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A vacation 'adventure' for this summer

Saskatchewan's history is chock full of intriguing tales that can leave you craving to investigate the story even more and to travel our province and explore the land where it all happened so many years ago.
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The Log Cabin Teahouse is just one of the venues to explore at Frenchman Butte Musuem.

Saskatchewan's history is chock full of intriguing tales that can leave you craving to investigate the story even more and to travel our province and explore the land where it all happened so many years ago.

The 1885 North West Rebellion, as it was termed in those days, is a prime example. Erupting in the spring of that year it resulted in monumental consequences for our nation and today inexplicably draws us toward embarking on an unforgettable great new adventure searching out the particulars.

The spring of 1885 saw Canada's prairies embroiled in a violent uprising of both the First Nations and Metis dissidents in central Saskatchewan. This uprising played itself out in three distinct segments, in concert with each other but not directly connected. The Metis under Louis Riel were concentrated at Batoche while unrest escalated amongst the Cree at Fort Battleford and a second Cree insurrection exploded at Frog Lake where at least nine white settlers were massacred and over 70 hostages taken captive.

The adventure I suggest is visiting west-central Saskatchewan this coming summer, exploring this spellbinding period of history. Discover for yourself the real story of how the end of Canada's "wild west" came about.

The journals of many of the participants of the 1885 Rebellion tell us it became abundantly clear to them this was their last opportunity to have a "great adventure." Forever gone were the massive herds of buffalo grazing on the waving prairie grass, soon to be replaced by the homesteader's plow laying dark furrows in the fertile prairie soil, and to a young man in 1885 this last chance must not slip away, so they enlisted.

Can I entice you to come and begin your adventure with a visit to the Frog Lake Historic Site, a short distance into eastern Alberta, an hour's drive north of Lloydminster? At this site there is a monument guarding a neat row of crosses commemorating the nine victims murdered April 2, 1885. Next to these graves lies a North West Mounted Policeman's grave, David Cowan, killed during the subsequent siege of Fort Pitt.

South of the historic site, just across a quiet country road is a newly developed walking trail featuring about a dozen story boards explaining the circumstances of that period of time. In the nearby underbrush, one can search out some of the original basements of the 1885 community and still sense the foreboding aura that still lingers in the air.

From Frog Lake, return east to Saskatchewan and, travelling south of the First Nations community of Onion Lake just above the North Saskatchewan River valley, you will find secondary highway no. 797. Turn east on this basecoat-paved road for approximately 16 kilometres to the road sign indicating Fort Pitt, then six kilometers south on this gravel road to descend into the river valley and the Fort Pitt Provincial Historic Park.

Like Frog Lake, this historic park has recently seen significant enhancements so expect to spend some time exploring this site. There were actually two forts built over the years, the first hosting many of the early celebrities, men such as HBC factor John Rowan Sr., explorer John Palliser and artist Paul Kane. The second fort was destined to become an integral part of the tragic events in 1885. Take your time here since this particular site's history could fill a library, let alone a book!

Your next step, possibly for a scrumptious lunch, is the Frenchman Butte Heritage Centre and Museum, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in summer months. Located right in the hamlet overlooking the river, this outstanding facility maintains a significant collection of artifacts housed in a number of buildings while its splendid log cabin tea-house provides light lunches and non-alcoholic beverages.

Exploring the "Adventure Trail of 1885" by RV is an ideal mode to choose, conveniently camping in the museum's adjacent Heritage RV Park and using it as a centre of operations. This recently expanded facility features water, sewer and electrical hook-ups for your convenience. There is so much to see and do in the surrounding district that spending several days exploring the area is a very easy thing.

Have a chat with the friendly tea-house staff to discover the many other features of the area worth visiting. Many of these attractions are unique, some being of an artistic variety while those of a historic nature rank as being unknown to the tourist, consequently they provide a true sense of discovery as you explore them.

For example, just a few kilometres to the northeast from the museum, is the Frenchman Butte National Historic Battle-site of 1885. This historic site features the still existing, defensive rifle-pits of the Cree on the north side with its commemorative monument overlooking the valley, and is easily attainable on short hiking trails leading to and from the day-use, parking area.

The militia positions across the valley feature a monument as well, but since the soldiers of the Alberta Field Force were advancing in an attack, they endured the battle without discernible fortifications. Features of the militia side of the battle have yet to be developed but the field gun's firing position is identified and convenient to explore.

Situated northeast of Frenchman Butte, about an hour's drive up Highway No. 21, is the scene of the last military action fought on Canadian soil - a violent skirmish at Steele Narrows on Loon Lake. This provincial historic park is about 10 kilometres west of the Town of Loon Lake and features a hilltop monument and descriptive information signs. This site has yet to reach the developmental level of the other 1885 sites but is still worth the visit to appreciate the viciousness of the fighting between the defending Cree warriors and the attacking contingent of Steele's Scouts.

So you ponder - how do I start my "adventure?" I recommend your preparation begin in your local library. Your new travel adventure for the coming summer will require some research since the virulent details of these events may influence your itinerary.

A few books worth reading are: Sam Steele and the North West Rebellion, published by Heritage House in their Amazing Stories series, author Wayne F. Brown. This tells the story in a condensed way while reserving a chapter explicitly for the explorer. Blood Red the Sun by author William Cameron is a personal account by a massacre survivor; also Loyal until Death, authors, Stonechild and Waiser.

A superb source of visitor information is a travellers' guide magazine, Circle the Northwest. Phone 1-306-248-3232, at the Town of St. Walburg, for a free copy. You can contact the Frenchman Butte Heritage Center and Museum at 1-306 344 4449 or the museum's president, Tom Hougham at 1-306-825-2246. Also, on the Internet, www.frenchmanbuttemuseum.ca and www.trailsof1885.ca are worth searching.

This coming summer can be one of your most memorable vacations ever, stepping back in time and discovering how rich our Canadian heritage really is - truly a chance to embark on your "great adventure"!