Indian Battle Park

Indian Battle Park is the site of a battle between Blackfoot Confederacy and the Cree-Assiniboine peoples, the last large intertribal battle in known North American history. This battle is notable for its massive loss of life as well as strategies used by both the Blackfoot and Cree–Assiniboine. A war party made up of Cree and Assiniboine launched a surprise attack on the Blackfoot Confederacy after they were weakened by smallpox. The commotion alerted other Blackfoot camps who then joined the fight, outnumbering the Cree – Assiniboine, and forcing them away from the area. The Cree and Blackfoot entered an informal peace treaty that was then formally established in 1871 along the Red Deer River, where a monument in Wetaskiwin commemorates the Treaty. Buffalo Child, the Blackfoot chief, and Little Bear, Cree chief, created the peace by sharing a peace pipe. The Treaty endures to this day. There are paths following the river valley with many historic sites throughout. Take the winding paths into the river valley or follow the red shale on the edge of the coulees for scenic views of the battle site and the High Level bridge.