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"If I had wronged you, I would never have come to meet you."
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Pîhtokahanapiwiyin (1842 – 4 July 1886), better known as Poundmaker, was a Plains Cree chief, known for his steadfast defense of his people's interests in their negotiations with the government of Canada, and his fostering of peace between the Cree and the Canadian government. He leads the Cree in Civilization VI: Rise and Fall.

The Cree are incredibly powerful in the early game, while their talents in trade propel their early advantages into the future.

Intro[]

Poundmaker, you bear the fate of the Cree without complaint. None doubt the skill of your warriors, but they rely upon your wisdom—striking your enemies does no good if you cannot protect your homes. As the world changes in unexpected ways, your alliances will bind you to a lasting future. Those who stand alone die alone.

In-Game[]

Poundmaker's unique agenda is Iron Confederacy. He tries to establish as many alliances as possible, and dislikes civilizations that don't establish alliances.

His leader ability is Favorable Terms. It allows all types of alliances to provide Shared Visibility, and rewards him with extra Food Food and Gold Gold for receiving and sending Trade Route Trade Routes depending on the number of Camps and Pastures at the destination.

Detailed Approach[]

Choosing which military unit to train first isn't a difficult choice for the Cree. The Okihtcitaw starts the game with a free Promotion Promotion, giving them an exploration advantage over all other civilizations. Combined with a stronger combat strength, it's almost unnecessary to build Warriors to protect your first cities. Quickly researching the Pottery technology is also an obvious choice for the Cree, gaining an early trade route to send to a foreign city you've inevitably found with your unique reconnaissance units, and grabbing territory along the way. Poundmaker is a superior trader and negotiator; making favorable trades to cities with Camps and Pastures only increases his proceeds. Using friendly alliances to gain visibility in the world is extremely valuable in the mid and late game, when you need to see what your opponents are up to.

Lines[]

Poundmaker is voiced by John Bearchild. He speaks Cree.

Voiced[]

Codename Quote (English translation) Quote (Cree) Notes
Agenda-based Approval I have great respect for those who declare their friendships to the world.  ?
Agenda-based Disapproval Choose your friendships wisely—but you must choose. ᑿᔭᐢᐠ ᓇᐘᓲ ᑭᐑᒌᐚᑲᓇᐠ᙮ ᒫᑲ ᐳᑯ ᑕᐚᓇᐘᓲᐣᑮᐣ᙮

Kwayask nawasô kiwîcîwâkanak. Mâka poko tawânawasônkîn.

Attacked You could have found another way. Now, your regrets will be measured in blood. ᑯᑕᐠ ᑮᑿᔾ ᑭᑫᑑᑕᒪᐣ᙮ ᒦᐦᑵᐤ ᑭᑲᑯᒋᑎᐸᐦᐃᑲᐣ

Kotak kîkway kiketôtaman. Mîhkwew kikakoci-tipahikan.

Declares War I do not care to inflict the terrors of war upon you—but justice requires it.  ?
Defeated Had I wanted war, I would not be here now. You did not catch me. I gave myself up. ᑮᐢᐱᐣ ᑭᓅᐦᑌᓅᑎᓂᑭᔮᐣ᙮ ᓇᒨᔭ ᑭᑮᑳᐦᑎᓈᐚᐤ᙮ ᓂᑮᐸᑭᑎᓂᓱᐣ᙮

Kîspin kinôhtenôtinikiyân. Namôya kikîkâhtinâwâw. Nikîpakitinison.

This line is based off a quote from a letter written by Poundmaker given to Louis Riel, the founder of Manitoba, after his defeat at the Battle of Batoche.
Greeting I am Poundmaker, and I represent the Cree. May there always be peace between us.  ?
Quote from Civilopedia If I had wronged you, I would never have come to meet you.  ?

Unvoiced[]

Delegation: My people send you gifts—buffalo robes and pimihkan. With these you will last through winter.

Accepts a Delegation: My people welcomed your delegation to our council fires.

Rejects a Delegation: No, my people do not wish for gifts such as these.

Player Accepts a Delegation: Excellent!

Accepts Declaration of Friendship: I am happiest making peace between nations. Friendship between our people brings me joy.

