Endiang, Alberta
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Endiang, Alberta is a small hamlet in Canada, located approximately 80 kilometers south east of Stettler, Alberta. Although Endiang enjoyed fair prosperity in the early years of the twentieth century, the great depression, the second world war, and years of poor weather have led to the depopulation of the local farming community, and with it, of the town. In former years, Endiang was home to a post office, two general stores, two hardware stores, bank, train station, grain elevators, hotel and pool hall, gas station, tractor dealership, lumber yard, and all the other establishment expected in most towns. Today, Endiang is still home to a post office and community hall, which hosts an annual Turkey dinner every November, and a small restaurant.
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[edit] History
A little known fact about Endiang is that during the cold war it was considered the place most likely for conflict between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. to begin. If the Soviet Union were to have fired a missile first, and the American military were to respond, it was considered likely that the two missiles would collide over Endiang. This fact was immortalised in the poem "Armageddon at Endiang, Alberta".
An interesting bit of history is that the original settlement of Endiang was located about 5 kilometers northeast of the present hamlet and was established by William Foreman on his homestead in 1910. It was named for a summer resort hotel the Foreman family owned in the Muskoka Lakes region of Ontario, named "Endiang," from the Anishinaabe language Endaayaang, meaning "our home".[1] The tiny settlement included a post office, store and hall. When the CNR built a railroad through the area in 1925 it missed the original settlement, so with the aid of horse power the buildings were moved to the new site of Endiang.
Endiang is also notable for being the home to the Shaben family, some of whom were involved in the establishment of the first mosque in Alberta.
The history of the Endiang area was first recorded in local author Jean James' book This Was Endiang.[2] In 2002 the history of the area was updated with family histories included in the book "Endiang - Our Home". The latest 650 page history book was the project of the Endiang History Book Committee.
The Endiang community is gearing up to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2010.
[edit] Geography and Climate
Endiang is located on a plain bounded by ranges of hills to the west and south, and by Sullivan Lake, a large alkali lake to the east. The Chain Lakes lie to the southwest. Its geography and climate is similar to that of most other prairie areas of East-Central and Southern Alberta, experiencing cold winters broken up by Chinook winds, and warm, dry summers. In recent years, Endiang has experienced both extreme droughts and extreme wet conditions, having a great impact on the local farming community, although this sort of weather pattern is typical of other such areas found in Palliser's Triangle.
Endiang's closest neighbor is the small hamlet of Byemoor, located about 8 miles to the west. Together the two communities are commonly referred to as "Endmoor".
[edit] Wildlife
Endiang and the surrounding area is noted for the wide variety of wildlife found there. Wildlife in the area includes such prairie species as Pronghorn Antelope, Richardson's Ground Squirrel, Coyote, Garter Snakes, and numerous species of birds, amphibians, and rodents. Species common to parkland environments can also be found around Endiang, such as Moose, Whitetailed Deer and Mule Deer, and others.
The flora of Endiang and the surrounding region is made up of native prairie interespersed with stands of aspen, willow, and other shrubs like saskatoon berry and silver willow.
Endiang has long been noted as an excellent hunting area, especially for waterfowl who come every fall to feed on the harvested fields surrounding Sullivan Lake, although deer and moose hunting has become popular in recent years. Commonly, large flocks of Ross's Geese and Snow Geese can be seen migrating through the area, as well as Canada Geese and numerous types of duck.
[edit] References
- ^ Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary
- ^ Jean James - This Was Endiang
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