Manitoba Historical Society |
|
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Flee Island Entrenchments (RM of Portage la Prairie)
The eastern Dakota (Sioux) of Minnesota traditionally built ćunkaśke (pronounced “choonkashkay”)—wooden palisades, piles of stones and earthen entrenchments—around their camps and villages for protection against the elements, wild animals, and potential enemies. One group was even referred to as the Cunkasketonwan: Nation of the Forts.
In the summer of 1862, many Dakota openly rebelled against the intolerable treatment they had received from American authorities. As a result, several hundred moved north to the relative safety of the Red River Settlement. In the spring of 1864, following an attack by Chippewa bounty hunters from Minnesota, the Dakota constructed fortified camps in the Portage la Prairie district. Each camp was enclosed by a circular trench and embankment behind which armed defenders could position themselves. Inside this circle was a ring of pits where the women and children could take refuge in the event of an attack. The remnants of one such ćunkaśke, known as the Flee Island Entrenchment, are located in the area near a marker at this site.
Designated a provincial historic site in 1954, a commemorative monument was erected here in 1991 by the Manitoba Heritage Council.
Flee Island Entrenchments (April 2010)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.10549, W98.15575
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Ambroise Entrenchments (RM of Portage la Prairie)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Flee Island School No. 527 (RM of Portage la Prairie)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Abandoned Manitoba
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites
Flee Island Dakota Entrenchment, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch
Sources:
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 5 July 2019
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
|
For queries on the above page, please contact the MHS Webmaster. Home | Terms & Conditions | FAQ | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Donations © 1998-2023 Manitoba Historical Society. All rights reserved. |