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B A T U S 2 0 1 0 A Short History of the Suffield Area


1. Before the arrival of the Europeans the area now used for training was inhabited by Indians who roamed the prairies pursuing a mainly nomadic way of life. They followed vast herds of buffalo from which they obtained most of the necessities of life, including food, clothing and weapons to the materials for their teepees. The main tribes in the Region were the Blackfoot Confederation comprising the Blackfoot, Bloods and Peigans whilst the East and South were the Plains, Cree and Sioux. The Blackfoot and Cree were constantly fighting and stealing horses from each other and the places named Drowning Ford and Watching Hill on the training area are derived from battles between the tribes. Medicine Hat takes its name from the site of one such battle near Police Point on the South Saskatchewan River. During the battle, a Cree Medicine Man lost his hat and as this was considered a bad omen, the Cree fled to be pursued and cut down by the Blackfoot. The ‘Medicine Man’ is the formation sign of BATUS.


2. What is now the Province of Alberta was included in the grant of land made to the Hudson’s Bay Company when it was established by Royal Charter in 1670. The area remained under their control until the company relinquished it to the Federal


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