Old Native Legend Source Of Medicine Hat's Name
By Senator F. W. GERSHAW

The name Medicine Hat is an unusual one for a city and arouses interest when it is mentioned. The city came to the attention of many over the years, because of the late, vigorous, Mayor Harry Veiner. Whenever he travelled, he initiated some publicity stunt that made people from all over Canada curious about the city.

Numerous stories are told about the origin of the name. One is that Medicine Hat is a translation of the Blackfoot word "Saamis" meaning the colorful head-dress of the Medicine Man.

History records show that in the days of tribal warfare, a battle took place between the Blackfoot, and Cree warriors. The Cree leader lost his hat, trimmed with brightly colored feathers, while crossing the river. With this loss, the morale of the Cree warriors suffered and they fled in disorder.

A hill nearby was marked by the name Medicine Hat, on a map of the Department of Interior, in 1883.

Mr. Hunter, the historian for the North-West Mounted Police recorded the following:

The unusual name Medicine Hat was the outcome of an Indian legend.

While camped on the south branch, a Blackfoot warrior had a vision. Ice covered the river, in the midst of what was a small patch of open water caused by the current. A figure appeared from this opening (some versions say an Indian Chief, some a serpent), wearing an elaborate head - dress adorned with eagle plumes.

It so happened that the young warrior at the time was courting the maiden of his heart, and was told if he threw her to the underwater creature he would be the greatest warrior chief of all his tribe. For love of her barbaric fiance, the girl acquiesced and was hurled beneath the water.

Henceforth,the place was known as the "pot of Medicine Hat."