MOOSE JAW — The year was 1875 and Ottawa had established the Supreme Court, Canadian Pacific Railway began construction of its line and future First World War general Arthur Currie was born.
That was also the year that the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) constructed Fort Walsh in Cypress Hills in southwest Saskatchewan, near the site of the 1873 Cypress Hills Massacre.
The fort was named after its builder, Inspector James Morrow Walsh, and its purpose was to stop the illegal whisky trade and protect the border from Americans, who moved through the area regularly to hunt and trade.
Fort Walsh served as an important place for the next decade, with traders, pioneers and Aboriginal people often visiting it. It also served as the headquarters for the NWMP from 1878 to 1882, but in 1883, Ottawa closed and dismantled it.
The federal government made the original outpost a national historic site of Canada in 1924, and in the 1940s, it reconstructed the entire fort and used it to breed horses for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Musical Ride program.
To celebrate the fort’s 150th anniversary, Parks Canada is holding an event — “Living history, lasting legacy,” is its theme — at the fort on Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
RCMP cadets from Depot Division in Regina will be in period costume performing dismounted cavalry drills, as a nod to the organization’s history and traditions. Similarly, Fort Walsh interpreters will be in historic uniforms, where they will perform traditional precision drills and skirmishes on foot and fire a seven-pound field gun.
There will also be interactive demonstrations of historic trades such as blacksmithing and horseshoeing, First Nation and Metis culture camps, wagon rides, an outdoor market and a kids’ activity area.
“We’re excited to have this event happening at the fort to commemorate the 150th anniversary. We’re (also) excited to be working with the RCMP Academy at Depot Division with the cadets … participating in demonstrations,” said Shauna Schmidt, a spokeswoman for Parks Canada.
“It’s a big milestone in the history of Fort Walsh. National historic sites like Fort Walsh reflect the rich and varied heritage of Canada and provide an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about our diverse history,” she stated.
Continuing, Schmidt said there are many interesting historical facts about the site, such as that the NWMP established the fort one year after Ottawa signed Treaty 4 in Fort Qu’Appelle. Further, Fort Walsh was the first NWMP outpost in Western Canada — the officers arrived in 1874 — and was the organization’s first headquarters before Ottawa transferred it to Regina in 1882.
Fort Walsh is a shared part of the history of Saskatchewan and Canada, while Parks Canada is a leader in protecting that cultural heritage, sharing stories of “these treasured places” and fostering the public’s awareness and understanding, the spokeswoman said.
Parks Canada is also privileged to work with indigenous people, partners, stakeholders and the public in every province and territory to bring forward these stories and share their rich histories across the country, Schmidt added.
Fort Walsh National Historic Site is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until Saturday, Sept. 27. Visitors can take a guided tour, view several interactive displays in the visitors’ centre, explore the trails and spend time in the surrounding Cypress Hills.
Also, as part of its Canada Strong Pass, the federal government is offering free admission to national historic sites, national parks and national marine conservation areas from now until Tuesday, Sept. 2.
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