ROCHE PERCEE — In a celebratory evening on Sept. 28, people from the village of Roche Percee and other areas gathered to witness the unveiling of new lights at the Roche Percee rocks, a historical landmark deeply embedded in the region's culture and history.
Over 60 people, including local residents and officials, and Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who also resides in the Roche Percee area, were present for the event, marking a significant milestone in preserving the heritage site.
The event featured the raising of flags and the first official lighting of the rocks, a spectacle that Mayor Jay Riedel said had been long overdue.
"When you see this lit up, it's something that you'll never understand why it's never been done before," Riedel remarked, emphasizing the site's historical and cultural importance to the community.
The Roche Percee rocks, which hold sacred significance to Indigenous peoples and have seen centuries of exploration and settlement, have been part of local folklore, with carvings and markings dating back generations.
Riedel acknowledged this rich past, encouraging the community to preserve the heritage for future generations.
"This area has a significant history ... Many pre-contact carvings like the thunderbird drawn by our First Nations are still visible. Many tribes regarded the rocks as sacred. You can still feel their presence.
"Then, in 1874, the North West Mounted Police and their March West trekked through this area and also signed their names. This year was the 150th anniversary; they made camp in the area.
"Also, history tells us that Al Capone and the rum runners came through, General [George Armstrong] Custer, the Seventh Cavalry, and the Boundary Commission went through as many more. Rumors of Sitting Bull. And of course, we can't forget the Rugaroos," Riedel shared.
The Roche Percee rocks, which have seen everything from pre-colonial sacred rituals to historical journeys of the North West Mounted Police, are now further preserved for future generations.
Ahead of the light-up moment, long-time village resident Reg Jahn shared a few myths and legends of the area.
"The First Nations, the Lakota Sioux, who were very prominent here at one time, have a different version of how these rocks were created. At the beginning of time, there was a great serpent crawling on the face of the Earth and a great eagle soaring in the sky. The eagle wanted to eat the serpent, so he swooped down and he picked him up and he carried him off," Jahn shared the story.
"But the serpent didn't want to be eaten, so he fought, and he struck, and he twisted, and he turned. And finally, the eagle had to let him go because he could no longer hang on to him. But they were at a great height. And as the serpent fell to the earth, he turned to stone and when he hit the earth, he shattered. And those shatterings are what you see up and down the valley today.
"If you look at this rock formation off here to your right in the daytime from the side, you'll see the serpent's head. So the story must be true."
Besides musts and the lights, the Roche Percee rocks site also saw a cement pad and picnic tables installed.
During the ceremony, Riedel highlighted the work that went into the preservation efforts as well as recent progress and development in and around the village, including the improved highway leading into Roche Percee.
The project to light up the rocks, according to Riedel, was the culmination of years of work and collaboration between various organizations, including the Southeast Sask Economic Partnership (SSEP) and SaskParks. The mayor extended thanks to several contributors.
"It's been a big group of people that had to make this happen, and it all had to work perfectly to get where we are today," Riedel said.
One of the most anticipated moments of the evening was when the lights were officially turned on, illuminating the ancient rock formations that have been at the heart of numerous local legends. As the lights flickered on, the crowd erupted in applause, marking the successful completion of the long-awaited project.
