Eleske Shrine
Nestled south of Highway 58 East on the Childs Lake Indian Reserve, the Eleske Shrine is a historic site steeped in spirituality, community resilience, and cultural heritage. The name Eleske is the Beaver First Nation word for “White Mud Land,” which accurately describes the white alkali soils unique to this specific landscape.
The story of the shrine began in 1944 during a devastating tuberculosis epidemic. Built in honor of the St. Bernadette Church, the local community hoped that building this sacred site and offering prayers would help bring an end to the widespread sickness. Remarkably, local residents constructed the entire shrine by hand using only shovels, gathering and hauling stones directly from the bed of the nearby Boyer River. Completed in 1945, the shrine stands today as a powerful testament to faith, cooperation, and endurance.
Annual Pilgrimage: Every July, hundreds of visitors and pilgrims make the journey to the Eleske Shrine to gather, reflect, and honor the enduring spirit of the people who built it.
Location: The shrine is located just south of Highway 58 East within the boundaries of the Childs Lake Indian Reserve in northern Alberta.
