Ghostpine Creek
Creek
82 P
Flows south-east into Red Deer River, approximately 80 km north-east of Calgary. On the shores of Pine Lake around 1830 the Blackfoot raided a sleeping camp of Cree and murdered every man, woman and child. Only one Cree survived, having been away from the camp on a hunting expedition. When he returned and found all his family and friends murdered, the Cree painted his face black in mourning then set out on the trail of the Blackfoot. The lone Cree managed to kill many of the rivals, raiding their camps at night or else ambushing anyone who became separated from the main group. For years afterwards the Cree avoided Pine Lake. An odd-looking tree guarded its shores and people thought the region was haunted by ghosts of those who were murdered. This explains the original name of the feature, Ghostpine Lake. The Ghostpine Creek flows from here and forms a junction with the Red Deer River, shortly after joining the Three Hills Creek.