|
|
Article: Name of Medicine Hat.
- Article from:
- Canadian Speeches
- Article date:
- September 1, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Canadian Speeches. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The story of how Medicine Hat, Alberta, got its name is told in The Leader, Regina, July 5, 1883.
Many years ago a battle took place between the Blackfeet on the one side, and a body of Crees and Sioux on the other, which resulted in a victory for the Blackfeet. The scene of the battle was what is known among the Indians as "Bitter Lake," a small body of water at the end of the valley here, and connecting with the Saskatchewan [river]. The legend runs that during the battle, or in the confusion resulting from it, the "medicine man" of the Sioux tribe lost his hat, the symbol of his office among his tribe and by which he was distinguished from the rest of them.
...