Its wild whisky-trading days may be long over, but a showdown of a different kind is happening at the Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site in Lethbridge, Alta.

The historical society that has run the city-owned tourist attraction for more than 40 years is leaving the site, which is a replica of a notorious whisky trading post first built at another location in 1869.

And the society is taking thousands of artifacts with it, packing up about 90 per cent of the collections, roughly 10,000 artifacts — including Blackfoot headdresses, cast-iron frontier kitchenware, 200 Hudson's Bay Company blankets, a collection of firearms and 700 baseball-sized cannon balls.

The city is laying claim to about 500 artifacts.

"There's just some real communication issues," said Doran Degenstein, executive director of the Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Society.

Degenstein says the society's relationship with the city started deteriorating after flooding in 2012 left the fort with some cash-flow problems.

"It's caused a horrendous amount of damage that has been covered to a good extent by the insurance companies of the city and the society, but the society ended up in the drink over $60,000. And that's a lot of money for a non-profit to have to deal with," said Degenstein.

The situation came to a head in the fall.

Doran Degenstein, the executive director of the Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Society, says: 'We don't need the sticks and logs here to work with other agencies in talking about early history.... It's just we're not going to be doing it here at little old Fort Whoop-Up.' (Allison Dempster/CBC)

Strained relations over finances

The society's lease at Fort Whoop-up expires at the end of December, but the city decided to open it up to bids — rather than renew it as it usually does, according to Degenstein.

"We were told that because of our financial performance that we would be considered a weak candidate," he said.

"We just said, we don't have a hope in this, why waste the time? It's time to move on, because we are going to do nothing but have disagreements in the future," said Degenstein.

However, the city denies the move is anything unusual, saying it's something done periodically on other contracts.

"Every once in a while, we need to test the waters for value and to [see whether] there's any other interested party that would also like to compete for the work," said Bary Beck, director of community services for the city.

Beck insists a bid from the society would have been evaluated without prejudice.

"We're not in total agreement on certain things," he said, but he disagreed with Degenstein's characterization of the relationship. "I would suggest that that's overstated. From my perspective, we're okay."

The Fort Whoop-Up Interpretive Society is packing up about 90 per cent of the collections, roughly 10,000 artifacts — including Blackfoot headdresses, cast-iron frontier kitchenware, 200 Hudson's Bay Company blankets, a collection of firearms and 700 baseball-sized cannon balls. (Allison Dempster/CBC)

Artifacts destined for secret storage spot

The city is expected to announce who the successful bidder is next month. Meanwhile, the shelves are bare at the Fort Whoop-Up trading post, as volunteers with the society pack up the artifacts.

"We've got proper storage lined up for everything," said Degenstein, who wouldn't reveal where the artifacts are going. "It's still in southern Alberta. For security reasons, it's just better not to elaborate."

Degenstein says the collections are insured for just under $3 million.

"We will have fewer collection materials initially and then over time that might be added to," said Beck.

Future of collections unknown

As the society and the city carve up the Fort Whoop-Up collections, the Alberta Ministry of Tourism and Culture is presented with an unusual situation, not unlike a messy divorce.

The ministry is monitoring the situation, said Matthew Wangler, the executive director of the provincial government's Historical Resources Foundation.

"Our role would be to make them aware of museum best practices," he said. "And in this case that would mean trying to make sure that those collections are properly cared for and then ultimately given to another public organization in the province, so that any Albertan that wishes to learn more about that aspect of our heritage can access these pieces."

The society is already on the lookout for a new home for the artifacts.

Degenstein says it may loan parts of the collections to other institutions.

"We don't need the sticks and logs here to work with other agencies in talking about early history," said Degenstein. "We can still do our job. It's just we're not going to be doing it here at little old Fort Whoop-Up."

Degenstein says the society is also open to working with the new operator of Fort Whoop-up.

'I think they're making a big mistake'

"What's going to happen after? I guess that's the big question," said Martin Eagle Child, a regular visitor to Fort Whoop-Up.

"This is where my ancestors camped and when I come here, when I see a tee-pee, a sweat or a ceremony, I am very at peace here," he said.

Eagle Child questions the city's handling of the fort's operation. "I think they're making a big mistake, because a lot of my people come here. And I think they all have the same feeling."