Indian Head, Saskatchewan
Encyclopedia
Indian Head is a town in southeast Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, Canada, 69 kilometres (42.9 mi) east of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
. The town is directly north of the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
. The town is known for its federally-operated Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration is a branch under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a department of the Federal Government of Canada....
(PFRA) experimental farm and tree nursery that produces seedlings for shelter belts.
History
The first settlers were of Scottish origin and moved into the district in 1882, ahead of the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. The Bell Farm at Indian Head comprised 53000 acres (214.5 km²). This was so huge and out of the ordinary that, on many occasions, the passenger trains would stop and let the passengers watch the harvesting operation.
In 1887 the Dominion Experimental Farm was founded, as one of the original research stations in Canada and today is still doing research and giving valuable information to farmers. Settlement began to accelerate seriously after 1900 and by the outbreak of World War I in 1914 its population had reached 1200. In 1902, the PFRA tree nursery was inaugurated and is still shipping out several million trees each year for farm shelterbelts in the three prairie provinces.
Indian Head was incorporated as a town in 1902. In that year the Canadian Journal, published by James McAra, noted that Indian Head was the largest point of initial shipment of wheat in the world.
In the early 20th century Indian Head was the financial centre of the district and distribution point. Three banks established branches, the Opera House was erected by Mr. Osment, and The Club conducted its operations within the opera house block. The Lady Minto Hospital was erected for a cost of CA$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
6,000. ($6,000 is equivalent to $ in present day terms.)
The Anglican Diocese of Qu'Appelle was originally centred in the nearby town of Qu'Appelle
Qu'Appelle
Qu'Appelle may refer to:* Chateau Qu'Appelle, hotel* CSTC HMCS Qu'Appelle, Cadet Summer Training Centre HMCS* Diocese of Qu'Appelle, diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada* Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan* HMCS Qu'Appelle...
, whose parish church was the pro-cathedral
Pro-cathedral
A pro-cathedral is a parish church that is temporarily serving as the cathedral or co-cathedral of a diocese.-Usage:In Ireland, the term is used to specifically refer to St Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin since the Reformation, when Christ Church...
for southern Saskatchewan. Bishop's Court, the residence of the diocesan bishop, was relocated from Qu'Appelle to Indian Head in 1895 before being further relocated to Regina.
Geography
Indian Head is located in the Indian Head Plain of the Aspen Parkland ecoregionFlora of Saskatchewan
The native flora of the Saskatchewan includes vascular plants, plus additional species of other plants and plant-like organisms such as algae, lichens and other fungi, and mosses...
on the parkland of the Qu'Appelle flood plain. Qu'Appelle's elevation is 579.1 m (1,899.9 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
placing it within the topographical region of the Squirrel Hills. The area is characterised by lush rolling grasslands, interspersed with poplar
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
bluffs (in prairie Canadian terminology poplar groves surrounding sloughs) and open sloughs. Indian Head is located in the transition zone between the Qu'Appelle River and the corresponding Qu'Appelle Valley and the Canadian Prairies
Canadian Prairies
The Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
. The Indianhead Creek flows through Indian Head into the Qu'Appelle River
Qu'Appelle River
The Qu'Appelle River is a Canadian river that flows 430 km east from Lake Diefenbaker in southwestern Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba, just south of Lake of the Prairies, near the village of St. Lazare....
to the north. The legal land description is section 24 - township 18 - range 13 - west of the 2nd meridian. 10 miles (16.1 km) north of Indian Head are the Fishing Lakes
Fishing Lakes
The Fishing Lakes are a chain of four lakes in the Qu'Appelle Valley cottage country some 40 miles to the northeast of Regina, Saskatchewan....
which are part of the Qu'Appelle Valley
Qu'Appelle River
The Qu'Appelle River is a Canadian river that flows 430 km east from Lake Diefenbaker in southwestern Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba, just south of Lake of the Prairies, near the village of St. Lazare....
.
Weather
Indian Head has a humid continental climateHumid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
, with extreme seasonal temperatures. It has warm summers and cold winters, with the average daily temperatures ranging from -16 C in January to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in July. Annually, temperatures exceed 30 °C (86 °F) on an average in late July Typically, summer lasts from late June until late August, and the humidity is seldom uncomfortably high. Winter lasts from November to March, and varies greatly in length and severity. Spring and autumn are both short and highly variable.
