Charley - my grandfather's cousin, Aubrey Fullerton, was a journalist from Annapolis and Digby, Nova Scotia, and traveled for years in western Canada and the US plains states (among other places.) He wrote many stories for periodicals about the region, environment, and occupants (mostly the natives.) I'm sure if he gave your mother that version, it was exactly as he first heard it out Winnipeg way.

w.w.fullerton