Identity area
Type of entity
Corporate body
Authorized form of name
Saddle Lake, AB
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Saddle Lake earlier was called “Onihcikiskwapiwin” meaning “mirage on the lake” and this name was shortened to “Aspapiwin” meaning “Saddle.” The site was a gathering place for Cree bands in the spring. In 1876, Little Hunter and Kehkek signed Treaty 6 for Saddle Lake. In 1880, the group divided into three with Little Hunter’s band remaining at Saddle Lake, Blue Quill’s band going to Egg Lake (Whitford) and Bear Ear’s band going to Washatenow. In 1886, Blue Quill’s band moved back to Saddle Lake. Father Mérer founded a Roman Catholic mission, Sacred Heart, at Saddle Lake in 1888. The residential school opened in 1898 and was called Blue Quills but in 1931 the school moved to St. Paul.