Demographics
The 2006 Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
data estimates the town's population at 1,634 residents, continuing a slight trend of population decline in the town since the 2001 Census
Canada 2001 Census
The Canada 2001 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 15, 2001. On that day, Statistics Canada attempted to count every person in Canada. The total population count of Canada was 30,007,094. This was a 4% increase over 1996 Census of 28,846,761. In...
, although unusually for prairie towns, Indian Head's population today is larger than in 1916. 49 per cent were male and 51 per cent were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 6.1 per cent of the resident population of Indian Head.
Between 2001 and 2006, Indian Head's population decreased by 3.7 percent. During the same time period, the population of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
decreased by 1.1 percent, while that of Canada grew by 5.4 percent. A recent economic boom in Saskatchewan and an atypical persistence of prosperity during the 2008 worldwide slump will have altered this trend. The population density of Indian Head averaged 515 /km2, compared with an average of 1.6 /km2 for the province. According to data from 2001 (although with so small a population percentages are not especially informative) more than 33.6% of the town's residents identify themselves as Catholic; 48.9% of residents are Protestant, and 12.3% of residents do not practise a religion.
Indian Head is a part of Census Division No. 6
Division No. 6, Saskatchewan
Division No. 6, Saskatchewan, Canada, is one of the eighteen census divisions within the province, as defined by Statistics Canada. It is located in the south-central part of the province. The most populous community in this division is Regina, the provincial capital.According to the 2006 census,...
. Indian Head is a part of the South East Saskatchewan Economic Development Association (SEDA).
Government
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s to form the municipal council. Currently the mayor is Allan Hubbs, and is serving with councillors Sherry Karpa, Lisa Craigie, Tim Reihl, Ronald Braithwaite, Steven Cole, and Rod Vance. The town administrator is Cam Thauberger.
Provincially Indian Head is within the constituency of Indian Head-Milestone
Indian Head-Milestone
Indian Head-Milestone is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. Located in southern Saskatchewan, this constituency was created through the Representation Act, 1994 by combining the district of Indian Head-Wolseley with part of the constituency of...
served by their Member of legislative assembly
Member of Legislative Assembly
A Member of Legislative Assembly, or MLA, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to the Legislature of a State in the Indian system of government...
, the Honourable Don McMorris
Don McMorris
Don McMorris is a Canadian provincial politician, in the province of Saskatchewan. He is the Saskatchewan Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan for the constituency of Indian Head-Milestone, a position he has held since the 1999 provincial election...
. This district was created before the 8th Saskatchewan general election
Saskatchewan general election, 1934
The Saskatchewan general election of 1934 was the eighth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 19, 1934, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan....
in 1934 by combining the constituencies of South Qu'Appelle
South Qu'Appelle
South Qu'Appelle is a former provincial electoral division for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. The district was created before the 1st Saskatchewan general election in 1905, and abolished before the 8th Saskatchewan general election in 1934...
and Wolseley
Wolseley (Saskatchewan electoral district)
Wolseley was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Centered on the town of Wolseley, it was one of 25 constituencies created for the 1st Saskatchewan general election in 1905....
. Redrawn and renamed "Indian Head-Wolseley" in 1975
Saskatchewan general election, 1975
The Saskatchewan general election of 1975 was the eighteenth provincial election held in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on June 11, 1975, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan...
. This constituency was created through the Representation Act, 1994 (Saskatchewan) by combining the district of Indian Head-Wolseley
Qu'Appelle-Wolseley
Qu'Appelle-Wolseley is a former provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. This district was created before the 8th Saskatchewan general election in 1934 by combining the constituencies of South Qu'Appelle and Wolseley...
with part of the constituency of Bengough-Milestone
Bengough-Milestone
Bengough-Milestone was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, Canada. This constituency was created before the 1975 Saskatchewan general election...
.
Federally the Regina—Qu'Appelle
Regina—Qu'Appelle
Regina—Qu'Appelle is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1968 and since 1988.-Geography:...
riding is represented by their Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Andrew Scheer
Andrew Scheer
Andrew Scheer is a Canadian Member of Parliament and the Speaker of the House of Commons. At the age of 32, he is the youngest person to serve in this capacity in Canadian parliamentarian history.-Early life and career:...
. Qu'Appelle riding
Electoral district (Canada)
An electoral district in Canada, also known as a constituency or a riding, is a geographical constituency upon which Canada's representative democracy is based...
was first created in 1903 and covered the Northwest Territories, including what would later be Saskatchewan. In 1905, the district was amended to just cover Saskatchewan.
In 1966, Qu'Appelle riding was abolished when it was redistributed among Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain
Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain
Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1988.This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Moose Mountain and Qu'Appelle ridings...
