Fort Battleford
Encyclopedia
Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada
, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion / Resistance
of 1885. It was there that Poundmaker was arrested, and that six Cree
and two Stoney
men were hanged for their participation in the Frog Lake massacre and other killings.
Fort Battleford is located at the centre of the junction of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers. This site offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; it also offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River Cart. As the site was also on a plateau, the fort was easily defensible, and offered clear lines of sight for the surrounding area and to Government Ridge - thus providing warning against possible attacks. The fort sheltered around five hundred people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
The fact that Battleford was then the newly designated capital of the Northwest Territories also played a substantial role in the decision to locate the fort there. The government's belief was that the presence of the NWMP would act as a civilizing influence on the First Nations
people in the area, and help them to transition from their nomad
ic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European
societies. They also hoped that the force would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts, and that their presence in the area would encourage the people of the area to respect the laws and rules of the government.
The difficulties that had plagued Native American
-Government relations in the United States
, along with the high Aboriginal
population in the Battleford area, further prompted the federal government to establish a strong NWMP presence. Both the Canadian government and the First Nations people were quite aware of what had transpired south of the "Medicine Line" and sought to follow a different path.
The original Canadian Pacific Railway
route was also to pass through Battleford, along the Qu'Appelle route, but this was overruled in favour of a more southerly route - which resulted, later, in the moving of the capital of the Northwest Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile O' Bones (and also the reason why Regina is the only provincial capital not built on a major waterway).
Fort Otter was constructed at Battleford's government house located at the capital of the North-West Territories
(1876 and 1883). The largest Canadian mass hanging occurred here when eight first nation men executed in the aftermath of the Frog Lake Massacre
.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site has been declared a National Historic site of Canada to commemorate its role as military base of operations for Cut Knife Hill, Fort Pitt, as a refuge for 500 area settlers and its role in the Siege of Battleford.
Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada
, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion / Resistance
of 1885. It was there that Poundmaker was arrested, and that six Cree
and two Stoney
men were hanged for their participation in the Frog Lake massacre and other killings.
Fort Battleford is located at the centre of the junction of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers. This site offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; it also offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River Cart. As the site was also on a plateau, the fort was easily defensible, and offered clear lines of sight for the surrounding area and to Government Ridge - thus providing warning against possible attacks. The fort sheltered around five hundred people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
The fact that Battleford was then the newly designated capital of the Northwest Territories also played a substantial role in the decision to locate the fort there. The government's belief was that the presence of the NWMP would act as a civilizing influence on the First Nations
people in the area, and help them to transition from their nomad
ic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European
societies. They also hoped that the force would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts, and that their presence in the area would encourage the people of the area to respect the laws and rules of the government.
The difficulties that had plagued Native American
-Government relations in the United States
, along with the high Aboriginal
population in the Battleford area, further prompted the federal government to establish a strong NWMP presence. Both the Canadian government and the First Nations people were quite aware of what had transpired south of the "Medicine Line" and sought to follow a different path.
The original Canadian Pacific Railway
route was also to pass through Battleford, along the Qu'Appelle route, but this was overruled in favour of a more southerly route - which resulted, later, in the moving of the capital of the Northwest Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile O' Bones (and also the reason why Regina is the only provincial capital not built on a major waterway).
Fort Otter was constructed at Battleford's government house located at the capital of the North-West Territories
(1876 and 1883). The largest Canadian mass hanging occurred here when eight first nation men executed in the aftermath of the Frog Lake Massacre
.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site has been declared a National Historic site of Canada to commemorate its role as military base of operations for Cut Knife Hill, Fort Pitt, as a refuge for 500 area settlers and its role in the Siege of Battleford.
Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada
, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion / Resistance
of 1885. It was there that Poundmaker was arrested, and that six Cree
and two Stoney
men were hanged for their participation in the Frog Lake massacre and other killings.
Fort Battleford is located at the centre of the junction of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers. This site offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; it also offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River Cart. As the site was also on a plateau, the fort was easily defensible, and offered clear lines of sight for the surrounding area and to Government Ridge - thus providing warning against possible attacks. The fort sheltered around five hundred people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
The fact that Battleford was then the newly designated capital of the Northwest Territories also played a substantial role in the decision to locate the fort there. The government's belief was that the presence of the NWMP would act as a civilizing influence on the First Nations
people in the area, and help them to transition from their nomad
ic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European
societies. They also hoped that the force would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts, and that their presence in the area would encourage the people of the area to respect the laws and rules of the government.
