Fort re-enacis

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them game to eat, water :o
drink, then put chem on the
right trail to Fort Whoop-Up.
His own jamily had been dev-
astated by the whisky trade,
and he saw the Mounties as
potentially useful in protecting
native peop!< from the
onslaught of booze and white
culture.

Macleod had his sergeant-
major hail the fort. No
response. Under the aiternoon
sun, fingers sweated on trigger
guards. After a long tense wait,
Jerry Potts jerked his head at
the colonel, and the two of
them rode slowly up to the
fort. Potts dismounted and
banged fiercely on the heavy
doors with his rifle.

The gates swung open and
the only man in the fort, a
hard old rascal called ‘Akers,
stepped out and said, “Been
expectin’ you. Supper’ son.”

The whisky traders had fled
long before — the Battle of
Fort Whoop-Up had been
won. The Mounties were on

__ their way to legend.

Today's Fort Whoop-Up is
a realistic re-creation under
those same sandy banks of the
Oldman River in Lethbridge,
Alberta. The thick log walls
with their protective block-

_ houses enclose perfect replicas
of the police barracks, a trade
room, blacksmith and carpen-

_ try shops. The furnishings are

isky years

antique or authentic reproduc-
tions, a vision of Canadian
frontier life.

On the fort’s grounds, near
the old warning bell, stands
one of the original cannons,
which had travelled up the
Missouri by steamboat then
been brought overland by
oxen along the Whisky Trail
from Montana. A small freight
wagon is being constructed at
the fort using the methods
and skiils of old-time crafts.

During the summer season,
the Fort Whoop-Up
Interpretive Centre presents
crafts and games for younger
visitors and has picnic facilities
for the family. The fort is host
to historical re-enactments,
including Colonel Macleod
trying a whisky runner, a
Blackfoot Elder reciting the
old tales of hunts and skir-
mishes, and mounted troop
shows. Wagon rides tour along
the valley of the Oldman
River, site of the last great
native battle among the Plains
tribes in 1870.

On July 1, in celebration of
the 125th anniversary of the
Great March of the Northwest
Mounted Police, 500 riders,
many in period costumes,
arrived in Lethbridge. The
scarlet uniforms and horses
were certainly in better shape
than they were in 1874, and if
they don’t have the original
Jerry Potts to guide them,
toad maps and cell phones

“We are growing
We need

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Phe*o Vern Huttman
FRONTIER life on the prairies: A replica of a trader’s room at Fort Whoop-Up.

should help them find Fort
Whoop: Up this time around.
iv

SAVE ON FRASER VALLEY PACKAGE GETAWAYS

lh i
réS' ir . e Fall.

Whoop- Up at (403) 329-

0444; fax at (403) 329-0645

Write to: Fort | Whoop e. p)
nterpretive Centre P.O. Box . P lanning your next getaway?
io Lethbridge, Alberta Tl) Make it a Summer Train Miventure
“ and save! We offer exclusive
discounts ona variety of
accommodation packages.
Travel in comfortable
air conditioned coaches
yy with picture windows
and breathtaking views.
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_ Stay at charming B&B's
or first class hotels. Play golf,
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enjoy your getaway. All ata
Breat price.

Fort Whoop- Up is open every
day. In the summer (May
through September) from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to
Saturday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.
on Sundays. During che winter
season (October through
April) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Tuesday to Friday, 1 p.m. to 4
p.m. on Sundays, closed
Monday and Saturday. For fur-
ther information, call Fort

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donita@travelmasters.co
Part of Travelmesters
BC Rog #3295. i

Mitch
Senior Conductor
West Coast Express

For package details and reservations call Mon-Fri 9-5:30 Sat 10-3
604-731-4964 or 1-888-515-5545