, Regina—Lake Centre
Regina—Lake Centre
Regina—Lake Centre was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979....
, Regina East
Regina East
Regina East was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1988.This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Humboldt—Melfort, Melville, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre, QuAppelle, Regina City and Yorkton ridings.It was abolished...
and Assiniboia
Assiniboia (electoral district)
Assiniboia was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1908 to 1988. This riding was created in 1907 following the admission of Saskatchewan into the Canadian Confederation in 1905...
ridings.
In 1987, Regina—Qu'Appelle was created from parts of the districts of Assiniboia, Humboldt—Lake Centre
Humboldt—Lake Centre
Humboldt—Lake Centre was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commonsfrom 1979 to 1988...
and Qu'Appelle—Moose Mountain ridings. It was known as Qu'Appelle from 1996 to 1998.
It was abolished in 1996 when it was redistributed among Wascana
Wascana (electoral district)
Wascana is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997.-History:The electoral district was created in 1996 from Regina—Qu'Appelle and Regina—Wascana ridings....
, Regina—Arm River, Qu'Appelle and Yorkton—Melville
Yorkton—Melville
Yorkton—Melville is a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1968.-History:The electoral district was created in 1966 from Yorkton, Melville and Mackenzie ridings....
ridings.
A new Qu'Appelle riding was created in 1996 from Regina—Qu'Appelle, Regina—Lumsden
Regina—Lumsden
Regina—Lumsden was a federal electoral district in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1997.This riding was created in 1987 from parts of Moose Jaw and Regina West ridings...
and Mackenzie
Mackenzie (electoral district)
Mackenzie was a federal electoral district in Saskatchewan, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1904 to 1997.This riding was created in 1903, when Saskatchewan was still a part of the Northwest Territories...
ridings.
In 1998, its name was changed back to Regina—Qu'Appelle.
Economy
Historically, according to the Department of Agriculture, the Indian Head district ranked highest for wheat production in the North West TerritoriesTerritorial evolution of Canada
The federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later...
in 1903, 1904 and 1905. The Indian Head Experimental Station exceeded the Brandon Experimental station by seven bushels of wheat per acre for ten years. For a town of population 1,800 in 1905, it boasted twelve grain elevators which were erected along the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, with each elevator having the capacity to hold approximately 350,000 bushels. This location handled a higher quantity of grain in 1902 in the initiatory shipment stage than any other inland port in the world.
The North-West Rebellion
North-West Rebellion
The North-West Rebellion of 1885 was a brief and unsuccessful uprising by the Métis people of the District of Saskatchewan under Louis Riel against the Dominion of Canada...
in 1885 caused the farm land of the Qu’Appelle Valley Farming Company to lie untended as their horses and wagons were used in the military engagement. The summer of 1886 provided a good crop as the land was allowed to collect moisture. The Indian Head Experimental Farm then followed up and said "fallowing
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.Crop rotation confers various benefits to the soil. A traditional element of crop rotation is the replenishment of nitrogen through the use of green manure in sequence with cereals...
the land is the best preparation to ensure a crop."
The Territorial Grain Growers’ Association (TGGA)
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool was a grain handling, agri-food processing and marketing company based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Pool created a network of marketing alliances in North America and internationally which made it the largest agricultural grain handling operation in the province of...
was formed in the winter of 1901 at Indian Head. It was a collective of farmers in the Qu'Appelle Valley
Qu'Appelle River
The Qu'Appelle River is a Canadian river that flows 430 km east from Lake Diefenbaker in southwestern Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba, just south of Lake of the Prairies, near the village of St. Lazare....
responding to the Sinatluta Case. The fall of 1901 farmers were tryijng to ship a large harvest and they could not sell it due to a boxcar shortage. The existing elevators neighter were set up to hold the amount of grain that year. Farmers lost about half of a record wheat crop. William Richard Motherwell
William Richard Motherwell
William Richard Motherwell, PC was a provincial and federal Canadian politician.-Biography:Born in Perth, Canada West....
became the first president and pressed for a change to the Manitoba Act which would allow farmers access to railway cars on a first come first serve basis.