The difficulties that had plagued Native American
-Government relations in the United States
, along with the high Aboriginal
population in the Battleford area, further prompted the federal government to establish a strong NWMP presence. Both the Canadian government and the First Nations people were quite aware of what had transpired south of the "Medicine Line" and sought to follow a different path.
The original Canadian Pacific Railway
route was also to pass through Battleford, along the Qu'Appelle route, but this was overruled in favour of a more southerly route - which resulted, later, in the moving of the capital of the Northwest Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile O' Bones (and also the reason why Regina is the only provincial capital not built on a major waterway).
Fort Otter was constructed at Battleford's government house located at the capital of the North-West Territories
(1876 and 1883). The largest Canadian mass hanging occurred here when eight first nation men executed in the aftermath of the Frog Lake Massacre
.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site has been declared a National Historic site of Canada to commemorate its role as military base of operations for Cut Knife Hill, Fort Pitt, as a refuge for 500 area settlers and its role in the Siege of Battleford.
{
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion / Resistance
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885. It was there that Poundmaker was arrested, and that six Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and two Stoney
Stoney
-Individuals:* Stoney LaRue, a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma* Casey Stoney , a footballer , currently playing for Lincoln Ladies* Clementine Stoney , a former backstroke swimmer from Australia* George C...
men were hanged for their participation in the Frog Lake massacre and other killings.
Fort Battleford is located at the centre of the junction of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers. This site offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; it also offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River Cart. As the site was also on a plateau, the fort was easily defensible, and offered clear lines of sight for the surrounding area and to Government Ridge - thus providing warning against possible attacks. The fort sheltered around five hundred people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
The fact that Battleford was then the newly designated capital of the Northwest Territories also played a substantial role in the decision to locate the fort there. The government's belief was that the presence of the NWMP would act as a civilizing influence on the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
people in the area, and help them to transition from their nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
societies. They also hoped that the force would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts, and that their presence in the area would encourage the people of the area to respect the laws and rules of the government.
The difficulties that had plagued Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
-Government relations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along with the high Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
population in the Battleford area, further prompted the federal government to establish a strong NWMP presence. Both the Canadian government and the First Nations people were quite aware of what had transpired south of the "Medicine Line" and sought to follow a different path.
The original Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
route was also to pass through Battleford, along the Qu'Appelle route, but this was overruled in favour of a more southerly route - which resulted, later, in the moving of the capital of the Northwest Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile O' Bones (and also the reason why Regina is the only provincial capital not built on a major waterway).
Legacy
In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Resistance is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today."Fort Otter was constructed at Battleford's government house located at the capital of the North-West Territories
Territorial evolution of Canada
The federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later...
(1876 and 1883). The largest Canadian mass hanging occurred here when eight first nation men executed in the aftermath of the Frog Lake Massacre
Frog Lake Massacre
The Frog Lake Massacre was a Cree uprising during the North-West Rebellion in western Canada. Led by Wandering Spirit, young Cree warriors attacked the village of Frog Lake, North-West Territories on 2 April 1885, where they killed nine settlers.- Causes :Angered by what seemed to be unfair...
.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site has been declared a National Historic site of Canada to commemorate its role as military base of operations for Cut Knife Hill, Fort Pitt, as a refuge for 500 area settlers and its role in the Siege of Battleford.
External links
- Fort Battleford National Historic Site - official site
Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion / Resistance
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885. It was there that Poundmaker was arrested, and that six Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and two Stoney
Stoney
-Individuals:* Stoney LaRue, a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma* Casey Stoney , a footballer , currently playing for Lincoln Ladies* Clementine Stoney , a former backstroke swimmer from Australia* George C...
men were hanged for their participation in the Frog Lake massacre and other killings.
Fort Battleford is located at the centre of the junction of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers. This site offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; it also offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River Cart. As the site was also on a plateau, the fort was easily defensible, and offered clear lines of sight for the surrounding area and to Government Ridge - thus providing warning against possible attacks. The fort sheltered around five hundred people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
The fact that Battleford was then the newly designated capital of the Northwest Territories also played a substantial role in the decision to locate the fort there. The government's belief was that the presence of the NWMP would act as a civilizing influence on the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
people in the area, and help them to transition from their nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
societies. They also hoped that the force would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts, and that their presence in the area would encourage the people of the area to respect the laws and rules of the government.
