Maria Campbell is an influentual nêhiyaw-âpihtawikosisân (Cree-Métis) writer, educator and community worker from Treaty 6 territory, in central Saskatchewan, well-known for her 1973 autobiography, Halfbreed. She is the author of children's books on Métis and Cree history, as well as the editor of the important collection Stories of the Road Allowance People. She is an advocate for returning to traditional Cree-Métis values such as wâhkôhtowin (relationality in its most general sense). In an interview, she explained, "about reconciliation, there is no such thing. We can’t go back to a good time to begin again because there never was a 'good' time. But conciliation – kwaysk astaswin – to put things right. I can do that if someone is willing to work with me."

On April 26, 1873, a force of ~70 Army soldiers and ~12 Warm Springs Indians scouts went looking for a group of Modoc who had escaped a previous assault attempt by the Army. Mid-day, the Army and Warm Springs Indians were ambushed at the base of Sand Butte, and nearly wiped out by 20 Modoc warriors. The acts of resistance by the greatly outnumbered and outgunned Modoc will remain an inspiration forever. The Modoc War is estimated to have cost the United States over $400,000; a very expensive war in terms of lives and dollars, considering the small number of opposing forces. In contrast, the estimated cost to purchase the land requested by the Modoc for a separate reservation was $20,000.