Infrastructure
Indian Head hospital opened in 1905 with an attached nursing training school. Even though the provincial government Saskatchewan Air AmbulanceSaskatchewan Air Ambulance
Saskatchewan Air Ambulance is the air ambulance service for the province of Saskatchewan and for the Ministry of Health .-History:...
system was not established until 1946, Indian Head did call to Charlie Skinner, a pilot in Regina in 1935. Transport was needed to get the doctor from Indian Head to Odessa
Odessa, Saskatchewan
- Sports :GeneralLike all small communities in Saskatchewan, Odessa thrives on sports. Odessa itself consists of one ice hockey arena, two grass ball diamonds and three dirt ball diamonds, as well as an indoor gymnasium at the community center...
to treat a critically ill patient during a time when the roads were blocked by snow. Thus began Skinner's Air Service.
The first telephone system in Saskatchewan was on the Bell Farm built in 1882 by Major Bell on ten miles (16 km) square or 60000 acres (242.8 km²) at Indian Head. The telecommunications system utilised barbed wire for the phone lines.
Transportation
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
. It is located at the junction of the Trans Canada Highway (Saskatchewan Highway 1)
Saskatchewan Highway 1
Highway 1 is the Saskatchewan section of the Trans-Canada Highway mainland route. The total distance of the Trans-Canada Highway in Saskatchewan is . The highway traverses Saskatchewan from the western border with Alberta, from Highway 1, to Manitoba where it continues as Highway 1, PTH 1. The...
and highway 56
Saskatchewan Highway 56
Highway 56 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Highway 1 near Indian Head to Highway 210 within the Echo Valley Provincial Park. Highway 56 is about 57 km long....
. It is located 70 kilometres (43.5 mi) east of the provincial capital city of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
and 315 miles (506.9 km) west of Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
.
An Indian trail used by fur traders, and red river carts pulling settlers effects was the first path between Moosomin
Moosomin, Saskatchewan
-Climate:-Moosomin in popular culture:* The Guess Who has a song called "Runnin' Back to Saskatoon"; it also mentions Moose Jaw and Moosomin.-Notable people from Moosomin:...
and Fort Ellice, Manitoba. The transcontinental CPR
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
paralleled this trail when coming through in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
between the Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
border. Travel along Provincial Highway 4 before the 1940s would have been traveling on the square following the township road allowances, barbed wire fencing and rail lines. As the surveyed township roads were the easiest to travel, the first highway
Roads in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan, the middle of Canada's three prairie provinces, has an area of and population of 990,212 , mostly living in the southern half of the province....
was designed on 90 degree right angle corners as the distance traversed the prairie along range roads and township roads. Two horse then eight horse scrapers maintained these early dirt roads.
One of the problems that came about was when the Manitoba survey met the Saskatchewan survey. The Manitoba survey allowed for 100 feet (30.5 m) road allowances placed east and west every 1 miles (1.6 km). This system was followed west of Manitoba until just north of Indian Head. Whereas, the Saskatchewan survey conducted in 1887, allowed for 66 feet (20.1 m) road allowances and placed roads east and west every 2 miles (3.2 km). The two surveys needed a 2 miles (3.2 km) correction which took years to smooth out.
Agriculture is Saskatchewan's main industry and taking grain to elevators was first accomplished by horse and cart, to be replaced around World War I by truck travel. Long haul trucking flourished between 1950 and 1970, and the trans–Canada was completed across Canada by 1970. Since the 1970s, 17 times the number of grain trucks and 95 per cent of goods transported now are hauled by truck across the Saskatchewan.
Education
The Indian Head High School hosts the Broncs athletic teams and is part of the Prairie Valley School Division No. 208 along with the Indian Head Elementary School. Indian Head Elementary School features classes Kindergarten to grade 6 with about 205 enroled. The high school supports grades 7 to 12 with an enrollment of about 225 pupils.The Southeast Regional College has a district campus office located in Indian Head which will support grade 12 equivalency general education development, post secondary classes supported by the University of Regina
University of Regina
The University of Regina is a public research university located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Founded in 1911 as a private denominational high school of the Methodist Church of Canada, it began an association with the University of Saskatchewan as a junior college in 1925, and was disaffiliated...
, University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
, SIAST and the Certified General Accountants Association. Some post secondary skills and career services are additionally available.
Historically there were quite a number of one room school houses in the area of Indian Head the first, Indian Head School District #49, was established in 1886. It was followed soon after by Wide Awake School District #54. Other schools were Sunny South School District #61, Katepwe School District #116, Rose Valley School District # 191 Fair Play School District #192, Blackwood School District #241, Flen Lynn School District #333 Burnsdale School District #777, Jubilee School District #1122, Interlake School District #1565, Sunny Slope School District #1843, Squirrel Hills School District #4058, Lake Marqerite School District #1237 and Spring Coulee School.
