Medicine Hills in Alberta: A Geographical and Historical Study

Medicine Hills in Alberta has a rich geological, ecological, and cultural history that spans thousands of years. The term "Medicine Hills" encompasses several significant locations across Alberta, including Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area, Medicine Hat, and Medicine Hill in Calgary. These locations share deep Indigenous connections and important ecological characteristics that have shaped human interaction with these landscapes over millennia. This report examines the geographical features of these areas and traces their historical development from Indigenous ceremonial sites to contemporary protected areas and urban developments.

Geographical Features of Medicine Hills in Alberta

Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area

Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area is located approximately 20 kilometers west of Bentley, Alberta, representing one of the most significant "Medicine Hills" sites in the province. This 64.36-hectare (159.04-acre) protected area is characterized by a distinctive topography featuring a large hill with a steep eastern slope and gentler slopes to the north, south, and west^[1][2]. The area falls within the Boreal Forest Natural Region, specifically the Dry Mixedwood Subregion, creating a unique ecological transition zone^[3].

The vegetation consists primarily of aspen and paper birch forest interspersed with young spruce trees, forming a mixed-wood ecosystem that supports important ungulate habitat^[1][2]. This diverse forest composition contributes to the area's ecological value and has made it significant for both wildlife and human use throughout history.

Medicine Hat Region

While not technically part of the "Medicine Hills," Medicine Hat represents another important "Medicine" geographical feature in southern Alberta. Located along the South Saskatchewan River in the southeastern part of the province, Medicine Hat sits within what was historically known as the Palliser Triangle—a semi-arid steppe region initially deemed unsuitable for agriculture by explorer John Palliser in the 1850s^[4].

The geography of Medicine Hat is characterized by its position on the Belly River Formation within the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, composed of fine-grain sandstone and shales with horizons of coal and Cretaceous dinosaur beds^[4]. This geological foundation, coupled with the area's unique climate—Medicine Hat is reportedly the sunniest place in Canada with an average of 2,544 hours of sunshine annually—created a distinctive landscape that influenced historical settlement patterns^[5].

Medicine Hill Calgary

A more recent addition to Alberta's "Medicine" locations is Medicine Hill in Calgary, situated on approximately 100 acres of Paskapoo Slopes adjacent to Canada Olympic Park in the city's northwest quadrant^[6][7]. This area features natural slopes and greenery that have been incorporated into a planned mixed-use development. The geography of this area transitions between urban development and natural spaces, representing a contemporary approach to landscape integration^[8][9].

Historical Overview of Medicine Hills

Indigenous Presence and Significance

The history of Medicine Hills in Alberta begins thousands of years before European contact. The Medicine Lodge Hills were first documented on Western maps in 1859 by renowned cartographer John Arrowsmith, who described them as "a favourite site for First Nation spring festivals"^[3]. However, archaeological evidence suggests much earlier human presence in various "Medicine" sites across Alberta.

The Crees held ceremonial dances in the Medicine Lodge Hills and had at least two names for the nearby river: "Muskiki" and another name that translated to "Sundance River"^[10]. This cultural significance extended across similar sites in Alberta, with medicine wheels and ceremonial locations forming an important part of Indigenous spiritual practices throughout the region.

In the Medicine Hat area, First Nations settlement and interaction spans more than 10,000 years, particularly along the cliffs and banks of the South Saskatchewan River^[4]. These locations were used for seasonal habitation and food gathering, primarily focused on bison hunting. The river cliffs were especially important landscapes where Plains groups would convene for communal bison hunts, ceremonial purposes, or trade activities^[4].

European Contact and Settlement

European documentation of Medicine Hills began in the mid-19th century with explorers and surveyors. John Palliser surveyed southern Alberta between 1857 and 1859, describing much of the region as a "wasteland" unsuitable for agriculture due to its arid environment—a conclusion later challenged by naturalist John Macoun, whose more optimistic assessment influenced the routing of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR)^[4].

The arrival of the CPR in 1883 marked a significant turning point for settlement in the Medicine Hat region, initiating structured development that radiated outward from the railway station^[4]. This period represented a transition from Indigenous control of the land to increasing European settlement, facilitated by treaties such as Treaty 7, signed in 1877 at Blackfoot Crossing, which transferred control of Blackfoot territory to the Crown and established reserves^[4].

The Medicine Lodge Hills area maintained its cultural significance even as European settlement expanded across Alberta. By the early 20th century, the area around Medicine Lodge Hills had developed with small communities and agricultural activities, while still preserving connections to its Indigenous history^[11][3].

Cultural Significance of Medicine Hills

Indigenous Ceremonial Practices

The cultural significance of Medicine Hills for Indigenous peoples cannot be overstated. These locations served as important ceremonial sites and gathering places. The very name "Medicine" across these sites references their spiritual and healing importance to Indigenous communities^[10].

In southern Alberta, a similar site known as the Majorville Medicine Wheel (Iniskim Umaapi) provides insight into the cultural practices associated with these locations. This site has been continuously used for the last 4,500 years, making it one of the oldest religious monuments in the world^[12]. Its structure consists of a central cairn connected to a surrounding stone circle by 28 spokes, organized in a radially-symmetrical fashion^[12].

