Plans and policies

Management Statement 2021

Introduction

The Parks Canada Agency manages one of the finest and most extensive systems of protected natural and historic areas in the world. The Agency’s mandate is to protect and present these places for the
benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. This management statement outlines Parks Canada’s management approach and objectives for Frenchman Butte National Historic Site.

Frenchman Butte National Historic Site is situated on a gently rising knoll along the Little Red Deer Creek valley, about five kilometers northeast of the hamlet of Frenchman Butte, Saskatchewan. Designated a National Historic Site in 1929, it commemorates the May 28, 1885 engagement between First Nations people lead by Wandering Spirit and Canadian troops led by Major-General T. B. Strange during the 1885 Resistance, as well as the operation of General Strange’s military column during the conflict.

The designated site consists of three areas, the first of which is owned by Parks Canada. Located on the north side of the creek valley, it consists of a 7.3 hectare plot of land where First Nations warriors constructed at least 98 rifle pits along the southern ridge of the butte which were used to defend against Strange’s forces, as well as other pits that were used to protect civilians and hostages taken during previous conflicts in the Resistance from hostile fire. The second area that is part of this designation is the on the south bank of the Little Red Deer Creek valley where the Government forces established their gun position to fire upon the Butte, with the third being the valley bottom between the two positions which Government forces attempted to cross to attack the First Nations positions.

Management Approach

Parks Canada has managed the remote site under the joint Fort Battleford, Frenchman Butte and Frog Lake National Historic Sites of Canada Management Plan (2007). With this current revision, however, each site will receive their own individualized management statement. Frenchman Butte has a strong sense of place and time, having maintained the relationship between the cultural landscape and the natural environment and being minimally impacted by modern development. Cultural and landscape resources of national significance include the viewpoints from the First Nations rifle pits across the valley to the Militia gun positions, while archaeological resources consist of the pits that were excavated for use as rifle positions and as shelter from Government forces fire.

Although isolated within a region the province that comparatively has a lower population, the site receives numerous visitors. Through the involvement and energy of community stakeholders such as the Frenchman Butte Museum in hosting interpretive tours for school groups the interpretive walking trails and historic viewpoints are utilized by a diverse group of visitors. Their experiences have been enhanced over the past year through the installation of new and updated trail markers, as well as the clearing of trees and vegetation to improve the visibility at viewpoints along the upper trail of the site.

Management Objectives

1. Parks Canada works collaboratively with Indigenous peoples in the planning, management and operations of our heritage places and is committed to building mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous communities, based on trust, respect and understanding. In managing Frenchman Butte National Historic Site, Parks Canada will work to build relationships with interested Indigenous communities with connections to the site to incorporate traditional knowledge and values into the protection, interpretation and visitor experience.

2. Parks Canada works cooperatively with partners and stakeholders to enhance the understanding and awareness of the site, and to manage appropriate access and visitor use in keeping with its designation as a National Historic Site.

3. Parks Canada protects the cultural and archaeological resources of Frenchman Butte to ensure the commemorative integrity of the national historic site. Working with others, Parks Canada preserves the elements that define the character of the historic site and give meaning to the overall pattern and understanding of the cultural and natural landscape. Parks Canada protects cultural resources at its heritage places in accordance with its Cultural Resource Management Policy (2013). This includes basic monitoring of the state of cultural resources, and documentation of interventions at the national historic site.

4. Parks Canada is committed to the continuing maintenance of Frenchman Butte National Historic Site to protect and promote its cultural and historic integrity. As resources allow, the Agency will strive to work with stakeholders to continue to support this historic site.

Frenchman Butte National Historic Site is administered by:

Fort Battleford National Historic
Email: battleford.info@pc.gc.ca