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Alberta

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Looking toward the uppermost portion of the Majorville Medicine Wheel.

A medicine wheel is large circular pattern made on the ground through the placement of stones in patterns that can include rings, spokes and cairns. The Blackfoot Indians used these structures as part of a death lodge to inter honoured and powerful warriors and for special ceremonies.

DUC Partnership

DUC has been partnering with the Bow River Irrigation District (BRID) since 1941 on a series of conservation projects that have resulted in more wetlands and habitat for native waterfowl.

 

Medicine Wheel Project 

As part of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s long standing agreement with the Bow River Irrigation District, over 900 acres of wetlands and 47,000 acres of uplands have been secured for waterfowl, other wildlife and cattle grazing within the Medicine Wheel Project, SW of Brooks, Alberta.

The construction and improvements to the canals, wetland basins and water control structures was completed in 1995. Made up of a series of 36 wetland basins connected with irrigation canals, Ducks Unlimited Canada uses controls to maintain each basin at optimum levels for waterfowl production.  Surrounding the wetland basins are acres of tame and native grasslands used for grazing cattle.  The wetland basins serve to irrigate the uplands and provide water for livestock watering systems.  The uplands are closely managed, incorporating grazing plans that include such techniques as rotational grazing and deferred grazing.

One of the most interesting features of the Medicine Wheel project is the origin of its name which is derived from the Majorville Medicine Wheel. Known to early pioneers as Sundial Butte, the Medicine Wheel at Majorville has been dated to 3200 B.C. In the 1960s, the Medicine Wheel was reported to archaeologists and in 1971 was excavated by James Calder from the University of Calgary. The abstract from his findings can be viewed at The Majorville Cairn and Medicine Wheel Site.