Four scuba divers reached the remnants of the blast after an arduous search. The original site included a 400 tonne rock, often called mistasiniy (Cree = big rock), which was blown up to end the mounting protest to the rock’s imminent submersion behind the Gardiner Dam which occurred about 1968.

The remnants, about 40 tonnes of them, were re-located in 70 feet of water in Lake Diefenbaker, about 15 miles south of Elbow, Saskatchewan.

Both Cree oral history and archaeological excavations made before the detonation say that the site was used by large numbers and several tribes for thousands of years. Oral history tellers say that eight groups of the Cree pitched teepees for 7 miles along the South Saskatchewan River in the Spring.

One legend of the rock’s presence is that a baby boy was accidentally left behind on the prairies where it was discovered by a herd of buffalo. While some of the buffalo wanted to kill the child because humans killed buffalo, the buffalo leader said they should protect and raise the child. Years later, the boy rejoined his human family and lived with his tribe. One day he was hunting with some of his tribe, and witnessed the killing of his adoptive buffalo father. The young man was torn between two worlds, so the Creator offered the young man the opportunity to be become a huge stone buffalo, which he did. The site was described by one Cree story-teller as a place of spiritual transformation.

Project leader Steven Thair says that a traditional ceremony was held on the shore and in the water over the site, and that an aboriginal cultural advisor was with the team. The search has been captured on high quality video. Thair said, “Now that we have touched the site and videographed the remnants, we will begin looking for sponsors to complete the documentary. This is an important story of an ancient gathering place, particularly for the Cree peoples. It is also an important story, of oppression, protest and politics in the 1960’s, and of current initiatives to revitalize aboriginal culture and spirituality.”