Duck Lake museum rich in history

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Duck Lake is an historic town.

It was near Duck Lake the first shots were fired in the North West Rebellion in 1885.

The town of about 500 people is located between Saskatoon and Prince Albert, Sask. on Highway 11.

A visit would not be complete without visiting the Duck Lake Museum, which was founded in 1959 by local resident Fred Anderson. Over 2,000 historical artifacts grace the walls and floors of the old museum built in 1914.

"It was decided in the early 50s to preserve the history of the area. It's how the museum got it beginning," said the museum's executive director Grand Dutmall.

The museum itself was once a school with an enrollment of about 39 students.

"At that time the museum was a one-room North West Mounted Police log jail. We moved to our present location in 1965," Dutmall said.

Dutmall said the jail was affectionately known as 'the jail of Almighty Voice," a Cree Indian held there after killing a cow through to be owned by the government.

Almighty Voice later became a legend in the Duck Lake area after he escaped from the jail and killed a Mountie, prompting a huge manhunt. Among the museum's Indian exhibits are ceremonial pipes and rattles and such practical items as bows and arrows, arrowheads, stone axes and skinning knives.

A prized exhibit is Gabriel Dumont's gold watch, on loan to the museum by his family.

Dumont, Louis Riel's general, led the Metis forces against government militia during the Metis resistance of 1885.

The watch was presented to Dumont by New York sympathizers. A beaded outfit that belonged to Chief Little Fox, one of the counselors to the great Sioux Chief Sitting Bull, is also on display.

After the Sioux defeated General Custer at the battle of the Little Big Horn, Sitting Bull led many of his Sioux into what is now Saskatchewan.

Little Fox sold the beaded outfit to a Methodist minister whose granddaughter later donated it to the museum.

"Some people say he traded the outfit for a horse," said Dutmall.

The outfit includes a beaded saddle blanket, suit trimmings, headband and moccasins.

There are also displays on other prominent personalities including Hillyard Mitchell, a Duck Lake businessman who was sent as a mediator to Riel's camp during the 1885 conflict, and Onesime Dorval, the first certified school teacher in the district of Saskatchewan.

In 1971-72, Alien Thunder, a movie starring Donald Sutherland, Chief Dan George and Gordon Tootoosis, was filmed at Duck Lake.

"Sutherland said it was the worst movie he ever made. He said the potential was there for a great film but editing and poor script writing ruin it," Dutmall said.

The film was based on the story of Almighty Voice and many of the buildings used are on the grounds of the museum.

"There are many original buildings in Duck Lake still standing," noted Dutmall.

With its theme 'Indian, Metis, and Pioneer Society, 1805-1905,' the museum takes pride in its artifacts, which look at the people of the region, their religion, commerce, the law of the early North West and the social upheaval which led to the North West Rebellion.