Duck Lake
A Small Prairie Village Where The First Battle Of The 1885 North West Resistance Was Fought, Now Known For Its Set Of Painted Murals On The Old Buildings And The Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre, With A Museum On Metis, First Nations And Settler History. A Good Stop On The Road Between Saskatoon And Prince Albert, With Batoche National Historic Site Nearby · Duck Lake, Saskatchewan
Duck Lake is a small village of a few hundred people on Highway 11, about 80 km north of Saskatoon, on a stretch of prairie that carries a large part of Saskatchewan history. On 26 March 1885 the first fight of the North-West Resistance took place near here, when Metis and First Nations fighters under Gabriel Dumont met a force of North-West Mounted Police and volunteers from Prince Albert, and twelve men died in the clash. That event began the weeks of conflict that ended at Batoche. Today the village tells the story at the Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre, which presents Metis, First Nations and settler views, and it has become known for a group of large murals painted on the sides of old buildings, which turn a short main street into an outdoor gallery. There is little else: a few shops, a cafe and a grain elevator skyline. The setting is open and windy, so allow an hour or two and confirm the centre's season before you drive up.
Duck Lake, a village on Highway 11 about 80 km north of Saskatoon with a regional interpretive centre and murals; coordinates approximate, Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
The village is open all year, and the murals on the street can be seen free at any hour and in any season. The interpretive centre is commonly open daily or most days from about May to September, with shorter hours or appointment-only visits outside summer, so confirm opening days and times before you drive up. The cafe, shops and any craft stores keep small-town hours and may close on Sundays and holidays. Winter is quiet and cold, with the main highway usually clear but side streets slow to plough.