Duck Lake

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.

Researchers interviewed 19 local residents to gather information about perceptions of health, access to programs, services and infrastructure, and suggestions on how to improve community well-being.

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.

Entitled: "Indian of Duck Lake (Sask.). Postcard.

Postcard entitled "Beardy's Warriors". Image of eighteen men.

File contains thirty-two negatives from the Indian and Metis Jamboree at Duck Lake, Saskatchewan held on June 12, 1967. Two scanned negatives show aerial shots of a crowd on the Jamboree grounds, with the Duck Lake Wheat Pool Elevator visible in the background.

An panoramic image of the residential school gardens taken from the front entrance to the school looking out. Several Aboriginal children can be seen working in the courtyard, but they are distant and not clearly recognizable. A man, holding what appears to be a hoe, stands in the circular centre of the garden which is surrounded by a roadway.

An image of a large group of Aboriginal people in western style clothing with two teepees in the background. A priest in a black robe stands at the far right.

A photograph of the Indian Industrial School in Duck Lake, NWT at the time of the visit of the Half-Breed Commission, 1900.

Historical note:

A photograph of the Indian Industrial School grounds in Duck Lake, NWT at the time of the visit of the Half-Breed Commission, 1900.

Historical note:

This folder contains a large number of articles, mainly by Mrs. Wetton, describing Native people, their way of life, and problems they were experiencing in the post-contact period. Only a portion of the articles and two brochures were scanned, however there are many articles that contain multiple photographs and interpretations of how Aboriginal people lived on reserves in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

An image of three elderly Aboriginal people, one man and two women, standing in front of some deciduous trees. Each woman wears a dark shawl and a crucifix around her neck. The reverse of this postcard is badly damaged and mostly illegible. It is a bilingual Canadian postcard.

Caption: 'Gentleman' Joe McKay, mixed-blood interpreter for the mounted police, fired the first shot in what would become known as the Duck Lake battle From the book Loyal till Death: Indians and the North-West Rebellion by Blair Stonechild and Bill Waiser.

A portrait of "Gentleman" Joe McKay and Chief Mistawasis.

John Diefenbaker and two unidentified men standing at a microphone. Diefenbaker is being named Honourary Chief Eagle.

John G. Diefenbaker in Indian head dress with a group of native children of the Beardy Okemasis band at Old Mission School in Duck Lake.

Describes the history and features of one of the two St. Laurent style houses still inhabited in Canada.

Portrait of Lawrence Clarke, Chief Factor at Fort Carlton and member of the Territorial Council.

Contains links to webcasts and presentations on Aboriginal literacy from the Pan-Canadian Interactive Literacy Forum 2008: Legacy, which was put on by the Council of Ministers of Education and took place in nine different locations across Canada.

Note: The title and description of this document uses wording that was common to mainstream society of that time period in history. As such, it contains language that is no longer in common use and may offend some readers. This wording should not be construed to represent the views of the Indigenous Studies Portal or the University of Saskatchewan Library. A photograph of two Metis men sitting in front of a store in Duck Lake, NWT at the time of the visit of the Half-Breed Commission, 1900.

Focuses on the 1885 Resistance.

Métis Elder shares life lessons and stories of origin. Duration: 48:44.

Folder of clippings relating to the 50th anniversary of the Northwest Resistance. All clippings from the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix except where noted. Clippings glued to paper: 1. Almighty Voice's Prison; 2. Poundmaker's Surrender Highlight of Rebellion; 3. Last Buffalo Herds Seen On Western Plains in 1881; 4. Poundmaker's Forces Had Advantage at Cut Knife; 5. Surrender of Big Bear Marked End of Rebellion. Loose clippings: 6. Back in the Bone Age (clipping and photograph); 7. Bloody Massacre, Fifty Years Ago, at Frog Lake Climax of Indian Revolt; 8. Mounties in Riel Rebellion (photograph); 9.

This file contains a handwritten poem by James L. Robertson titled North West Rebellion / No. 2. March 19th, ‘85. The poem describes the gathering that led to the Prince Albert Volunteer force and includes various names of the Volunteers. Robertson writes of the impending battle against the Sioux at Duck Lake, Saskatchewan and wishes the volunteers well. The letter was donated to the Prince Albert Historical Society Museum by Fred M. Henderson of Victoria, BC in 1979.

Old house located west of Duck Lake from which the Metis fired during the Northwest Resistance. Trees and shrubs in foreground; side view of house in background.

Group portrait of Duck Lake and Batoche businessmen, politician and Indian Agent. Front row, seated left to right: Eugene Boucher, Conservative member for Batoche Francois-Xavier "Batoche" Letendre, Merchant of Batoche (Eugene Boucher's father-in-law) W.J. Pozer, Duck Lake Merchant. Standing left to right: George Fisher, Liquor Store Proprietor at Duck Lake Damase Racette, Batoche Ferry Operator Gus Fournier, Massey-Harris Agent, Duck Lake U.S. Urton, C.P.R. Agent, Duck Lake Mr. St. Louis, Implement Agent, Duck Lake Patrice Parenteau, Merchant, Duck Lake R.S.

