ÎYÂRHE NAKODA – A fire has destroyed the historic Stoney Medicine Lodge, leaving a cultural landmark in ashes.
Nakoda Fire, Bighorn Emergency Services and the Cochrane Fire Department were called to respond to the blaze, reported around 8:20 p.m. Thursday night (July 25) and worked well into the night trying to put it out.
“The loss of the structure – it’s a blow to the community,” said Nakoda Emergency Services director Reg Fountain.
“But thanks to the support of our neighbouring jurisdictions’ fire departments, we were able to contain the fire solely to that structure.”
The Stoney Medicine Lodge is located on Two Rivers Ranch – named for its location at the confluence of the Ghost and Bow rivers. The sprawling ranch, just west of Ghost Lake, was purchased by Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation from a private owner decades ago.
After its purchase, the lodge was used as a treatment facility up until 1996.
Former councillor with Stoney Tribal Council and elder Tina Fox, whose background is in health and wellness, was chairperson of a committee that helped get the facility off the ground at the time.
“Our then chief and council decided to turn it into a treatment facility. So, the committee that I was working with negotiated agreements with Indian Affairs, and we opened it as an adult drug and alcohol residential treatment centre,” said Fox.
Since the facility’s closure, the building has sat unused and was reportedly not maintained.
In 2013, floodwaters from the Bow River ravaged the Mînî Thnî community and also damaged the old lodge extensively.
“To repair it was going to cost millions, we were told,” said Fox. “Millions which we didn’t have. So, it’s just been sitting there abandoned.”
Some community members wonder why it was not repaired and pointed out as much when a new treatment facility opened within the Mînî Thnî townsite in 2023. That facility is comprised of ATCO trailers.
“I think maybe it was too costly because it was not maintained and because of the damage – pipes were broken and it was just rotting there,” said Fox of the old building.
While the lodge has a history in the community, Fox said its loss could also be seen as a “blessing in disguise” since it seems there was no intent to repair or renovate it.
Kenny Hunter, a member of Goodstoney First Nation, said he saw smoke billowing from the Highway 1A while driving past Thursday night.
“My cousin actually lives nearby, so I worried that the smoke was coming from one of the houses up there,” he said.
“This is still a sad loss. That building had a lot of history and memories.”
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and as of Friday afternoon (July 26), fire crews were still on site putting out hot spots.
Because the building was abandoned and far enough away from residences in the area, no injuries or loss of life was reported, and no evacuations were necessary, said Fountain.
“Because of the good work that was done by our fire crew and the support we had from our neighbours, the fire was contained to the building,” he said.
The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. The position covers Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and Kananaskis Country.
