At the confluence of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers in Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada
Fort Battleford National Historic Site
Type
Fort
Site information
Controlled by
Canada
Site history
Built
1876
In use
1876-1924
Materials
Wood
Battles/wars
North-West Rebellion
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name
Fort Battleford National Historic Site of Canada
Designated
1923
Garrison information
Garrison
North-West Mounted Police
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 of 1885. It was here Chief Poundmaker was arrested, and where six Cree and two Stoney men were hanged for murders committed in the Frog Lake Massacre and the Looting of Battleford. In reference to the hanging, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald said in a letter that "the executions... ought to convince the Red Man that the White Man governs."[1]
Ford Battleford
Its location near the confluence of the North Saskatchewan and the Battle rivers offered access to fresh water, as it was many years before an on-site well was made available; and offered an alternative means of transportation to the Red River cart. As the site was 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 500 people, and they helped to fortify Battleford.
Battleford being designated capital of the North-West Territories 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 in the area and help them to transition from their nomadic lifestyle to a more stationary one, modelled on European societies. They also hoped that the NWMP would assist settlers in their homesteading efforts and their presence in the area would encourage the people to respect the law.
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 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 it was eventually built on a more southerly route, which resulted in the moving of the capital of the North-West Territories from Battleford to Regina, then known as Pile o' Bones.
^Wright, Barry; Binnie, Susan, eds. (2009). Canadian State Trials: Political Trials and Security Measures, 1840-1914. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 480. ISBN 9781442640153.
FortBattleford 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...
post and North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) fort. Its post office opened in 1877. Between 1876 and 1883, Battleford was the territorial capital of the North-West...
of Battleford. Together, the two communities are known as "The Battlefords". North Battleford borders the Rural Municipality of North Battleford No....
North-West Mounted Police FortBattleford. When Poundmaker and his party reached the town, the Indian agent refused to come out of the fort to meet with them...
Duck Lake Battleford Frog Lake Fort Pitt Fish Creek Cut Knife Batoche Butte Loon Lake The Siege of Battleford was a siege during the North-West Rebellion...
The hangings at Battleford refers to the hanging on November 27, 1885, of eight Indigenous men for murders committed in the North-West Rebellion. The executed...
Duck Lake Battleford Frog Lake Fort Pitt Fish Creek Cut Knife Batoche Butte Loon Lake The Looting of Battleford began at the end of March, 1885, during...
Duck Lake Battleford Frog Lake Fort Pitt Fish Creek Cut Knife Batoche Butte Loon Lake The Battle of Cut Knife, fought on May 2, 1885, occurred when a...
Hall in Regina. It was featured by Creepy Canada. FortBattleford in Battleford. Fort San in Fort Qu'Appelle. Government House in Regina. Gravelbourg...
their horses had been stolen by 'Indians', the men travelled on foot to Fort Benton, Montana Territory, about 8 kilometres (5 mi), and asked for assistance...
abandon the fort. This they did, and travelled amongst the ice pans in a leaky scow. Scouts from FortBattleford reported that everyone at Fort Pitt had...
established around the rivers. Examples include Fort Edmonton (Edmonton, Alberta), FortBattleford (Battleford, Saskatchewan), Prince Albert, Saskatchewan...
Battleford Industrial School The Battleford Industrial School was a Canadian Indian residential school for First Nations children in Battleford, Northwest...
Forts established by the North-West Mounted Police includes: FortBattleford, Saskatchewan Fort Calgary, Alberta Fort Livingstone, Saskatchewan Fort Walsh...
Albert City Hall Fort de la Corne FortBattlefordFort Carlton Fort Espérance Fort Livingstone Fort Pelly Fort Pitt Fort Qu'Appelle Fort Walsh Frenchman...
8242194°N 106.2738833°W / 52.8242194; -106.2738833 Duck Lake Battleford Frog Lake Fort Pitt Fish Creek Cut Knife Batoche Butte Loon Lake The Battle of...
(secondary coordinates) This article is a list of historic places in Battleford, Saskatchewan entered on the Canadian Register of Historic Places, whether...
greater threat. After losing control of Fort Pitt, Dickens and his men retreated to the safety of Battleford, effectively ending Dickens active duty with...
development of the province. The museum has branches in Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon and Yorkton. Respectively, each branch focuses on a different...
Duck Lake Battleford Frog Lake Fort Pitt Fish Creek Cut Knife Batoche Butte Loon Lake The Battle of Fish Creek (also known as the Battle of Tourond's...
Fort Walsh is a National Historic Site of Canada that was a North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) fort and the site of the Cypress Hills Massacre. Administered...
Albert City Hall Fort de la Corne FortBattlefordFort Carlton Fort Espérance Fort Livingstone Fort Pelly Fort Pitt Fort Qu'Appelle Fort Walsh Frenchman...
Albert City Hall Fort de la Corne FortBattlefordFort Carlton Fort Espérance Fort Livingstone Fort Pelly Fort Pitt Fort Qu'Appelle Fort Walsh Frenchman...
Global Information
Canada