Provides background information relevant to identity, summary of evidence heard, and committee's key observations and recommendations to the federal government. Includes seven community profiles.

Photograph of a Cree man alleged to be Almighty Voice, famed for his standoff against the North West Mounted Police. Almighty Voice was from the One Arrow First Nation.

Documentary filmed during a community discussion of Aboriginal issues such as residential schools, lack of employment, and economic opportunism. Duration: 14:30.

File containing an agenda for the official opening of the Duck Lake Historical Museum including presentations made by Beardy and the Okemasis Reserves.

Photograph of a memorial plaque erected to commemorate the Prince Albert Volunteers and North West Mounted Police who lost their lives at the Battle of Duck Lake on March 26, 1885.

A typescript of a newspaper article headlined "The stirring days of the 1885 Rebellion recalled by Prince Albert citizens who fought at the war centre in defence of their country." Includes a list of the Prince Albert volunteers who served and those who were killed or wounded. Item found within folder 1 of file Rebellion, 1885.

A typed transcription of an article from the Saskatchewan Herald, 23 April 1885, by Wm. Laurie. Item found within folder 1 of file Rebellion, 1885.

Historical note:

A typed transcription of a Sunday Record-Herald (location unknown) newspaper article of the story of Almighty Voice. A sympathetic portrayal of Almighty Voice for that time. Item found within folder 1 of file Rebellion, 1885.

Historical note:

A book published by the Prince Albert Herald in 1935 which is a compilation of first hand stories of 1885. These stories had previously appeared in the Herald newspaper between March 19 and April 26, 1935. The stories are mainly from the point of view of non-Aboriginal settlers, however, there are some Metis stories.

Gerald Willoughby's book describes his arrival from England to Saskatoon in 1883, and he was among Saskatoon's first citizens. His peaceful dealings with Louis Riel and various chiefs are detailed, particularly those with Chief Whitecap. Willoughby offers an assessment of the lives of aboriginals living near Saskatoon and notes numerous similarities between "the Red Men and the White Men."

Historical note:

Gerald Willoughby (1866-1933) was one of the first citizens of Saskatoon, NWT.

Article subjects include the televised CBC drama 'Riel,' and Louis Riel's authorship of poetry and fables.

Historical note:

The purpose of the Riel project is to publish a critical edition of all the writings of Louis Riel. The edition is to present a printed version faithful to what Riel himself wrote, being "critical" in the sense that errors will be noted, variants recorded, and annotations furnished. In English / French.

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.

Presents a story about the spirit of a traditional Métis shapeshifter who transforms people's lives. Duration: 5:31.

File contains an a presentation by Sharon Venne of the Saulteau First Nation. She provides her perspective on Aboriginal governance, the Treaty and the failure of non-Aboriginal society to live up to it, conflicts with the province over wildlife management rights, and educational matters. Following Venne's presentation Erasmus discusses some of these issues with her. Venne also discusses the origins of her First Nation in Manitoba, and a trip there to meet with distant Saulteaux relations of her Nation. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

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.

Note: The description of this document uses wording that was common to mainstream society of that time period in history. As such, it contains language that is no longer in common use and may offend some readers. This wording should not be construed to represent the views of the Indigenous Studies Portal or the University of Saskatchewan Library. A short article on the ongoing Northwest Resistance and some biographical information and a sketch of Louis Riel from the perspective of an Eastern Canadian Newspaper. Includes a large sketch of Louis Riel "in his costume of a Canadian half-breed."

A photograph of the Duck Lake battleground, taken sometime after the fight itself. The house near where many of the Prince Albert Volunteers fell in action is clearly visible in the distance. The battleground itself is located near what is today highway # 212.

Duck Lake Student Residence start a powwow and cultural program for students.

Thomas McKay in 1882. McKay was an English Metis (Countryborn) actively opposed to Riel in the Northwest Resistance.

Historical note:

Prince Albert's municipal history began in 1885, with the election of the Honourable Thomas McKay as mayor; it was also the year that the community was incorporated as a town.

Describes the author’s experience visiting locations associated with the Northwest Resistance such as Fort Carlton, Clark's Crossing, Fish Creek, Batoche and Duck Lake, and speaking to local people about the different sites and events. Entire issue on one pdf file, scroll to page 30.

This file consists of 7 items, including typed copies of articles with handwritten notes about Henry John Moberly. Item titles are: I. H.J. Moberly (2p); II. Fort Edmonton in the Fifties (6p); III. The Missing Blacksmith (2p); IV. Mixing It Up With Running Wolf (5p); V. Koominakoos (3p); VI. Dutch Henry (2p); VII. Copy of letter from Henry John Moberly to George Walton, June 10, 1929 (1p).

Historical note:

This file consists of 25 items, including newspaper articles and typed copies of oral histories, mostly concerning the Northwest Rebellion.