The difficulties that had plagued Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
-Government relations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along with the high Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
population in the Battleford area, further prompted the federal government to establish a strong NWMP presence. Both the Canadian government and the First Nations people were quite aware of what had transpired south of the "Medicine Line" and sought to follow a different path.
The original Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
route was also to pass through Battleford, along the Qu'Appelle route, but this was overruled in favour of a more southerly route - which resulted, later, in the moving of the capital of the Northwest Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile O' Bones (and also the reason why Regina is the only provincial capital not built on a major waterway).
Legacy
In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Resistance is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today."Fort Otter was constructed at Battleford's government house located at the capital of the North-West Territories
Territorial evolution of Canada
The federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later...
(1876 and 1883). The largest Canadian mass hanging occurred here when eight first nation men executed in the aftermath of the Frog Lake Massacre
Frog Lake Massacre
The Frog Lake Massacre was a Cree uprising during the North-West Rebellion in western Canada. Led by Wandering Spirit, young Cree warriors attacked the village of Frog Lake, North-West Territories on 2 April 1885, where they killed nine settlers.- Causes :Angered by what seemed to be unfair...
.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site has been declared a National Historic site of Canada to commemorate its role as military base of operations for Cut Knife Hill, Fort Pitt, as a refuge for 500 area settlers and its role in the Siege of Battleford.
External links
- Fort Battleford National Historic Site - official site
Fort Battleford was the sixth North-West Mounted Police fort to be established in the North-West Territories of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and played a central role in the events of the North-West Rebellion / Resistance
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
of 1885. It was there that Poundmaker was arrested, and that six Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
and two Stoney
Stoney
-Individuals:* Stoney LaRue, a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma* Casey Stoney , a footballer , currently playing for Lincoln Ladies* Clementine Stoney , a former backstroke swimmer from Australia* George C...
men were hanged for their participation in the Frog Lake massacre and other killings.
Fort Battleford is located at the centre of the junction of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers. This site offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; it also offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River Cart. As the site was also on a plateau, the fort was easily defensible, and offered clear lines of sight for the surrounding area and to Government Ridge - thus providing warning against possible attacks. The fort sheltered around five hundred people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
The fact that Battleford was then the newly designated capital of the Northwest Territories also played a substantial role in the decision to locate the fort there. The government's belief was that the presence of the NWMP would act as a civilizing influence on the First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
people in the area, and help them to transition from their nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
societies. They also hoped that the force would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts, and that their presence in the area would encourage the people of the area to respect the laws and rules of the government.
The difficulties that had plagued Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
-Government relations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along with the high Aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
population in the Battleford area, further prompted the federal government to establish a strong NWMP presence. Both the Canadian government and the First Nations people were quite aware of what had transpired south of the "Medicine Line" and sought to follow a different path.
The original Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
route was also to pass through Battleford, along the Qu'Appelle route, but this was overruled in favour of a more southerly route - which resulted, later, in the moving of the capital of the Northwest Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile O' Bones (and also the reason why Regina is the only provincial capital not built on a major waterway).
Legacy
In the spring of 2008, Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Christine Tell proclaimed in Duck lake, that "the 125th commemoration, in 2010, of the 1885 Northwest Resistance is an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the prairie Métis and First Nations peoples' struggle with Government forces and how it has shaped Canada today."Fort Otter was constructed at Battleford's government house located at the capital of the North-West Territories
Territorial evolution of Canada
The federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later...
(1876 and 1883). The largest Canadian mass hanging occurred here when eight first nation men executed in the aftermath of the Frog Lake Massacre
Frog Lake Massacre
The Frog Lake Massacre was a Cree uprising during the North-West Rebellion in western Canada. Led by Wandering Spirit, young Cree warriors attacked the village of Frog Lake, North-West Territories on 2 April 1885, where they killed nine settlers.- Causes :Angered by what seemed to be unfair...
.
Fort Battleford National Historic Site has been declared a National Historic site of Canada to commemorate its role as military base of operations for Cut Knife Hill, Fort Pitt, as a refuge for 500 area settlers and its role in the Siege of Battleford.
External links
- Fort Battleford National Historic Site - official site
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