In the Canadian North-West, a period of escalating unrest immediately preceded the rebellion as Ottawa refused to negotiate with its disaffected citizens.

This nominally peaceful disposition was shattered in late March by news of the Métis victory over government forces at Duck Lake.

On April 2, Big Bear's warriors attacked the small settlement of Frog Lake, killing nine officials and civilians.

[4] These events prompted the mobilization of the Alberta field force under Thomas Bland Strange and two other columns of government milita units.

In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Resistance is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today.