Rejects Declaration of Friendship: It is good that you wish to be friends with the Cree, but my people are not ready. Not now.

Requests Declaration of Friendship: The Cree are ready to welcome you as friends. Please, I ask of you, honor their trust.

Player Accepts Declaration of Friendship: Good, good.

Player Rejects Declaration of Friendship: This is not what I wanted.

Accepts a Trade Deal: I see the wisdom in this. Agreed.

Rejects a Trade Deal: A fool would accept this. I am no fool.

Denounced by Player: Your word is worthless, your people go astray, and you have no friends who will stand by you.

Denounces Player: I swear to protect my people from the likes of you. Your lies pollute the air. You live only to steal.

Invitation to Capital: Come and see where my people live, and show us where you call home.

Invitation to City: I invite you to come as my guest and see how the Cree live.

Civilopedia entry[]

Poundmaker was chief during a time of crisis for the Cree. Deeply, personally committed to both peace with the Canadian government and the preservation of his people, he negotiated impossible choices, only to be wrongly accused and tried for treason.

He was born to a Stony shaman and a Metis woman in about 1842, near Battleford in modern Saskatchewan. By many accounts, his father was a famous bison caller – a man who drew bison into pounds. Poundmaker, like his father, is said to have possessed this skill to a high degree, and was acknowledged as an outstanding orator as well.

A bison pound is a circular, paddock-like enclosure whose opening is designed to funnel a herd of bison within. A bison caller would sing and chant, trying to attract the lead female of the herd into the enclosure, whereupon the hunters could easily slaughter the herd. It was an evolution of previous bison drive tactics (such as driving the herd over a cliff) and had the advantage of being less traumatic for the bison and easier for the hunters. Bison callers were greatly respected, with bison calling having great practical and spiritual importance to the nation.

In 1873, Poundmaker was adopted by the Blackfoot leader Crowfoot. Crowfoot had initiated a peace between the Cree and Blackfoot, bringing to an end an era of bitter wars and feuds. Crowfoot’s wife saw Poundmaker, and was struck by his resemblance to their son who had been killed recently by a Cree war party. Poundmaker was adopted by Crowfoot, and given the name Wolf Thin Legs (Makoyikohin), and for the next few years lived with the Blackfoot. This greatly elevated his status with both the Cree and the Blackfoot, and Poundmaker became an advisor and subordinate chief of the Cree.

In August of 1876, the Cree were deeply involved with the negotiation of Treaty Number 6 with the government of Canada, with the negotiations being held in Fort Carlton. Poundmaker emerged as a leading skeptic of the treaty. He objected to the terms being dictated, and pushed for the inclusion of a famine clause, as well as assistance for the Cree in learning farming and trades. He was a signatory to Treaty 6, although he continued to hunt the bison herds until 1879, crossing the border into the United States.

There in Montana, Poundmaker’s band skirmished with US cavalry forces, and the band retreated back into Canada. The band resigned themselves to a reservation at the confluence of Battle River and Cut Knife Creek. By all accounts, despite his earlier misgivings about the reservations and his reluctance to enter one, Poundmaker made every effort to learn to plough and farm to become self-sufficient, rather than rely on government rations.

In 1881, Poundmaker served as an interpreter and guide for the Governor-General from Battleford to Calgary. The viceregal party was impressed with their guide’s nonviolent philosophy and cultural knowledge. Poundmaker, for his part, seems to have recognized the potential power of the government as a force. Shortly afterwards he publically encouraged his band to remain peaceful, citing the potential power of the tide of whites moving to settle in, and the dangers of a conflict with them.

This commitment to peace was shortly tested. In 1883, short supplies to the reservations and a reduction of the staff of the Indian Department, as well as the terrible winter of 1883-1884 led to starvation and desperation. By June 1884, war bands under young warrior leaders had begun to gather, and many groups, including ones led by the Cree leader Big Bear, assembled on Poundmaker’s reservation for a Thirst Dance ceremony to discuss the situation.

