Batoche

For other uses, see Batoche (disambiguation).

Batoche
National Historic Site of Canada
Church, rectory and cemetery of Saint Antoine de Padoue in Batoche
Coordinates:
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
Region	Southcentral Saskatchewan
Census division	15
Rural Municipality	St. Louis No. 431
Established	1872
Incorporated (village)	1885
Designation (National Historic Site)	1923
Government
• administrator	Louise Hodgson
• Governing body	St. Louis No. 431
Time zone	CST
Postal code	S0J 1E0
Area code	306
Highways	Highway 225
Waterways	South Saskatchewan River
National Historic Site of Canada
Official name	Batoche National Historic Site of Canada
Designated	1923

Batoche, which lies between Prince Albert and Saskatoon in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, was the site of the historic Battle of Batoche during the North-West Rebellion of 1885. The battle resulted in the defeat of Louis Riel and his Métis forces by Major General Frederick Middleton and his Northwest Field Force. Batoche was then a small village of some 500 residents. The site has since become depopulated and now has few residents. The 1885 church building and a few other historic buildings have been preserved, and the site is a National Historic Site.

History

Batoche in 1885

File:Batoche Battle Field 1885.jpg

Batoche battlefield map 1885

The Métis settlement of Batoche (named after Xavier Letendre dit Batoche) was established in 1872. By 1885 it numbered 500 people. The Métis of the area settled on river lots, and the community contained several stores as well as the Roman Catholic Church of St. Antoine de Padoue at the time of the Rebellion. Batoche was the de facto capital of Riel's Provisional Government of Saskatchewan.

Batoche is a Southbranch Settlement. It is situated mainly along the east bank of the South Saskatchewan River between St. Laurent and Fish Creek. This area is part of the aspen parkland biome.

This community consisted mostly of Francophones and Roman Catholics.

Batoche National Historic Site

Batoche was declared a National Historic Site in 1923. The visitor centre features a multimedia presentation about the history of the community and its inhabitants. There are several restored buildings with costumed interpreters who depict the lifestyles of the Métis of Batoche between 1860 and 1900. The sites include a North-West Mounted Police encampment, a church and rectory complex, and a farm home. The sites are set at different locations around the community. The complex is open from mid-May through mid-September.

In popular culture

• In 1989, Ralph D. Witten's short story "Batoche" was read on CBC Radio by Wendell Smith

See also

• List of communities in Saskatchewan
• Bell of Batoche
• Gabriel Dumont

Further reading

• Barnholden, Michael. (2009). Circumstances Alter Photographs: Captain James Peters' Reports from the War of 1885. Vancouver, BC: Talonbooks. .
• Dumont, Gabriel. Gabriel Dumont Speaks. Talonbooks, 2009. .
• Payment, Diane p. (2009). The Free People - Li Gens Libres University of Calgary Press. .

External links

• Batoche National Historic Site of Canada