing its legacy of national service.[4]

The Genesis of the NWMP

Securing the West

Canada's expansion into the NWT in the 1870s was driven by a desire to assert sovereignty and prevent potential annexation by the United States. The transfer of Rupert's Land and the North-Western Territory in 1870 added immense territory, but it was sparsely populated and largely ungoverned.[5][6][7]

Catalysts for Formation

Events like the Red River Rebellion and the Cypress Hills Massacre highlighted the lawlessness and the need for a federal law enforcement presence. Fears of American incursions and the unchecked activities of whisky traders fueled the government's decision to establish a mounted police force.[a][3][23]

Political Vision

Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald envisioned a para-military force, composed of mounted riflemen, to maintain peace and prevent crime. Influenced by the Royal Irish Constabulary, the NWMP was designed to provide a localized system of government and law enforcement in the vast, undeveloped territories.[2]

The Iconic March West

The Expedition

In 1874, the newly formed NWMP embarked on its first major deployment, known as the "March West." The 275-strong expedition, supported by hundreds of horses and Red River carts, traveled nearly 900 miles (1,400 km) from Fort Dufferin, Manitoba, towards the Alberta border.[30][33]

Trials and Hardship

The journey was fraught with difficulties, including poor planning, inadequate supplies, harsh weather, and the loss of horses. The expedition faced starvation and exhaustion, arriving at its destination in a state of disarray, though it ultimately succeeded in establishing forts and asserting Canadian law.[38][42]

Mythologized Endeavor

Despite its initial logistical failures, the March West was later portrayed as an epic tale of bravery and endurance, cementing the force's heroic image in Canadian lore.[49]

Policing the Frontier

Relations with First Nations

The NWMP established generally cordial relationships with First Nations leaders, notably Chief Crowfoot of the Blackfoot. By enforcing laws against whisky traders and providing essential supplies during times of starvation, the police earned a reputation among Indigenous peoples for being fair, albeit high-handed.[51][60]

Railway and Settlement

The construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway brought increased settlement and new challenges. The NWMP escorted construction crews, enforced liquor laws, managed disputes, and later played a role in controlling the influx of settlers and managing relations with First Nations displaced by the railway.[80][85]

Klondike Gold Rush

During the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s, the NWMP established a significant presence in the Yukon Territory. They asserted Canadian sovereignty, controlled borders, collected customs duties, and maintained order among tens of thousands of prospectors, earning international acclaim for their effectiveness.[189][198]

Conflict and Transformation

North-West Rebellion

In 1885, the NWMP was involved in suppressing the North-West Rebellion, led by Louis Riel. While the militia played the primary combat role, NWMP officers and detachments provided crucial support, intelligence, and logistical assistance.[87][88]

Imperial Service

Many NWMP members volunteered for service in the Second Boer War (1899-1902). Their experience in policing vast territories and their military traditions made them valuable assets, influencing the formation of other imperial units and earning the force the title "Royal" in 1904.[201][216]

WWI and Amalgamation

During World War I, the NWMP took on national security duties, investigating potential threats from immigrants and enforcing wartime regulations. The post-war period, marked by labor unrest like the Winnipeg General Strike, highlighted the need for a unified federal police force, leading to the amalgamation of the RNWMP and the Dominion Police to form the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in 1920.[256][270][277]

Organizational Structure

Command Hierarchy

The NWMP was led by a Commissioner, supported by an Assistant Commissioner and later a Comptroller for administrative and financial oversight. The force evolved its rank structure over time, moving from an initial inspectorate to a system of superintendents, inspectors, sergeants, corporals, and constables, often mirroring military ranks.[278][279]

Commissioned Officers

Officers were typically drawn from middle- or upper-class backgrounds, often appointed through political patronage. They held judicial powers as Justices of the Peace and were responsible for managing detachments, enforcing regulations, and maintaining discipline, often balancing their duties with social expectations of their status.[296][298]

Other Ranks

Enlisted men, or "other ranks," formed the backbone of the force. Recruitment standards improved over time, with a significant proportion of members eventually being British-born. They endured harsh living conditions, particularly in the early years, and their pay, while initially competitive, lagged behind civilian wages by the turn of the century.[308][317]

Working Life and Conditions

Living Quarters

Early NWMP posts, often called "forts," were basic, self-built structures. Over time, especially with the move to Regina and the expansion into the North, barracks became more professionally constructed, featuring improved amenities and modern conveniences, though life remained challenging, particularly in remote detachments.[321][325]

Compensation and Benefits

Pay for constables was modest, often supplemented by bonuses for specific duties. While land grants were initially offered, they were later discontinued. A pension scheme was introduced in 1889, providing some measure of security for long-serving members.[316][320]

Discipline and Morale

The force maintained strict discipline, with commissioned officers holding significant judicial authority over constables. Issues such as desertion, early discharge, and managing morale were persistent challenges, exacerbated by the demanding nature of frontier policing and the isolation of many posts.[315]

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References

References

  1.  The region of New Manitoba was taken into the contract when the province expanded in 1912.[232]
  2.  A territorial jail was finally built in Regina in 1891.[290]
  3.  History of the RCMP | Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  4.  Graybill 2007, p. 10; Zaslow 1971, p. 1
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A full list of references for this article are available at the North-West Mounted Police Wikipedia page

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