The North-West Mounted Police attempted to disband the dance, but were unable to do so. Additional troopers were called in to the Battleford area. One of the First Nations men was accused of assaulting a reservation official, and the NWMP moved in to arrest him, leading to a standoff with Poundmaker and Big Bear, who refused to turn over the man while the dance was ongoing. Incidents such as these undermined trust between the Cree and the government.

And trust was in short supply, and incidents were about to become worse. In 1885, Metis leader Louis Riel returned from Montana, where he had been living in exile, and uprisings of Cree, Assinibone, and Metis bands broke out over the region. When word came of the Metis’ victory at Duck Lake, Poundmaker and the Cree were faced with a critical choice.

The warriors within the Cree wanted to join Riel in his rebellion. Poundmaker wanted to avoid being drawn into the conflict. Joining with bands of the Stonies, Poundmaker brought his band to the town of Battleford in an effort to negotiate a continued peace and new promises of rations and supplies. But Battleford had been abandoned by the settlers. Despite Poundmaker’s efforts, the town was looted, and the combined bands returned to the reservation.

On the morning of May 2nd, 1885, government forces under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Otter attacked Poundmaker’s camp, believing Poundmaker to be in rebellion. After a sharp skirmish, Otter and his men were forced to retreat. Poundmaker intervened to prevent the Cree and Stony warriors from pursuing the retreating troops, thus preventing further bloodshed. Poundmaker again intervened when his band captured a column of supplies intended for government forces, preventing the warriors from murdering the wagon drivers.

Shortly afterwards, word came of Louis Riel’s defeat at the Battle of Batoche. The North-West Rebellion was effectively over. Poundmaker sent a letter to a priest, Father Louis Cochin, and a message to the government forces indicating he wanted to negotiate for peace. On May 26th, Poundmaker and his band came again to Battleford with the intention of negotiating their surrender.

The government was not in the mood for negotiations. Upon entering the fort, Poundmaker and his followers were arrested and charged with treason against the government. He was transported to Regina, and given a cursory trial after which the jury deliberated for half an hour before returning a guilty verdict. Sentenced to three years in prison, he was paroled after a year at Stony Mountain Penitentiary. The year in prison had ruined him, physically and mentally, and he died shortly afterwards of a pulmonary hemorrhage, while visiting his adoptive father Crowfoot, on the Blackfoot reservation.

Poundmaker’s historical reputation was quickly restored after his death. His commitment to a lasting, just peace between the Cree and the government was born of foresight and dignity. During his life he had served as a personal agent of peace to end war between First Nations. He had negotiated in good faith and attempted to strike a conciliatory approach with the Canadian government. He had done his utmost to prevent desperate grievances and imminent violence with the government from spiraling into a vicious cycle of retribution. This legacy is now honored among both the Cree and Canadians today.

Trivia[]

  • Poundmaker's diplomacy screen shows a frozen tundra with a lake and some trees and buffaloes in the background.
  • Poundmaker's leader ability references his role in the negotiations of Treaty 6 between Canada and the Cree, while his leader agenda is named after the political and military alliance between multiple Plains Indian groups.
  • Poundmaker's Cree name is also one of the potential Cree city names.
  • Poundmaker's inclusion in the game drew criticism from some members of the Poundmaker Cree Nation, who felt that being included in a game partially based on expansion and conquest misrepresented his values, and criticized Firaxis for not formally approaching community elders, though they also praised his positive portrayal and hoped his inclusion would draw attention to the, at the time ongoing, efforts to exonerate him.[1]

Gallery[]

Videos[]

Civilization_VI-_Rise_and_Fall_–_First_Look-_Cree

Civilization VI- Rise and Fall – First Look- Cree

First Look: Cree

Related achievements[]

Adamantine Confederacy
Adamantine Confederacy
As Poundmaker, have an active Alliance of every type.
Phrase that directly means 'unbreakable alliance'.
Justice and Lasting Peace
Justice and Lasting Peace
Win a regular game as Poundmaker
A reference to Poundmaker's attempts to have peace between the Cree and the Canadian government.

References[]

See also[]

External links[]

Civilization VI Leaders [edit]
1 Requires DLC
R&F-Only Added in the Rise and Fall expansion pack.
GS-Only Added in the Gathering Storm expansion pack.
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