An "OKI" sign sits on a table at Lethbridge College, serving as the City of Lethbridge's official greeting. Photo by Keith Driver.
It was the last major conflict between First Nations in Canada. And now, an Indigenous-led initiative will provide heritage management direction to the site of the Battle of the Belly River.
The battle was fought on October 25, 1870, between the Blackfoot and the Cree. The conflict unfolded in what is now the Lethbridge (Sikóóhkotoki) river valley. It began on the prairie (now west Lethbridge) before moving down the coulees and across the Belly (now Oldman) River. It ended where Indian Battle Park sits today.
The City of Lethbridge is partnering with the Kainai, Piikani and Siksika Nations and the Lethbridge and Area Métis to develop a Heritage Site Management Plan. These perspectives will ensure the site is managed in a way that honours traditional ways of knowing.
The final report is expected to be received in early 2025.
And also these types of stories and the heritage of the old man River the battle part to Chief mountain all the way to medicine, hat and the Sandhills. We all got to pull together and try and put this cultural textbook in the schools. Make it for kids and the basic basic acknowledgment of why kids can’t go hungry cuz of residential had our people suffer into this day. Need to know these these cultural songs and drums