Museums and other points of interest
The Bell Farm is amongst the ten top most endangered sites by the Heritage Canada
Heritage Canada
The Heritage Canada Foundation , also known as Heritage Canada , is a registered charity with the mandate to encourage the protection and promotion of the built, natural, historic, and scenic heritage of Canada...
Foundation. Having the silo centrally located in the round barn greatly reduced labour involved in livestock feeding and resulted in a stronger facility than the rectangular structures. It is currently undergoing re-construction and preservation.
32 hectares of federal crown land comprise the Indian Head Migratory Bird Sanctuary located 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of Indian Head. The Canada Agriculture Experimental Farm Tree Nursery is a part of the sanctuary lands The Canadian Wildlife Service on its last review felt that the sanctuary should be abolished.
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration is a branch under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, a department of the Federal Government of Canada....
(PFRA) and PFRA shelterbelt centre set up in 1902 features a picnic area with nature trails along with tree nursery, and flora
Flora of Saskatchewan
The native flora of the Saskatchewan includes vascular plants, plus additional species of other plants and plant-like organisms such as algae, lichens and other fungi, and mosses...
displays. The nursery still establishes farm shelterbelts with its shipments of trees every year across Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
.
Indian Head Experimental Station or Indian Head Research Farm established in 1887 provides innovative research into crops and soil types.
The Indian Head Museum features pioneer artifacts and is hosted in the 1907 fire hall. In the museum yards is a 1926 one-room school house and an 1883 Bell Farm cottage.
Sports and recreation
As early as 1889, Indian Head had established its own curlingCurling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
rink, and in 1904 it was a provincial sport. Indian Head was one of four rinks which competed in the first curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
bonspiel of the Northest Territories in 1892 playing against Calgary REgina, and Qu'Appelle.
Indian Head established its hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
team by 1900, one of the first of a dozen or so in the Northwest Territories.
After World War II, for a period of time, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
tournaments were held in Saskatoon and Indian Head offering thousands of dollars in prize money.
Indian Head is home to the Saskatchewan Rural Sports Hall of Fame and Museum established in 1992 which commemorates athletes from rural Saskatchewan who achieved fame in the big leagues.
The Philharmonic Society in Indian Head was established in the early 20th century.
Notable residents
- Mark Brayford was a lawyer for Robert LatimerRobert LatimerRobert William "Bob" Latimer , a Canadian canola and wheat farmer, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his daughter Tracy . This case sparked a national controversy on the definition and ethics of euthanasia as well as the rights of people with disabilities, and led to two...
, Colin ThatcherColin ThatcherWilbert Colin Thatcher is a Canadian former politician convicted for the murder of his ex-wife, JoAnn Wilson.-Political life:Colin Thatcher is the son of Wilbert Ross Thatcher, premier of Saskatchewan from 1964 to 1971...
and many other notable Saskatchewan cases.
- Bill Davies, born in Indian Head February 11, 1916, went on to establish the Saskatchewan Federation of LabourSaskatchewan Federation of LabourThe Saskatchewan Federation of Labour is the Saskatchewan provincial trade union federation of the Canadian Labour Congress. It has a membership of 93,500. In 2006, the SFL celebrated its 50th anniversary.-External links:*...
(SFL).
- Shannan Calcutt is a professional clown, currently appearing as her "Izzy" character in Cirque du Soleil's ZumanityZumanityZumanity is a resident cabaret-style show by Cirque du Soleil at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The production was unveiled on September 20, 2003. It is the first "adult-themed" Cirque du Soleil show, billed as "the sensual side of Cirque du Soleil" or "another side...
show in Las Vegas, Nevada, was born and spent her early years in Indian Head.
- David Geiss, born August 19, 1982 in Indian Head, became a filmmaker assisting with Little Mosque and an actor appearing in Corner GasCorner GasCorner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
.
- Maureen HunterMaureen HunterMaureen Hunter is a Canadian playwright who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.She was born in Indian Head, Saskatchewan and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan. Transit of Venus was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and recorded by the BBC...
born 1948 in Indian Head achieved the Governor General's Award for winning playwrightPlaywrightA playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
- Dave KarpaDave KarpaDavid James Karpa is a Canadian ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers between 1993 and 2003...
born May 7, 1971 in ReginaRegina, SaskatchewanRegina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, grew up in Indian Head. Karpa is renowned for being a National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
athlete who played in the National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
for the Quebec NordiquesQuebec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Carolina HurricanesCarolina HurricanesThe Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
and New York RangersNew York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
between 1993 and 2003.
