"The region of the Saskatchewan is without law, order or security for life or property; Indian massacres are unchecked even in the vicinity of the Hudson's Bay Company's post, and all civil and legal institutions are entirely unknown." These were the words of Captain F. W. Butler after his return from the territories in 1870. Butler had been on a fact-finding mission for Parliament. That year a massacre in the Cypress Hills region demanded attention from Parliament, and the Royal Northwest Mounted Police were established soon after.

The Royal Northwest Mounted Police played a large part in taming the wild frontier which is now Saskatchewan. These people marched west to keep peace, halt illegal whiskey trade and protect the new country's people.

In 1870 Canada acquired Rupert's land and the North-Western territory. Many American veterans from the civil war moved to Canada in hopes of getting rich quickly. They came to Canada because there was no policing and they were free to do as they wished.