Kootenay Brown
Encyclopedia
John George Brown better known as "Kootenai" Brown, was an Irish
-born Canadian
polymath
, soldier, trader and conservation
advocate.
Born in Ennistymon, Ireland
, Brown was commissioned as a British Army
officer in 1857 "without purchase" (a reference to the practise then common of wealthy Britons purchasing officers' commissions), joining the 8th Regiment
as an ensign
After serving in India in 1858 and 1859, in 1862 he sold his commission and joined the flood of prospectors joining the Cariboo Gold Rush
. He proved unsuccessful as a prospector, turning to trapping and then briefly policing, serving as constable
in Wild Horse Creek, BC
(now gone).
In 1865, he moved on, to Waterton Lakes , being wounded by a Blackfoot
Indian on his way to Fort Garry
(now Winnipeg
), where he settled and became a whisky trader.
Subsequent to that, he worked briefly for a company delivering mail to the United States Army
until 1874, during which time he was captured and nearly killed by Sitting Bull
in 1869.
The same year, Brown married a local Metis
woman and ultimately made a living bison
hunting and wolfing.
After a quarrel (and obligatory gunfight) at Fort Benton, Montana
, with "celebrated hunter" Louis Ell, in which Ell was killed, and subsequent trial and acquittal by a territorial jury, Brown returned to his beloved Kootenay
, where he settled, building a reputation as a guide and packer.
In the North West Rebellion, he acted as chief scout to the Rocky Mountain Rangers.
Always arguing vigorously for the region's preservation, after the Kootenay Forest Reserve (a Canadian version of a national forest
) was established in 1895,Brown became a fishery officer and in 1910, a forest ranger.
He lived to see the reserve expanded into Waterton Lakes National Park
, which became contiguous with Glacier National Park in Montana
, in 1914.
He died at Waterton Lakes, Alberta.
The 1991 movie "Showdown at Williams Creek" starring Tom Burlinson
, Raymond Burr
and Donnelly Rhodes
provides a loose portrayal of his life.
The Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek Alberta is named after Kootenai Brown for his contribution to the towns local history.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
, soldier, trader and conservation
Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental and a social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including animal, fungus and plant species as well as their habitat for the future....
advocate.
Born in Ennistymon, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Brown was commissioned as a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer in 1857 "without purchase" (a reference to the practise then common of wealthy Britons purchasing officers' commissions), joining the 8th Regiment
8th (The King's) Regiment of Foot
The 8th Regiment of Foot, also referred to diminutively as the 8th Foot and the King's, was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1685 and retitled the King's on 1 July 1881....
as an ensign
After serving in India in 1858 and 1859, in 1862 he sold his commission and joined the flood of prospectors joining the Cariboo Gold Rush
Cariboo Gold Rush
The Cariboo Gold Rush was a gold rush in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Although the first gold discovery was made in 1859 at Horsefly Creek, followed by more strikes at Keithley Creek and Antler Horns lake in 1860, the actual rush did not begin until 1861, when these discoveries were...
. He proved unsuccessful as a prospector, turning to trapping and then briefly policing, serving as constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
in Wild Horse Creek, BC
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
(now gone).
In 1865, he moved on, to Waterton Lakes , being wounded by a Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
Indian on his way to Fort Garry
Fort Garry
Fort Garry, also known as Upper Fort Garry, was a Hudson's Bay Company trading post at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in what is now downtown Winnipeg. It was established in 1822 on or near the site of the North West Company's Fort Gibraltar. Fort Garry was named after Nicholas...
(now Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
), where he settled and became a whisky trader.
Subsequent to that, he worked briefly for a company delivering mail to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
until 1874, during which time he was captured and nearly killed by Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
in 1869.
The same year, Brown married a local Metis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
woman and ultimately made a living bison
Bison
Members of the genus Bison are large, even-toed ungulates within the subfamily Bovinae. Two extant and four extinct species are recognized...
hunting and wolfing.
After a quarrel (and obligatory gunfight) at Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
, with "celebrated hunter" Louis Ell, in which Ell was killed, and subsequent trial and acquittal by a territorial jury, Brown returned to his beloved Kootenay
Kootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
, where he settled, building a reputation as a guide and packer.
In the North West Rebellion, he acted as chief scout to the Rocky Mountain Rangers.
Always arguing vigorously for the region's preservation, after the Kootenay Forest Reserve (a Canadian version of a national forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
) was established in 1895,Brown became a fishery officer and in 1910, a forest ranger.
He lived to see the reserve expanded into Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is a national park located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada, and borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Waterton was Canada's fourth national park, formed in 1895 and named after Waterton Lake, in turn after the Victorian naturalist and conservationist...
, which became contiguous with Glacier National Park in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, in 1914.
He died at Waterton Lakes, Alberta.
The 1991 movie "Showdown at Williams Creek" starring Tom Burlinson
Tom Burlinson
Tom Burlinson is an Australian actor and singer.He attended Pittwater High School on Sydney's Northern Beaches and was the School Captain in his final year...
, Raymond Burr
Raymond Burr
Raymond William Stacey Burr was a Canadian actor, primarily known for his title roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. His early acting career included roles on Broadway, radio, television and in film, usually as the villain...
and Donnelly Rhodes
Donnelly Rhodes
Donnelly Rhodes is a Canadian actor. He recently starred as Doctor Cottle on the Sci Fi Channel television program Battlestar Galactica. Before Battlestar Galactica he was probably best known to American audiences as the lovestruck, hapless escaped convict "Dutch Leitner" on the 1970s soap-opera...
provides a loose portrayal of his life.
The Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek Alberta is named after Kootenai Brown for his contribution to the towns local history.