- Jeff LankJeff LankJeff Lank is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played 2 NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers during the 1999–2000 season.-External links:...
was born March 1, 1975 in Indian Head. He was drafted by the Montreal CanadiensMontreal CanadiensThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in 1993, traded to the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 1995 and played two games for that team during the 1999-2000 season.
- Chester McBain considered as Saskatchewan's Finest Magician resides in Indian Head. Performing locally and internationally for over 40 years as "The Magic of Chester" and more recently, "The entertainer - Chester"http://www.theentertainer.ca.
- Angus McKay was the inaugural superintendent of the Indian Head Experimental Farm. He arrived in Indian Head 1882, homesteaded in the area before helping to establish the first Dominion experimental farm in the Northwest territoriesTerritorial evolution of CanadaThe federation of Canada was created in 1867 when three colonies of British North America were united. One of these colonies split into two new provinces, three other colonies joined later...
and received an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws for his agricultural work.
- Eric PetersonEric PetersonEric Neal Peterson, C.M. is a Canadian stage and television actor, known for his roles in three major Canadian series – Street Legal, Corner Gas and This is Wonderland.-Personal life:...
, born October 2, 1946 in Indian Head is an acclaimed Canadian stage and television actor, known for his roles in three major Canadian series – Street LegalStreet Legal (TV series)Street Legal is a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1994.-Synopsis:A spinoff from the 1985 television movie Shellgame, Street Legal focused on the professional and private lives of the partners in a small Toronto, Ontario law firm, Barr, Robinovitch and Tchobanian...
, Corner GasCorner GasCorner Gas is a Canadian television sitcom created by Brent Butt. The series ran for six seasons from 2004 to 2009. Re-runs still air on CTV and The Comedy Network in Canada; it formerly aired on WGN America in the United States....
and This is WonderlandThis Is WonderlandThis Is Wonderland was a Canadian television series which aired on CBC Television. The series is a legal drama with comedic elements, or a comedy-drama. It was created by playwright George F...
.
- Ron Robison is an Western Hockey LeagueWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
Commissioner, as well as the former Head of Hockey CanadaHockey CanadaHockey Canada, formally known as the Canadian Hockey Association, is the national governing body of ice hockey in Canada and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada controls a vast majority of ice hockey in Canada, with a few exceptions...
.
- Sinclair RossSinclair RossJames Sinclair Ross, CM was a Canadian banker and author, best known for his fiction about life in the Canadian prairies. He is best known for his first novel, As For Me and My House.-Life and career:...
was born near ShellbrookShellbrook, SaskatchewanShellbrook, Saskatchewan is rural community in Saskatchewan, Canada west of Prince AlbertTown, pop 1,276, located 44.5 km W of Prince Albert and served by Hwys 3, 40, and 55.- History :...
, but attended school in Indian Head until grade 11. Ross is a noteworthy Canadian author best known for his fiction about life in the Canadian prairiesCanadian PrairiesThe Canadian Prairies is a region of Canada, specifically in western Canada, which may correspond to several different definitions, natural or political. Notably, the Prairie provinces or simply the Prairies comprise the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, as they are largely covered...
, especially As For Me and My House (1941). A monument in his honour has been erected in Indian Head by Saskatchewan artists and readers with a bronze statue sculpted by Joe FafardJoe FafardJoseph Fafard, OC, SOM is a Canadian sculptor.-Biography:Born in Sainte-Marthe, Saskatchewan in 1942 to Leopold Fafard and Julienne Cantin whose families both date back centuries in Canada. Joe is a descendant of Jacques Goulet. He received a B.S.A from the University of Manitoba in 1966 and a...
- Lorne Scott, Environmentalist, former provincial MLA and Member of the Order of Canada
Media
The local Internet news program Indian Head Today has been featured on CBC's The NationalIndian Head is a major filming location for the CBC television show Little Mosque on the Prairie
Little Mosque on the Prairie
Little Mosque on the Prairie is a Canadian sitcom on CBC, created by Zarqa Nawaz and produced by WestWind Pictures. It is filmed in Toronto, Ontario and Indian Head, Saskatchewan...
External links
- How Indian Head Got Its Name
- Indian Head, Saskatchewan on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- Memorial Hall Indian Head, Sk. pictures from history photos
- Indian Head Curling Club
- Photographic Tour of Historic Indian Head
- Postcard views of the Qu'Appelle Valley: extensive photos of Indian Head at the turn of the 20th century
- http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/indian_head.html Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan