Qu'Appelle River

The Qu'Appelle River is a river which flows 430 km east from Lake Diefenbaker in southwestern Saskatchewan to join the Assiniboine River in Manitoba.

Related Topics:
River - 430 km - Lake Diefenbaker - Saskatchewan - Assiniboine River - Manitoba

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In 1787, the Northwest Company established a fur trading post at Fort Espérance on the lower river. After it was abandoned in 1819, the Hudson Bay Company established a post at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan near the site of the town of the same name.

Related Topics:
1787 - Northwest Company - Fur trading - 1819 - Hudson Bay Company - Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan

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The Via Rail route follows the river valley at the border between Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

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The river's name is said to be based on a legend of a young native who heard his name being called and responded "kab-tep-was" ("Who calls?") in Cree. All he heard back was an echo from the hills bordering the river. When he returned home, he was told that his bride-to-be had died calling his name. The Cree name was later translated into the French "Qu'appelle". E. Pauline Johnson retold the story in "The Legend of Qu?Appelle Valley".

Related Topics:
Cree - French - E. Pauline Johnson

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The river valley also contains some relatively undisturbed grassland and coulees which provide habitat for native plant and animal species, such as the Loggerhead Shrike.

Related Topics:
Coulee - Loggerhead Shrike

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Singer-songwriter and social activist Buffy Sainte-Marie was born on the Piapot Indian Reserve in the Qu'Appelle Valley.

Related Topics:
Buffy Sainte-Marie - Piapot

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