River of Dreams: Meandering in Milk River Country

A picturesque, reflective journey along the route of the ancient Milk River, from southern Alberta into northern Montana.

The Milk River is a small and dreamy river, flowing lazily through some of the loneliest lands of North America, the dry plains of Alberta and Montana. Dwarfed by such giants as the Saskatchewan and Mississippi Rivers, it is indeed as meek as its name, virtually unknown to most North Americans. Yet few streams can match its incredible international journey, the magical beauty of its landscape, or the long and often sad history that suffuses every inch of its 1,200-kilometre passage.

The Milk River has always been a special place for the Indigenous Peoples of the plains, providing them with physical and spiritual sustenance. Yet the river's story also encompasses the settlement of the northwestern plains at a time of great change, when Indigenous ways of life were being systematically extinguished, first by brazen whiskey traders and later the flow of immigration and the military will of the US cavalry. As settlement prevailed, brave hopes and dreams often fell victim to injustices and anguish. With lyrical prose, stunning photography, and remarkable insight into the history and geography of the region, River of Dreams is a meditation on the beauty and significance of Milk River country.