Saratoga Park: Remembering a Métis Community in Medicine Hat

Saratoga Park was recognized as a historical area in 2020. Located on 64.1 acres in the east-central area of Medicine Hat, the first mentions of Saratoga Park appear in a city plat (map) in 1907. While there are additional mentions of the park in the early 1900s, a majority of the information of the Métis community is derived from oral histories. Specifically, the open house on October 17th, 2018. The open house allowed residents & descendants of residents’ stories to be shared.  

Metis inhabitance in the area began around 1929, with early inhabitants such as Knapp (or Nap) Cayenne, Riel Demaris, Henry Aaker and his mother Valina Hood, and the Bliss family. Tony Demaris, who is related to the Cayenne family, shared an interesting story of Knapp Cayenne's dwelling in Saratoga Park being made out of apple boxes, which speaks to the resiliency and determination for survival at a time when resources were scarce during the Great Depression. You can read more about this story in Debra North's research paper "Saratoga Park: A Forgotten Part of Medicine Hat", here.

The community grew in size and connection, reaching its residential peak in 1962. According to residents, life in Saratoga Park was a good one. The Demaris’, Henry Aaker, and many others suggest that the community was well received by the residents of Medicine Hat. However, there were some negative interactions with classmates, or Medicine Hat residents having a negative view on the park because it was where the Métis, or “breed” folk lived.  

While the residents of Saratoga Park continued to live their lives, there was an ongoing battle with the city regarding land ownership and the constant back-and-forth of if the residents were forced to leave.  

Tony Demaris recalled how his father, along with Knapp Cayanne, approached the city to lease the land they had settled on. The city declined the offer but allowed them to stay until the city decided they needed the land for other things.  

This led to a series of informal agreements between the residents of Saratoga Park and the municipal government that would allow the families, as of the 1950s, to remain in their homes until they moved away or died. While the city appeared to uphold the agreement, discussions resurfaced in 1958 about removing residents due to limited access to services. Ultimately, the issue was resolved, and utility services were extended to Saratoga Park.

The residents lived there until 2010. Henry Aaker was the last Métis resident of Saratoga Park. He left in 2010; his house being removed in 2011. Henry Aaker passed away on May 28th, 2012, at the age of 82. While no more residents live at Saratoga Park, the memories live through the oral histories, and of the local families of those who are left to tell them.

During National Indigenous History Month, places like Saratoga Park invite us to deepen our understanding of the histories, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. The stories connected to Saratoga Park highlight the lived experiences of Métis families and encourage reflection on the enduring relationships between people, community, and place.