Protected Area

Ogema Boulder Effigy Protected Area

Bengough RM 40, Saskatchewan

Also known as Archaeological Site DiNf-1

View of site location on distant hilltop, left of road, 2004.

View of site location on distant hilltop, left of road, 2004.

Photo: Government of Saskatchewan, Marvin Thomas, 2004.

Recognized
1986
By
Government of Saskatchewan

The register’s text, word for word

Description

The Ogema Boulder Effigy Protected Area comprises 0.8 ha of land on the crest of the Missouri Coteau upland, approximately 10 km south of the Town of Ogema. The property features a large precontact age stone ring and two associated rock cairns situated on a prominent hilltop.

Heritage value

The heritage value of the Ogema Boulder Effigy Protected Area lies in its association with First Nations ceremonialism. Much larger than the stone circles that mark the former locations of tipi dwellings, the property’s large stone ring is assumed to have had a ceremonial function. Representing the interconnectedness of life, the circle is a sacred symbol for many First Nations. Thus, the circular stone structure likely enclosed some kind of sacred space, perhaps similar in meaning or purpose to a sundance lodge.

Source:

Province of Saskatchewan, The Parks Act, May 26, 1986.

Character‑defining elements

The heritage value of the Ogema Boulder Effigy Protected Area resides in the following character-defining elements:

-elements that express the property’s ceremonial significance for First Nations, including the stone ring and associated stone features, and the site’s location on an undisturbed prairie hilltop.

End of the register’s text

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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.