Qu’Appelle Trip
The Qu’Appelle valley in Saskatchewan is absolutely stunning. The head waters exit the South East arm of Lake Diefenbaker known as the Gordon McKenzie arm. This is, in fact, a watershed divide, where the South Saskatchewan River flows North Westward, the Qu’Appelle flows South Eastward
I believe that before the Gardiner Dam was in existence there was a creek the connected the two known as Aiktow — “The river that flows both ways”. Depending on water levels it could flow into the South Sask, or the other way around.
John Palliser’s expedition to the West went through the Qu’Appelle Valley, only they didn’t use canoes, they used Red River Carts. At one point they even constructed a raft in an attempt to cross the South Saskatchewan somewhere around the Elbow losing a cart to the river in the process!
The Qu’Appelle River fascinates me because it acts as a connection Eastward and really as far as you would like to go. It’s also incredible that this seemingly tiny river supplies the drinking water for the city of Regina! Furthermore, the valley is shrouded in legend. I’m sure the story was shared around for years, but I first encountered it in a dusty old book our library was getting rid of. “Saskatchewan Monuments” by Winifred Kincade published in 1963. He writes about a placard on No. 10 Highway three miles north-east of Lebret (it may well still be there??). It reads “You are approaching one of the most charming of Saskatchewan’s beautiful river valleys. An ancient Indian legend tells how it got its name-an Indian brave traveling to his wedding one evening heard his name called out. It was the voice of his sweetheart, but she, he knew, was many suns away in camp. Puzzled, the brave answered, “who calls?” But only a spirit voice mimicked, “who calls?” Troubled, the brave sped homeward, only to learn that his loved one had died. With her last breath she had called his name. Ever since, so the legend goes, the valley has been known as the Qu’Appelle or Calling River Valley. Skeptics claim the name comes simply from the marvelous echo which rebounds from the valley’s walls. Who knows?”