Frog Lake National Historic Site

Just inside the Alberta border, the site of this tragic event is laden with memories of lives lived and lost: archaeological remains, a cemetery, and depressions in the earth representing the church, the mill, the milk house, stables… remnants of old wagon trails still exist. Frog Lake became a rallying cry for the Canadian Militia who were sent west to deal with the rising conflicts. Frustrated with the Canadian Government, especially the provision of food rations, Kah-Paypamhchukwao, also known as Wandering Spirit, and other warriors take control of Mishtahimaskwa’s (also known as Big Bear’s) Cree band and come to Frog Lake to take up issues with the Indian Agent. Tension erupts in the small settlement and nine people are killed and the rest taken hostage. The deaths at Frog Lake drive the Canadian Government to take a stronger law and order stance in the West.