
In memory of Henry Kelsey
N 52° 08.644 W 106° 41.323
13U E 384445 N 5778407
Quick Description: This Cairn is located by Henry Kelsey School, Saskatoon.
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Date Posted: 9/30/2009 12:45:32 AM
Waymark Code: WM7B8Y
Views: 1
Long Description:Dedicated to the memory of Henry Kelsey, intrepid explorer, trader
and friend of the Indians. On the 12th of June, 1690, Henry Kelsey,
A lad of 20, left York Factory with a band of Assiniboine Indians
returning to their homes on the prairie. He was an employee of the
Hudson's Bay Company and the purpose of his trip was to encourage
other plains indians to bring their furs to the bay. He reached the
"Saskatchewan" and wintered on the plains. He was the first white
man to see the Great Grass Lands, hunt the buffalo, and record its
description. In 1928 the original of Kelsey 128 page diary turned
up in a castle in Norhtern Ireland. In it he had written:
"They are ill-shaped beast biggar than English ox, horns growing
ye same but black and short."
Close to this cairn is a buffalo rub. These stones were used by
the great beasts to remove winter hair and in general to get relief
from burrs and ticks which infested their thick shaggy coats.
Constant rubbing against the stone smoothed and pollished the
surface and in the process of tramping and pawing around the
buffalo created a wallow.
This stone was found at Floral on the land of the Honourable
Charles Agar. It was placed here by the Parks and Recreation board
in 1965.