Date Range

1995-2016

Description Level

Item

Physical Description

887 colour photographic prints. 7 black and white photographic prints. 214 - 35 mm negative strips. 5 cm. textual material.

History Biographical

In 1996, a group of riding enthusiasts, amateur historians, and community minded volunteers formed the Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. The ROTP’s original purpose was to recreate the riding traditions of the North West Mounted Police, with trail rides and commemorative wagon treks, and participation in public events with period uniforms, drills, firearms, and horses and tack. The six original members of the Troop formed a non-profit society in 1996 with two purposes:

To preserve and protect the history of the North West Mounted Police

To advance the education of the public as it relates to the history of the NWMP. Members participated as a commemorative troop in various events across Western Canada and Montana, including:

NWMP Boundary Commission Wagon Trek, 1997 and 1998

RCMP 125 March West, 1999

Due North wagon trek of the Whoop-Up Trail, 2000-2001

Fort Whoop-Up annual Wild West Weekend, one of the largest re-enactments events in Western Canada. The troop participated in several films, including:

Parks Canada production of the “Battle of Batoche”

CBC production of “Canada, a People’s History”

History Channel’s “The Great March West”

A Scattering of Seeds’ “Nevitt”. In addition, the troop travelled to Batoche, Saskatchewan, Battleford, Saskatchewan, Fort Steele, British Columbia, Fort Walsh, Saskatchewan, Rawleigh, Alberta, and Fort Benton, Montana. They were trained in firearms drill, horsemanship and infantry drill. As early as 1997, the ROTP received a lease on the original site of the Macleod NWMP Barracks, which was home to the North West Mounted Police, the Royal North West Mounted Police and the present day Royal Canadian Mounted Police during the period 1884 to 1922. The ROTP immediately began to plan for restoration and preservation of the site, including recreating the historic flagpole, identifying building sites, gathering of artifacts, conducting research, and building a dedicated membership and an array of alliances. ROTP efforts resulted in the declaration and protection of the site as a Provincial Historic Resource in 2001. Subsequently, the ROTP proposal for funding under the Centennial Legacy Program was approved, providing $1.6 million dollars for reconstruction and restoration of site structures to the late 1890’s period. In addition, the ROTP raised $250,000 in various forms to assist the project. Concurrent with the design and construction of the three reconstructed buildings and the development of the site itself, the ROTP worked hard to accumulate historical and interpretive materials relating to the Barracks period. Replica uniforms and saddles were commissioned. The ROTP celebrated the Official Opening of the Barracks in August of 2005. Unfortunately, relationships with the Fort Macleod Historic Area Society and the Town of Fort Macleod began to sour soon afterwards, culminating in an unfortunate lawsuit in July of 2007 against the ROTP, Fort Whoop Up and two individuals. This, in turn, resulted in a forensic audit, completed in July, 2008 by the Government of Alberta, which found no evidence of fraud, personal gain, or illegal use on the part of the ROTP. The audit also indicated that the major inventory items (uniforms, saddles, firearms and wagons) were properly accounted for. The Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association was dissolved in 2016.

Scope and Content

20171072001 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association Memory Book. 2016. Part 1 of 3. 20171072002 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association Memory Book. 2016. Part 2 of 3. 20171072003 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association Memory Book. 2016. Part 3 of 3. 20171072004 - "With the Mounties in the Boot and Saddle Days". Primary Sources. Photographs. 2000-2005. Biography of Charles Selby Haultain, by his wife Henrietta Dennistoun Haultain. 20171072005 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Dissolution. 2016. 20171072006 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Rowley, Alberta. 2002. 20171072007 - Due North Wagon Trek. 2000-2001. 20171072008 - Haultain Display. Van Hierden Donation. 2005. 20171072009 - Wild West Weekend. 2002. 20171072010 - NWMP Barracks. 2002-2005. 20171072011 - RNWMP Barracks Development. 2004. 20171072012 - Rowley Weekend. 2002. 20171072013 - R.C.M.P. Commissioner's Visit. 2004. 20171072014 - RNWMP Barn (formerly Jail). 2004. 20171072015 - NWMP Barracks, Fort Macleod, Alberta. May Ling Weekend. 2002. 20171072016 - Blacksmith Artifacts Donation. Gordon Hatton Family. 2005. 20171072017 - Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Wagon Trek. 2002. 20171072018 - NWMP Barracks. Barn. 2000-2005. 20171072019 - Day 4. Raymond Camp. n.d. 20171072020 - Day 6. Fort Whoop Up Crossing, Oldman. n.d. 20171072021 - Day 7. Crossing Oldman. n.d. 20171072022 - Day 8. Macleod. n.d. 20171072023 - Wild West Weekend Photo Display. 2002. 20171072024 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Flag Raising. 1997. 20171072025 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Barracks Site. 2002. 20171072026 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Barn Donation. 1997-1998. 20171072027 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Undated photographic negatives. 20171072028 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Regimental Dinner. n.d. 20171072029 - Mild River Detachment. n.d. 20171072030 - Hanna Auction Display Items. Western Development Museum Display. 2000. 20171072031 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Re-Enactment Photographs. 2002. 20171072032 - Jail Cell Parts. Wild Rose Cleaners Building. 2005. 20171072033 - Barracks Site Construction. 1995 - 2000. 20171072034 - Fort Calgary. 2004. 20171072035 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Study Tour. 2004. Stettler Train Ride, Fort Calgary, Glenbow, Provincial Museum, Reynolds Museum, ROTP Collection photographs. 20171072036 - Riders of the Plains Commemorative Troop Association. Uniforms. n.d. 20171072037 - Jerry Potts House. 2005. 20171072038 - NWMP Barracks Site. Flag Raising. 1997. 20171072039 - Fort Museum RCMP Display. n.d. 20171072040 - RCMP Museum Exhibits. Regina, Saskatchewan. n.d.

Notes

Related files: 19991099000 ("Outpost" newsletter) and 20161020 (Riders of the Plains fonds).

Accession No.

20171072

Collection

Archive

Less detail