Iniskim (buffalo calling stones) were a central element of Blackfoot ceremonial activity at these sites and continue to be significant in contemporary cultural practices. The ongoing ritual use of these locations, including offerings of sweetgrass, sage, willow, cloth, tobacco, prayer, and song, symbolically maintains the link between contemporary people and their ancestors^[12].

Origins of "Medicine" Place Names

The term "Medicine" in place names across Alberta directly connects to Indigenous cultural practices. For the Medicine Lodge Hills and nearby Medicine River and Medicine Lake, the name references the ceremonial dances held by the Crees in the hills^[10]. Similarly, Medicine Hat's name "intrinsically links the place with its first inhabitants," though the specific origin story is not detailed in the search results^[4].

More recently, the Medicine Hill development in Calgary deliberately adopts this naming convention, with the name "Medicine Hill" approved by Calgary City Council in 2016 for the development on Paskapoo Slopes^[7]. This represents a contemporary acknowledgment of the Indigenous heritage of the region, even as the area transforms through urban development.

Contemporary Status and Conservation

Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area

Today, Medicine Lodge Hills is protected as a Natural Area under Alberta's Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas and Heritage Rangelands Act^[1][2]. This designation recognizes both its ecological importance as ungulate habitat and its cultural significance to Indigenous peoples. Management focuses on preserving the natural features of the area while respecting its historical and cultural values^[3].

Medicine Lodge Ski Hill

Adjacent to the Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area is the Medicine Lodge Ski Hill, established in 1962 and operated as a volunteer, not-for-profit organization^[13]. In 2023, the Bentley Mayor and Council approved a Medicine Lodge Ski Hill Masterplan, which aims to ensure long-term asset management, explore possibilities for recreation expansion, and develop future partnerships^[11].

The masterplan explicitly acknowledges the cultural significance of the hill to Indigenous peoples of Alberta, stating: "We recognize that the hill is culturally significant to indigenous peoples of Alberta and also to those who have called central Alberta Home for multiple generations"^[11]. This represents an integration of recreational use with respect for the area's cultural heritage.

Medicine Hill Calgary

The most recent development bearing the "Medicine" name is Medicine Hill in Calgary, which represents a modern urban approach to these historically significant landscapes. Approved for development in 2015, this mixed-use site incorporates retail, office, and residential units on approximately 100 acres of Paskapoo Slopes^[7]. The development includes policies that "achieve higher design standards and incorporate the Blackfoot culture," demonstrating an attempt to respect the cultural heritage of the area even as it undergoes urbanization^[7].

The City of Calgary has also designated part of the area as Medicine Hill Regional Park (formerly Paskapoo Slopes Park), with funding available to start work on a Masterplan for the park that will likely incorporate elements of the area's cultural heritage^[14].

Conclusion

The Medicine Hills of Alberta represent more than just geographical features; they embody a complex interweaving of natural landscapes, Indigenous cultural practices, and historical developments that span thousands of years. From the Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area with its documented ceremonial significance to the Indigenous peoples of the region, to the city of Medicine Hat that grew from a railway stop to a thriving urban center, these "Medicine" sites collectively tell the story of Alberta's development.

The cultural significance of these hills to Indigenous communities remains evident in contemporary conservation efforts and even new developments, such as Medicine Hill in Calgary, which consciously reference this heritage. As Alberta continues to develop, the protection of sites like Medicine Lodge Hills Natural Area ensures that both the ecological value and cultural significance of these landscapes are preserved for future generations.

The ongoing tension between development and conservation, between honoring Indigenous cultural heritage and creating new spaces for contemporary use, is evident across these various "Medicine" sites in Alberta. Understanding their geography and history provides important context for managing these tensions in ways that respect both the natural environment and the cultural significance of these unique Alberta landscapes.

⁂

• https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/central/medicine-lodge-hills-na/   
• https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/central/medicine-lodge-hills-na/information-facilities/   
• https://sapaastewards.com/protected-areas/list-of-protected-areas/medicine-lodge-hills-na/    
• https://www.medicinehat.ca/en/government-and-city-hall/resources/Documents/Historic-Context-Paper.pdf        
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicine_Hat 
• https://royallepagebenchmark.ca/calgary/southwest/medicine-hill/ 
• https://www.calgary.ca/planning/projects/east-paskapoo-slopes.html    
• https://www.skyway-rentals.ca/blog/2024/06/12/discover-the-charm-of-medicine-hill/ 
• https://www.podium-rentals.ca/blog/2024/03/27/a-closer-look-at-medicine-hill/ 
• https://www.myrnapearman.com/uploads/1/3/4/1/134103042/1957-articles.pdf   
• https://townofbentley.ca/town-office/plans-projects/medicine-lodge-ski-hill-masterplan/   
• https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=15835   
• http://www.medicinelodgeskihill.com 
• https://www.calgary.ca/parks/Medicine-Hill-Regional-Park.html