Long Time Squirrel

Mesamiikayisi (Long Time Squirrel) was a prominent leader of the Kainai (Blood) nation. In the 1890s, he and his friend Tough Bread, were found guilty of cattle rustling and sentenced to two years in prison at Regina, Saskatchewan. They had taken the livestock to feed the people who were starving on their reserve. Among the Kainai, this was considered to have been an honourable deed, and they were regarded as heroes. Long Time Squirrel was a member of the Horn Society three times, he owned the Longtime Medicine Pipe bundle, and joined many other religious societies.

During his lifetime, Long Time Squirrel had visions in which horses wandered freely on the prairie as far as the eye could see. In his later years, these visions came true, and he became one of the wealthiest men on the reserve. His herd of over 2,000 horses provided stock for many rodeos and his brand -- B161 -- was well known throughout western North America. His horse, "Five Minutes to Midnight," threw off any cowboy who dared to climb on.

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