Episode 20 - The Death of Rosalie New Grass

Welcome back, Caffeine Casefilers. As Canadians Know - June is Indigenous History Month. A time to honor the original stewards of this land and their rich heritage. But as true crime storytellers, we have a responsibility to acknowledge that this history includes a painful legacy of systemic failure. So this June, we’re dedicating our episodes to the truth: that every Indigenous life is a story worth fighting for.⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of extreme violence, sexual exploitation, and historical racism. Listener discretion is strongly advised.You pour the coffee. I pour the truth.In 1889, a Cree teenager named Rosalie New Grass walked into a Calgary saloon and never walked out. She was beaten. She was mutilated. And her killer — a blacksmith named William “Jumbo” Fisk — walked straight to the Mounted Police and confessed.Open and shut, right?Not when the victim is “only a squaw.”The first all-white, all-male jury said not guilty. A second trial finally convicted him, but the damage was done. The message had been sent: some lives are cheap. Some deaths don’t matter.That message echoed down the Highway of Tears, into the Winnipeg landfills where serial killer Jeremy Skibicki dumped four Indigenous women, and into every courtroom where a white man walked free for killing an Indigenous person.This is the murder that started it all. And you have never heard it like this before.In this episode, we cover:* The brutal murder of Rosalie New Grass inside Calgary’s Turf Club saloon* How the 1876 Indian Act erased Indigenous women’s legal personhood* The shocking first trial verdict — and the judge who declared a mistrial* Why this 1889 case is the origin story of Canada’s MMIWG genocide crisis* What the National Inquiry got right — and what they missedResources & Support:* Hope for Wellness Helpline (24/7 for Indigenous peoples): 1-855-242-3310* Native Women’s Association of Canada: nwac.ca* MMIWG National Inquiry Final Report: mmiwg-ffada.caFollow & Support:Instagram: @darkroastcaffeinecasefilesSubstack: @darkroastcaffeinecasefilesFacebook: Dark Roast: Caffeine Casefiles PodcastSpotify: Dark Roast Caffeine CasefilesYoutube: Dark Roast: Caffeine CasefilesEmail: [email protected]: Dark Roast: Caffeine Case files by Caitlin Francois | SubstackRate and Review:If you enjoyed this episode, please rate us 5 stars and leave a review on Spotify. It helps other true crime and coffee lovers find the show. Get full access to Dark Roast: Caffeine Case files by Caitlin Francois at darkroastcaffeinecasefiles.substack.com/subscribe