On August 8, 1874, the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) while marching West to Fort Whoop-Up, stopped and camped near Old Wives Lake (near the current community of Mossbank). There they encountered a groups Sioux who were also traveling in the area. The two groups met and held formal ceremonies and then traded for two days. This was the first meeting between the NWMP and a group of First Nations people.
During the long weekend in August, 2008, the town of Mossbank hosted the first Old Wives Lake Festival. The festival commemorated the 1874 meeting between the NWMP and the Sioux group. The Festival attracted well-over 500 people who participated in commemorations of the 1874 meeting, a wagon-ride back in time to visit one of the original Mounties, First Nations storytellers, drummers and dancers and an assortment of other rural entertainers. The video above features highlights from the Festival and the picture below is one of 30 pictures of the festival that can be viewed by clicking here.
Part of the ceremony commemorating the meeting between the NWMP and the Sioux group