Road map Saskatoon and North Battleford city surrounding area (Saskatchewan, Canada)

The Battlefords

AI across west central Saskatchewan visitors will discover  reminders to the province's fascinating, sometimes, turbulent, past.  Battleford still treasures a legacy of heritage buildings from the time  when it was the seat of territorial government. Cut Knife is the site of  one of many military encounters of the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, which  brought conflict to the peaceful prairies. During the spring and fall,  vast flocks of birds crowd the Saskatchewan's skies. In this region, the  migratory spectacle can best be observed at Red Lake National Bird  Sanctuary.

Battleford [A3] The North West Territory's capital (1876 to  1882), Battleford lost its status when the government moved to Regina.  The old Government House (1878) recalls Battle-ford's brief glory. Also  prized here are some 30 heritage buildings, such as the Gardiner Church  (1886) and the town hall (1912). Fort Battleford National Historic Site  salutes the North West Mounted Police (forerunner of the RCMP). A  reconstructed stockade contains officers' quarters, the commanding  officer's residence, a guard house, and a stable. Guides in period  costume escort visitors around the site. The Fred Light Museum, housed  in an old school, displays a firearms collection, and also acts as a  visitors center. Saskatchewan's longest bridge spans the North  Saskatchewan River between Battleford and its sister city, North  Battleford.

Biggar [E4] "New York is big, but this is Biggar," proclaims a  billboard at the outskirts of this agricultural community. Biggar Museum  and Gallery tells about local settlement. The Homestead Museum consists  of eight pioneer buildings including a store, country church, and a red  hip-roof barn.

Cut Knife [A1] The world's largest tomahawk predominates here.  Its 9-m-long fir handle supports a fiberglass 1,250 kg blade. A cairn  commemorates the 1885 Battle of Cut Knife Hill, in which Chief  Pound-maker's Cree warriors repulsed an NWMP force. The battlefield  plaques recount details of the encounter. At Poundmaker Cree Nation,  north of Cut Knife, a framework of tepee poles on a hill mark the grave  of Poundmaker, a key figure of the 1885 Rebellion. The Clayton McLain  Memorial Museum houses Native and pioneer artifacts in 11 historic  buildings.

Hafford [A6] From this village, visitors can explore many of  the local lakes and parks. One must-see site, Redberry Lake National  Bird Sanctuary is 10 km east of town. Its salty waters and marshes  supply plants, fish, insects, and amphibians that sustain migrating  Canada geese, tundra swans, and tens of thousands of ducks. North  America's largest known colony of white-winged scoters can be seen near  Marshy Creek in late summer. The Stuart Houston Ecology Centre describes  Red Berry Lake's ecosystem, and offers bird-watching boat tours of the  lake.

North Battleford [A3]

This city of 15,000 was born when the Canadian National Railway  picked what was then a small settlement as a rail stop in 1905. Within  five years, it acquired city status. At the North Battleford branch of  the Western Development Museum, the theme is agriculture in  Saskatchewan. The museum contains a 1920s prairie village, complete with  a bank, barbershop, and drugstore, and a working farm, which employs  early agricultural equipment and techniques. North Battleford boasts an  art gallery devoted to acclaimed Cree artist Allan Sapp, whose work  depicts life at nearby Red Pheasant Reserve during the 1930s and 40s.  The gallery, located on the main floor of the restored Andrew Carnegie  Library, possesses more than 400 of the artist's paintings, donated by  his North Battleford mentor and patron, Alan Gonor.

ATTRACTIONS

BATTLEFORD

Government House Fred Light Museum Fort Battleford National Historic Site Historic Battleford Discovery Tour

BIGGAR     

Biggar Museum and Gallery Homestead Museum

CUT KNIFE

Clayton McLain Memorial Museum Chief Poundmaker

Historical Centre and Teepee Village

HAFFORD

Redberry Lake National Bird Sanctuary Stuart Houston Ecology Centre

NORTH BATTLEFORD

Allan Sapp Gallery Saskatchewan Baseball

Hall of Fame Western Development Museum

WILKIE

Wilkie Museum and Heritage Society

A military display of bygone weaponry at Fort Battleford