Experience Guide | Tourism Medicine Hat

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Mural Indigenous artist Jesse Gouchey and the Miywasin

Friendship Centre’s Youth Development Program spent a weekend in October of 2019 redesigning and painting the First Street underpass mural. The mural was painted to show the dark and tangled times Indigenous women are facing on Turtle Island today. The red dress’ loose fabric flows across the mural, and then surrounds a jingle dress dancer. The increasing vibrancy, colours, and details in the dancer show the resiliency and strength of Indigenous women, community, and people.

Strathcona Island Park Located along the South Saskatchewan River, Strathcona Island Park was home to First Nations and Métis. The remains of some Métis homesteads are on the south side of the spray park and camp kitchen, although obscured now by time and foliage.

Saratoga Park Saratoga Park is highly valued for its connection to First Nations use of the area, Medicine Hat’s early industrial development and, more recently, to Medicine Hat’s Métis community. Use of the area stretches back to before Medicine Hat’s earliest days. It was designated a Historic Designation in 2020, and Métis people lived here until the mid-2000s. A plaque was unveiled in 2021 that shares more information and photos. Saamis Archaeological Site If you take a short stroll past the Saamis Tepee, you will see the beautiful Seven Persons coulee. You are also looking down on the very important Saamis Archaeological Site. The area was once used as a late winter, early spring buffalo meat processing site by early First Nations. This site dates back thousands of years, and archaeologists believe there are over 83 million artifacts buried in the valley and this site dates back thousands of years. Visitors are reminded that no digging for artifacts is permitted at the site.

Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park Indigenous Military Service Thousands of Indigenous peoples have served in the Canadian Military, including all of the conflicts presented on Medicine Hat’s Cenotaph. In some cases many members of the same family went overseas to serve, sacrificing much. Four Bliss brothers; Pat, Joe, Bill, and Tassie, served in the trenches of the First World War. Tassie was injured, having his forearm amputated, and Bill struggled in his return to civilian life. Bill enlisted in 1915 at the age of 19 with the third CMR. Bill was wounded at Ypres in 1916 by a shell in the trenches. He contracted influenza in 1917 and was dis charged in 1919 at the age of 23.

Ómahksípiitaa (Big Eagle) This gathering space at Medicine Hat College (MHC) creates a welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment that enhances cultural awareness and understanding for MHC students and the region. Cultural components support cross-curricular education directly aligned to the Truth & Reconcil iation Commission’s Calls to Action and provide a unique venue to honour and celebrate Indigenous culture and history.

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11 Indigenous Spaces & Places

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