Fort Ethier Lodge Wetaskiwin historical information

Fort Ethier Lodge is named after the historic Fort Ethier, built just north of Wetaskiwin in 1885. This was the only fort ever built in the area for defensive purposes, and was constructed in response to anticipated hostilities after the Riel rebellion.

Remnants of the fort are standing to this day in a farmyard a few miles from the city of Wetaskiwin.

Below is an account of the time and events regarding the building of the original Fort Ethier, written in the language and terminology of the time (1885).

Note: In providing this account as accurately as possible in the words of the 1885 era, certain parts of the language, descriptions and terminology used could be objectionable to some individuals in this the 21st century. We certainly hope no one is offended by any words in this attempted re-creation of this account of events.

If you should object to anything written on this page please contact us and we will be glad to promptly deal with your concerns.

Historic Account Fort Ethier was established on the Samuel Lucas farm during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. Various buildings on this Indian Agent's farm were used as barracks or stables, but the only original building left is the two-story Blockhouse which took ten days to build. Captain L. Joseph Ethier was one of the 700 troops sent from Montreal to settle the uprising. In Calgary, these troops joined with the "Alberta Field Force", some of which moved north to Fort Edmonton, leaving soldiers posted at Red Deer (Fort Normandeau), Ponoka (Fort Ostell) and Peace Hills (Fort Ethier). Fort Ethier was used only from May 4 to June 27, l885, by which time the Rebellion had ended and the soldiers were ordered to return to Edmonton.
DATELINE: FORT ETHIER AND THE NORTHWEST REBELLION
1869	Red River Rebellion in Manitoba, under Louis Riel
Summer, 1884	Louis Riel is invited to the Metis area of Batoche, Sask., Riel also goes to St. Albert and gains Indian support for the Rebellion.
December, l884	The Whites and the Metis send a petition to Ottawa, protesting their lack of representatives in the gov't, their lack of supplies, the lack of a railway going north, the inconsistent giving away of land by the government, and their own lack of self-government. The petition is ignored by Ottawa.
March 27,1885	Ten policemen are killed at Duck Lake, Sask. Battleford, Sask. is attacked
April 2	Two priests and seven settlers are killed at Frog Lake, Two women are taken captive by the Metis.
April 9	Sam Lucas and the Whites leave Peace Hills for Edmonton at the request of the Indians.
April 10	Crowfoot decides to support the Queen instead of joining the Metis uprising.
April 11	Some of the Bear Hills Indians celebrate the Whites leaving with a pow-wow; they raid the Hudson Bay store at Battle River, and kill the cattle at E.B. Glass' farm; leaving alone I.G. Baker's store "because he was a Yankee". All White settlers in the Red Deer region leave for Calgary.
April 12	Mount Royal's 65th Carabiniers arrive in Calgary. (700 troops)
April 20	Sam Lucas at Fort Edmonton receives word from Chief Ermineskin not to return yet, unless Lucas has "a strong force of halfbreeds". Chief Samson is away at Morleyville; Chief Bobtail is attempting to gain support for Riel's cause; Chief Muddy Bull wants no part in the Rebellion and takes his band into the wild until the trouble is over. The Bears Hills Indians have apologized for their looting and now promise not to get involved in the uprising. The "Alberta Field Force" (including ranchers, N.W.M.P., and the 65th Battalion) join together in Calgary and one group leaves for Fort Edmonton.
April 23	The second group leaves on the swampy trail north, leaving 20 men at Red Deer (Ft. Normandeau), 20 men at Ponoka (Ft. Ostell) and 20 men at Peace Hills (Ft. Ethier).
May 4	The company arrives at the Peace Hills farm and begin to make a liveable shack. There are 20 soldiers from the 1st,3rd,4th and 8th companies of the 65th Battalion, under Lieutenant Villeneuve.
May 6	Captain L. Joseph Ethier arrives at Peace Hills and takes over from Lieutenant Villeneuve.
May 7	At 0:100, the night watchman is alarmed and awakens the camp. By daylight 10 lodges and many tracks show an Indian encampment about one mile away. In the evening, construction begins on a Fort modelled on St. Helen's Island.
May 9	Lieutenant Col. Osborne Smith brings arms, ammunition and pay for the soldiers.
May 10	A night attack is recorded at the Fort.
May 11	Rev. P. Leduc comes, hears confessions, and holds Communion.
May 13	Two bullets are fired at the Fort from only sixty yards away.
May 15	A report reaches Edmonton that an attack on Edmonton and St. Albert is being planned by the Riviere Qui But Reserve.
May l6	75 Metis and 25 other volunteers in the Edmonton area given arms after taking Oaths of Allegiance. They watch for the Indians attack on the 24th, but the Indians abandon the plans as the force remains on alert.
May 17	Fort Ethier is completed, largely the work of 9 men.
May 18	An attack is recorded at the Fort, as is the theft of four horses from a nearby field.
May 23	The telegraph line from Edmonton is completed by a Mr. Parker, who then stays on at Fort Ethier.
May 24	Queen's birthday parade. In the evening a rumor that 5 men of the 65th Battalion have been lost, reaches Fort Ethier. The news later proves untrue.
May 25	A bridge, three miles north, is repaired with help from Edmonton. Four Indians, recommended by Chief Ermineskin, are hired for ten days as scouts for the army. Louis Riel is captured at Petosh, though he expected Divine Intervention. Gabriel Dumont escapes to Montana,
May 26	Chief Poundmaker surrenders.
May 31	Captain Ethier is ordered to the Laboucane Metis, to restore order there and to bring back 20 families who had joined the rebels.
June 1	Ethier is welcomed by Elzear Laboucane, who sends messengers to bring back the families who had left. The two women captives from Frog Lake are released.
June 4	Ethier returns to camp. Monsignor Grandin, Bishop of Alberta, visits the Fort. While there, a wagon arrives, driven by a man who had once been an orphan under Grandin's care.
June 22	Ethier goes to Edmonton. He also celebrates the Feast of St. John the Baptiste at St. Albert on the 24th.
June 25	Ethier receives orders to leave Fort Ethier.
June 27	Departure of the Company to Edmonton.
June 28	Arrival in Edmonton.
July 2	Big Bear surrenders.
Sources: Daoust, Charles R. One Hundred and Twenty Days of Active Service: A Complete Historical Narrative of the Campaign of th 65th in the North West. l886. English Translation, l982, The City of Wetaskiwin, Wetaskiwin, Alberta. MacGregor, James G. A History of Alberta. Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton, Alberta, 1981. Reynolds, A. Bert. Siding l6: Wetaskiwin to 1930. Wetaskiwin R.C.M.P. Centennial Committee, 1975. A special note of gratitude to the late Mrs. Daisy Lucas. Daisy's mother, Emma Nelson (nee Weflin) arrived in Wetaskiwin in 1899 and was a great documenter of records of events of the early years in the Wetaskiwin district. Daisy continued in her mother's footsteps and was instrumental in accurately recording great numbers of Wetaskiwin and area historical records and accounts for posterity. Her enthusiastic and tireless work is greatly appreciated by the people of Wetaskiwin and district. The original two-story Fort Ethier Blockhouse still stands on the old Lucas farm.