Fish Creek

Image of wounded soldiers leaving for Saskatoon likely from Fish Creek on 2 May 1885 during the Northwest Resistance. A trail of men on horseback and horse-drawn wagons are visible.

Report dealing with the National Historic Park at Batoche and discussing various proposed improvements and difficulties. Includes discussion of archeaology, classification, preservation, tourist facilities, ecology, historical representation and other issues encountered by the Park.

Negative of an artists representation of the Battle of Fish Creek.

Image of the camp at Fish Creek during the Northwest Resistance. Tents, soldiers, horses and wagons visible in background.

Chapter XII, "Rebellion". A summary of the events concerning the 1885 Resistance. Hawkes separates the sections into "The Fighting", "Fish Creek", "Batcoche", "Captain Howard and his Gatling Gun", "Cut Knife", "The Alberta Field Force: Frenchman's Butte", "The Ballad of the Near-Battle of Cussed Creek". The chapter includes images of the North West Mounted Police guard room, Regina Barracks, Tourand's Home, the stone house at Warman Ferry, an old house in Duck Lake, Old Mill at Duck Lake, Store at Duck Lake, the remains of the old convent at St. Laurent, "Riel's Councillors".

Chapter XII, "The Battleford Column: Diary of Transport Officer G.B. Murphy".

A series of 16 articles written by Mrs. C. Wetton of North Battleford relating to the daily reports of the House of Commons of the activities of Louis Riel and others. The articles relate to events beginning on 16 March 1885, and ending on 1 March 1886.

Historical note:

Mrs. C. Wetton was a staff correspondent for the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix at North Battleford for 37 years.

A series of historical notes on points of special interest between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Includes information on Metis Southbranch settlements such as Batoche and Duck Lake, as well as information on the Carlton and associated trails.

Several sketches of Metis forces from the 1885 Resistance. Includes battle scenes shown from the Metis side at Duck Lake and Fish Creek, as well as a sketch of Gabriel Dumont addressing his troops.

Image of the Fish Creek Roman Catholic Church, facing south.

A photograph of dead Canadian soldiers at Fish Creek, NWT, 1885, taken shortly after the Battle of Fish Creek. A soldier is shown covering one of the corpses with a blanket.

Image from the north of Fish Creek, Saskatchewan during the Northwest Resistance.

A portrait etching of Gabriel Dumont.

This letter, written by deputy sheriff of Prince Albert following his seven-week detainment by members of the Métis resistance, provides a prisoner of war’s perspective on the battles at Duck Lake, Fish Creek and Batoche. Entire issue on one pdf file, scroll to page 24.

A photograph of the government's surveyors corps of scouts during the 1885 uprising, probably taken at Qu'Appelle prior to Middleton's march north. The men appear to be armed with lever action repeating rifles and pistols.

A photograph of grenadiers of the Northwest Field Force (Canadian Army) at Fish Creek, NWT, 1885. It is unclear from the shot whether it was taken during the battle, or afterwards while Middleton's troops camped there. Many of the grenadiers are lying prone on the ground which seems to indicate that they are engaged in firing.

Image of the Royal Grenadiers relieving the Winnipeg 90th Battalion at Fish Creek during the Northwest Resistance.

A guide at Fort Battleford Museum points to Batoche on a map to show where Gabriel Dumont's Lefacheaux .38 pin fire revolver was used in 1885.

Focuses on the 1885 Resistance.

Image of troops, wagons and guns at the opening of the Battle of Fish Creek. On back of photo: "Photograph taken by Captain Peters about 10:15 a.m., April 24, 1885, just as the guns he commanded rushed up at the opening of the Battle of Fish Creek. Upper right is the treeline and just beyond is the ravine containing Fish Creek. The Metis warriors hidden here are firing on Boulton's scouts. The inexperienced soldiers have formed a semi-circle and are fully exposed.

Portrait sketches of key figures in the Northwest Resistance. Subjects include Mrs. T. Charles Watson, Major T.C. Watson, Lt.-Col. the Hon. W.N. Kennedy, Corporal Lethbridge, Col.-Sergt. Cooper, and Capt. Herbert Swinford. Caption of sketches: "(1) Mrs. T. Charles Watson, who has commenced a series of dramatic readings in aid of local patriotic funds; (2) Major T.C. Watson, (late of H.M. service), commanding the troops raised at Yorkton, Assiniboia; (3) Lt.-Col. the Hon. W.N. Kennedy, of the 90th Batt.

Portrait sketches of key figures in the Northwest Resistance. Sketch subjects include Lieut. A.Y. Scott, Bugler Foulkes, and Lieut-Colonel Bond.

Chapter from book of the same.name The regiment's involvement in conflicts of the 1800s, such as the Fenian raids, the Red River Resistance and the Northwest Resistance, is documented. Includes sketches of Mahvadehrie (Yellow Bird) and Litkhansahra (Blackbird), sons of the Sioux chief Whitecap; and Toukwakahn (Enemy of the Great Spirit), brother-in-law of Whitecap.

Historical note:

The York Pioneer and Historical Society was founded by Richard H. Oates in 1869 in Toronto, ON. The society maintains two museums and a library of historical books and documents.

A photograph of Metis positions on the Fish Creek battleground, likely taken shortly after the battle by a Canadian Army photographer. Presumably the Metis soldiers were positioned in the wooded area of the coulee visible ahead in the photograph. This may be the opening scene of the battle where Middleton's Scouts were met by an opening fusilade from the Metis ranks. The farmhouse visible on the right is possibly Tourond's house, for whose family the place takes its Metis name of "Tourond's Coulee."

Greetings from the Mayor of Selkirk, MB, James Colceugh, applauding the forces members for their bravery for their country during the Northwest Resistance. Item found within folder 1 of file Rebellion, 1885.

This report provides statistics on battle casualties suffered by the Canadian Militia and North West Field Force during the Northwest Rebellion.

Riel Resistance Scroll found in Battleford in 1961. Names were intended to be placed on a memorial column in Battleford for soldiers killed in 1885.

Government of Saskatchewan promotional pamphlet presenting passages from Louis Riel's 1885 Diary in French and English. Released in commemoration of the 1985 Centennial of the Northwest Resistance.

A guide to Saskatchewan sites of historical interest related to the Northwest Resistance of 1885. It was released by the Northwest Advisory Committee and approved by the Government of Saskatchewan in the hope that it would "heighten public interest in the history of the events...and foster an expanding tourist industry." Includes many historical details of Resistance events in addition to as maps and pictures.

Caption: "This is how an artist pictured Saskatoon (the Nutana side) when the Riel Rebellion was in progress. Wounded from the battles of Fish Creek and Batoche, 85 in number, were brought to Saskatoon for treatment by professionals and volunteers. Three houses in the vicinity of the present Nutana Collegiate Institute were used as hospitals."

Image of soldier preparing [a body] for burial after the battle of Fish Creek.

Various papers and articles pertaining to Louis Riel. Includes correspondence regarding Diefenbaker's view of Riel, the alleged bribe Riel requested to depart from Canada, a request for information to fight the naming of Place Riel at the University of Saskatchewan, casualty lists from the Northwest Resistance and letters regarding the commemoration of Riel's legacy.

Sketch of wounded men from the Battle of Fish Creek being treated; some on stretchers, one man sitting on the ground, and one man standing with two medical personnel being treated. Men on horseback in background.